Salzburg - Day 1

So yep, last night J, me and J's parents (my Rental Parents) left London, bound for the Austrian city of Salzburg. What is Salzburg's claim to fame? Mozart's birthplace and the filming location for The Sound of Music. *rubbing hands with glee* Embarrassing tourist photos coming your way.

We stayed at a little hotel a little out from the centre of the city, Der Salzburger Hof. Nothing significant here, except that the hotel receptionist had an uncanny resemblance to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was so cute with her Austrian accent.

I thought it was coincidental that The Sound of Music was on one of the tv channels in our room. I now realise that this was a channel devoted to playing the movie repeatedly. Cheese to the max.

Our SOM tour was scheduled for tomorrow, opting to go to the Eagle's Nest today. This was a retreat built as a gift for our favourite dictator, Adolf Hitler. The drive was less than an hour away and just over the Austrian border into Germany. The tour revealed how picturesque the Austrian-German countryside was; J was particularly in awe of how clear the river was.

The entrance to the tunnel leading to a purpose-built brass elevator that would transport us into the actual building.

We were very lucky to have the Spring sunshine beam on us and the view from the top was pretty damn spectacular.

(L-R, T-B) Oh no Jade, don't jump! Yours truly and the Nest. Twiddle-Dee and Twiddle-Dum with the lovely backdrop. Cafe Latte on the top of a mountain anyone?

The actual building interior was nothing to write home about. A few rooms here. A fireplace there. Meh. Lunch was a small town... somewhere.

When in Austria-Germany eat as they do - sausages and sauerkraut.


Oh and when in Austria, eat a Sacher Torte. Or a Topfenstrudel mmmmm


Then walk off those calories in the sun. Pose here... and then close your eyes outside the Mozart Museum. Some golden ball sculpture in the Old Town. The fountain where Maria splashed water when she sang 'I have confidence'. More SOM touristy shots tomorrow!

From the square the Salzburg Castle was beckoning us to fulfil touristy duties......

So we made our way to the Funicular...


....for a view of the town. It's so purdy. There are heaps more photos, but I'll try not to bore you.

Dinner was at St. Peter Stiftskeller, the oldest restaurant in Austria and probably the world now that I think about it. Hmmm, kinda makes me wonder how that 300 year old Spanish Restaurant managed it's claim to the title. Probably a technicality.

I did much like the inner courtyard of the restaurant, but it was a bit chilly to sit outdoors tonight.


Our antipasto starter and my lamb shank main....mmmmmmm.

Then back to the hotel to rest up for a fun-filled, cheese-maxing day tomorrow - The Sound of Music Tour!! yay!!! *clap clap*