We arrived in Salzburg around 4PM, and quickly met up with Brian and Tim, who were on their way north from Vienna. We had planned to arrive in town at noon, and meet them at 2 PM, but thanks to the storm... The best-laid plans of mice and men, right?
Anyway, we girls checked into our hostel, a lovely old place that doubles as a dormitory for the Uni. of Salzburg, where Beth actually spent a year of her academic life. Then the four of us spent some time in town.
Salzburg is a city of both history and legend. It was the hometown of Mozart. It was the home of the von Trapp family and their adventures (made famous in "The Sound of Music"). It was once the royal city of the Prince Archbishop Franz Joseph I. At its center, high upon a crag, is the old castle that has never been successfully taken.
And now it's time for pictures to tell my story...
This building you see here is just a part of the main cathedral in Salzburg.
Here is the Festung Hohensalzburg, the formidable castle that rises above the rest of the city.
In one part of the city is the very old St. Peter's Friedhof (cemetery) and catacombs. We didn't get to go in the catacombs, but at least we got to walk around the beautiful cemetery.
This part of the cemetery shows up towards the end of "The Sound of Music"... recognize it?
I love how this old part of the catacomb is truly built out of the wall!
More views in St. Peter's.
Mozart's birth house. Yes, that's what "Geburtshaus" means. :)
The Festung Hohensalzburg by night, across the Salzach River. Historic Europe by night... yes, that's my thing.
Brian and Tim had to catch a train back to Amberg, but Beth and I headed to our hostel and enjoyed a nice read and an EARLY night's sleep. That felt pretty good after having stayed up all night the night before...
The next morning we walked around the area near the hostel before heading farther afield. The hostel is a part of the St. Sebastian's Church complex. Behind the church is the Wolf-Dietrich cloister and cemetery, partially seen above.
Me in a tree in the Wolf-Dietrich cemetery. :)
Mozart's wife, Constantia, and other members of his and her families are buried here.
Inside St. Sebastian's Kirche. Of all the "fancy" churches we've visited, I thought this one was the most tastefully decorated - more muted colours, etc.
Here on the front of the kirche, you can see St. Sebastian himself (center). The saint died after being shot (with arrows) seven times - hence the golden arrows in the statue.
A view of Franz Joseph's palace (left), the Mirabel Gardens (front), and the Festung (back). This is indeed a beautiful, beautiful city.
My new friend and I. "Della" (so I choose to call her) was one of 15 dwarf statues in one area of the Mirabel Gardens.
Another view across the Salzbach (this time looking the opposite direction) - towards the Kapuzinerberg monastery.
In one of the main squares of the city, horse-drawn carriages are lined up waiting to take people like me on adventures. (I didn't take a ride, but I couldn't not take a picture.)
The man on the left was having a difficult time deciding on his next move at the giant chess board.
When we traveled up to the Festung, we were met with some wonderful views of the Bavarian Alps.
Part of the Festung.
View out a cannon portal. I don't feel like portal is the right word...
We eventually took a bus outside the city to the Hellbrun palace. Everything was closed up because of the storm on the weekend - but it was still beautiful and quiet!
The Hellbrun is famous for its water park and fountains.
Beautiful, well-known Salzburg street view.
We ended the afternoon by hiking up to the Kapuzinerberg monastery. Here is the view!
A perfect city and a perfect traveling companion...
The door of the Kapuzinerberg. The complex is beautiful, but too huge to get a picture of up close.
My traveling companion again, as we stopped for a delicious Austrian dinner before catching the train home.
And catch it we did - without any more storm-related delays! We made it back to Amberg safely... tired but happy.
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