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Published: July 23rd 2010
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Salzburg
from Franz Josef Kai I was up this morning at 3:00. Not because I wanted to be, but because my roommate was flying back to Edmonton with about half the choir, who were leaving for the airport at 4, and I wasn't able to sleep through her prep. I didn't really manage to fall back to sleep until close to 5, and then my alarm went off at 8.
The helpful folks at the hotel's front desk pointed out that the train station was only about 4 blocks from the hotel, so I mosied over at about 10 to 9, and waited for my 9:27 to Salzburg.
The scenery in Slovenia is _incredible_. Lush, green, hilly/mountainous. The houses and buildings are a sort of cross between a Germanic alpine style of architecture, and something that is pure Eastern European that means you would never quite mistake them for something western European. I still haven't quite put my finger on what that something is... Although I think it may be the shape of the roofs. They're almost sort if barn-like, with more curves than angles, it feels. You could certainly tell when we crossed the border - the flattened peaks of the roofs became
Depiction of hell
over an offertory box in the Kollegienkirche in Salzburg. peak-y again. Not to mention that I could suddenly start understanding some of the language again. At least I know some German. My Slovenian is limited to one word (thank you) that I'm not even sure how to spell.
Mornentary panic this morning when our train pulled into Villach, and the sign on the platform said Zagreb, while the next platform across said Salzburg, and there was a train waiting there as well. I had been under the impression I was on a direct train. Fortunately my impression was correct, and the train soon maneuvered and coupled with the train on the other platform, and all was well again.
I wish I could say that I enjoyed all the scenery on the way into Salzburg but I'd be lying if I did. I set the alarm on my phone and totally just dozed off, waking up about 45 minutes from Salzburg - enough to catch some of the amazing beauty of the Alps. I was freaking exhausted. Hostel was about a 15 minute walk from the train station, and from there about another 10 into the city centre after I'd dumped my backpack. For the firs time since I started this trip I wished I'd brought some running gear - the Franz Josef Kai is a beautiful pedestrian/cyclist path that leads straight from my hostel to the city centre alongside the river Salzach. Almost made me a little homesick.
I packed in the Dom, a couple of smaller churches, and both Mozart museums (don't know what I was expecting but I was underwhelmed... Both are very small and seem to lack an underlying theme or story... Although the Residence certainly did a slightly better job than the birth house. I was glad I'd thought to pack my old U of York ID, as I wouldn't have wanted to pay full price... Yay for student discounts!) before deciding I needed food and bed.
Dinner was the ever-so-healthy wienerschnitzel. I'm determined to give some of the traditional foods a go, even if it is in a cheesy tourist trap of a restaurant. Austrians, however, seem to have decided that after a long day of climbing Alps after their herds and the like, a gazillion calories per meal is the way to go. I don't feel particularly bad about this, though, as I hadn't eaten much but eine kleine bretzel since this morning. Have also discovered an all-natural line of drinks here including such flavored as rhubarb-mint, which was actually ridiculously delicious.
Never one to go out and party, at least not on my own in a strange city, I had my light out shortly after 10...
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