Final Full Day: From Salzburg to Frankfurt

So most of my day, I was in transit. I had about a 6 hour train ride from Salzburg to Frankfurt. The train ride was fun, but long! As I started my journey, I realized that I had not provided a photo of a train compartment so, here you go…
I was pretty much alone in my compartment from Salzburg to Munich because the heat was not operational. In Munich, two guys and a lady named Yvonne joined me. Yvonne was unlike any other person I have encountered during my visit. While most Germans and Austrians I found to be very nice, they are not eagerly friendly like Americans. For instance, when I am in a group of people I will walk up to everyone and say hello. Germans and Austrians will stand back and wait to be approached and if not will not say anything. Yvonne was very much like an American… We chatted in German and English during most of the ride from Munich to Heidelburg (her home) about my trip, my mom, yoga and life. She felt familiar… As she got off at her stop, we hugged good-bye, because that is how Americans do!
In Frankfurt, I went on a mini-tour of the city. I visited Römer and saw some of the Main River. It was night and Frankfurt is known for being a rough city so, I did not want to stay out long. From what I saw, Frankfurt is quite lovely, but more of a place for business and residing and not vacationing.

Sunday in Salzburg

Being a religious state, 95% of Salzburg is closed on Sunday. I took advantage of this and slept until 11, which is remarkable since I had been waking up at 7, 8 or 9 most mornings. I did decide to venture out on another Panorama Tour, On the Traces of Mozart. IT WAS HORRIBLE!!!!! The only thing good was the visit to the Mozart House and seeing the swans at the lake… After the Tour, I went on my own to visit the Cathedral Dom.

Next time, I visit Salzburg I will try not to go on Sunday, unless I am going to Mass.

The Hills are Alive (or How Can You Not Love a City Like Salzburg)

I have two favorite movies: LA Story and the Sound of Music. When I was planning this trip, I really wanted to go to Munich. Then, I learned that Salzburg was only a 90 minute train ride away so, I knew that I must visit the place were one of the best movies of all time was filmed. Supposedly, this town of 150,000 receives about 400,000 visitors/year (or something like that) because of this movie. With recommendation of my unofficial tour planner, Rick Steves, I selected Panorama’s Tour 4 hour version.
I boarded a large 50-passenger bus, painted with Sound of Music Tour marking so, EVERYONE knew what was going on inside the bus. Might I also mention, the Sound of Music is not popular in Austria…. My tour guide, Trudy, was from England and was extremely animated. She is a fan of the movie and led us in many sing-a-longs during the course of the tour.
Our first sight was her pointing out the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which served as a backdrop for several scenes during the movie. It is a very prominent site in Salzburg so, using it in the movie was inevitable.
Next, Trudy directed us to the Untersberg Mountain, which was the mountain Maria was supposed to be on in the beginning of the movie and the one the family actually hiked on at the end.
We were then transported to the lake and terrace that was used for many scenes, including the children meeting Baroness.
The next stop was a park that housed the original pavilion used in one of my favorite scenes, where the Captain admits to Maria that he loves her and they sing “Something Good.” The pavilion was moved from its original location because of tourist. It is also the one use for exterior scenes, the interior was shot on a Hollywood sound stage.
The park also has the location for the path Maria skips down singing “I Have Confidence” and the home exterior.
We were then driven out to the countryside of Austria to a town called Mondsee. There we saw the church where Maria and the Captain were married. Also, we had the option to shop and dine on fabulous apple struedel.
Viewing the countryside and the lake were reason enough to take this tour…
Our final stop was Mirabell Gardens, where we were able to act our the “Do Re Mi” scenes.

This tour was really a fan’s dream come true…
Not to mention, we passed the headquarters of Red Bull… Thecla, this photo is for you...

Alpine Cabin in the City

I have been so lucky throughout this trip with my lodging selection! Wombat’s (my place in Munich) was adorable and now look at what I have in Salzburg… I feel like I am in cabin in the Alps and for only 56€/night.
wardrobe and one of the two desks…see my skylight!
bed with cable tv, Wombat’s did not have a tv in the room (and yes, that is Larry King Live)
bathroom with another skylight!
my standard tilt head left shower shot

Things Are Coming Together!

I just go through periods (days) where I am all about preparing for Europe and others where there is no activity. This is one of those periods where I was all about Europe.

This week alone, I purchased my ticket to see the Bayersische Staatoper perfrom Madama Butterfly at the Nationaltheater in Munich and booked my housing for Salzburg.

A few months ago, I signed up to be placed on the waitlist for opera tickets. I wanted to see Ariodante on January 16 and Madama Butterfly on January 17. As time progressed, I decided to only go see Madama Butterfly. This past week, I received notice that my ticket request was granted, but I had until October 31 to purchase the tickets. I am soooooooo excited! I get to see Madama Butterfly...one of the most famous operas!

I have been trying for months to book my housing in Salzburg. The place I was trying to stay has not opened for 2008 bookings. I could understand the delay in June, July, August and even September. Now that October has passed and it is now November, I cannot anymore. So, I booked elsewhere. I originally was going to stay at a hostel, now I will be at a hotel. Originally, I was going to only have internet in the lobby, but now it will be in the lobby and my room. I, also, get a television to watch the news. I am very happy.....

Munich Housing...Check! Frankfurt Housing...Check!

Yesterday, I took another step in preparing for my trip. I was finally able to book my housing for my stay in Munich and Frankfurt.
It has been taking awhile for me to have access to my Munich housing because I am staying at a hostel. I had e-mailed them a month or so ago and was told that housing for January 2008 would not be available until November. I was not too happy with having to wait that close to the day to book, but Europeans tend to be a bit more laid back than Americans. Actually, everywhere people tend to be more laid back than the US. So, something last night told me to try to book my lodging on their site.... Low and behold, I could do it!
Then, I was thinking since I am having all of this luck, let me try Salzburg and Frankfurt. Salzburg was a no go...for now. In Frankfurt, I had planned on staying in an actual hotel due to my early departure for the train station then to the airport.