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Blogs from Salzburg, Austria, Europe
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May 16th 2013
One month climbing and living in the Alps Located in deep within the Austrian Alp’s is a small and incredibly beautiful village called Tauernhof. The ideal location of Tauernhof enables a unique mountain experience. Upward Bound, which has established itself as the "trademark" of Tauernhof, is a Bible School aimed at the development of the whole person - spirit, soul and body. This demanding program does not require prior mountaineering experience. However, participants must be at least 18, of good health and willing to be "stretched". Upward Bound is conducted in English. So it was I made the life changing adventure when I was 18-years-old. Today I still look back and proudly say "I did it!" Anyone who has been stretched and pushed beyond their limit will share the same feeling of accomplishment and ... read more
April 29th 2013
We are now on the train bound for Vienna. While we wait to leave I thought it a good time to summarize my thoughts of Salzburg. First and foremost, it is a definite must see. I might suggest winter as we both thought it would be truly beautiful here with the snow, cold and all the wunderbar soups. We are here at the start of the season so the crowds were not too bad, but July and August it’s going to be very crowded. Three days is simply not enough to do the city justice or in a pace that is sane. We saw must everything we wanted to see, but could have used at least two more days to really take in the sights and on a more leisurely pace. If you are a Mozart ... read more
April 28th 2013
Today we set out first for a small side trip outside of Salzburg. We took the number 25 bus which takes you directly to the Untersbergbahn in Grodig. In English, it takes you to the foot of Untersberg Mountain where you can board the tram to the top of the mountain. Every other day we have been in Salzburg has been picture perfect blue skies you could see for miles. The day we decide to go to the top of Untersberg it is of course overcast. This may have turned out to be a good thing, because otherwise I would know how far off the ground we were during the tram ride out. The 25 bus is actually a good bus for tourists, it also takes you directly to Hellbrunn Palace, Untersberg and the Zoo (if ... read more
April 27th 2013
We got off to a bit of a late start, but we are on vacation and schedules can be easily adapted and changed. The day planed was to be half history of Salzburg and half Mozart. It pretty much ended up being all day about Salzburg with a bit of a throwback to The Sound of Music. We had coffee in the chill lounge and mapped our route to our first stop of the day, Festung Hohensalzburg (Hohensalzburg Fortress). This is supposedly the largest completely intact restored castle in central Europe. However, what I am finding is that that Austrians seem to exaggerate a bit. To hear them tell it they have the oldest this, the biggest that and so on. So I am not sure I believe everything they say. After coffee we ... read more
April 27th 2013
Tonight was all about Mozart and has been the Highlight of the trip to Salzburg for me. The setting was Barocksaal in Stiftskeller St. Peter. This is the oldest restaurant in Europe. We were on the second floor in a beautiful room. Dinner was served in between sets of Mozart music. The room was candle lit and chandeliers from the ceiling (they of course were not candles). The music was done in three sets, the first selections from Don Giovanni, the second from The Marriage of Figaro. The final set started with A Little Night Music, you all know the song, it was made more famous than it already was by the movie Amadeus. The final selections were from the Magic Flute and it was a magical night. We had a three ... read more
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April 26th 2013
Some Musing Salzburg is a postcard city, that is the old section of Salzburg is picture perfect. The outskirts are just like any other city no cleaner, no dirtier. Salzburg is also very old, it is home of the oldest restaurant in Europe, we will be there tomorrow and older than Paris. It was an independent city state until the early 19th century. It was originally ruled by Arch Bishop’s and the architecture is very mixed, in fact according to Jerry It is pretty plain and not as detail oriented as Paris, Rome, and other cities. One thing Salzburg is more than any other city I have ever been to, is all about music. It’s the birthplace of Mozart, Haydn lived here, and of course the Sound of Music is all about Salzburg. If nothing else ... read more
March 20th 2013
Salzburg, which means Salt Castle, was true to its name. A white castle atop a hill overlooking the town centre and the Austrian Alps across it towards the north. It was a breathtaking view from the top of Hohensalzburg Fortress that I was no longer concentrating on the audio guide that was provided for us in the castle anymore. Besides, the green dome of the Salzburger Dom was distinct in the skyline, as the City Cathedral screams out to tourists about its own uniqueness as the city cathedral. And it was, as we were in awe just standing inside the dome and looking up at the vast ceilings and arches. Still not sick and tired of churches and cathedrals yet.. How to, when one sees such amazing work of mankind! Still, the fondest memories from this ... read more
January 6th 2013
After Epernay it was back to Paris for the day. We had decided for the sake of adventure, to take the overnight train through to Salzburg. Embarked relatively late in the evening and then into a carriage cabin no larger than a bathroom. The bunks were stacked three high. Its not that we were carrying a lot of gear but we felt like sardines once finally ensconced in our room. The steward was particularly germanic in providing us with the manditory briefing prior to departure. We were confident that morning coffee would arrive exactly on time. We sped through the stations in France during the evening, but dawdled to meet the schedules once in Germany. We arrived in Austria and through to Salzburg station. There we met up with Magda - once our exchange student, now ... read more
The hills are alive.. once again..
Published: December 25th 2012Europe » Austria » Salzburg » Salzburg
December 24th 2012
Salzburg has always been one of my favourite spots and I had a feeling Chris would like it and couldnt wait to show him (I wasnt wrong). A fortress sides high up on the hill in Salzburg, from there you can get a gorgeous view of the town and the Alps, we headed up to have a look and spent nearly an hour just admiring the views When in Salzburg, one must go on a tour for the most famous thing to come out of Salzburg- The Sound of Music! I'd done this previously when in Salzburg but was super excited to go again with Chris. This 4 hour bus tour takes you a scenic drive through the countryside to a number of places where scenes from the movie was shot. You see the Leopoldskron Palace- ... read more
