This Could Be a Bad Omen of Things to Come

I thought I had been brilliant in constructing the schedule of this trip and having our visit to Salzburg fall on a Sunday - the day all stores, except souvenir shops and food establishments were closed. Heading around the first corner into the Altstadt (Old City) this rack of handbags/suitcases deterred my lady companions from proceeding with our walking tour. Somehow they avoided going inside and browsing for hours, but despite the fact that all the jewelry, clothing. musical instrument, shoe and home furnishing stores were indeed closed, there was plenty to keep the Moms and Gail distracted. Like our visits here during the Christmas Holidays 3/4 of the stores were closed (are they ever open?), but the souvenir stands were doing a brisk business. And not just from American tourists. Plenty of German speakers were out and about.