Our next stop was Austria. We spent one day in Salzburg, and two in Vienna. We LOVED Salzburg. It is a big town, but feels small and quaint. Vienna on the other hand is a big city, and it feels that way. Salzburg and Vienna have musical significance, and as a music major, I wanted to see experience some of the music culture here in Austria. Zac was a great sport, even though I think he was a little less than enthusiastic about some of the stuff I had planned. Our activities in order:
- Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg, where the “Sound of Music” kids sung “Do Re Mi”. It was really beautiful. Oh and we saw two brides taking pictures there – one in a modern white wedding gown, and one in a dirndl.
- Salzburg Dom – this was our favorite Cathedral so far, although the exterior isn’t really amazing. The interior, especially the ceiling, was amazing! The artwork was beautiful, but the sculpted ceilings and walls were so detailed. I can’t believe they did all of that by hand!
- Mozart’s birth house – there is a museum there that tells about his family life, and has some original artifacts, letters from him, and one of his harpsichords. Very cool.
- Hellbrunn Palace in Salzburg – The palace wasn’t that great, but the Trick Fountains around it were hilarious. Apparently the archbishop who built it had a sense of humor, and would surprise his guests while out walking in his garden with hidden fountains of water. It is all natural, built near a spring that still supplies water to the fountains today. Most fun tour of a palace ever!
- Hohensalzburg Fortress – Original fort on the hill, and had a great view of Salzburg
- Vienna Haus der Musik – Music museum which included exhibits on the great Viennese composers, and where I got to conduct the Viennese Orchestra.
- Vienna Boys Choir – this was something I was really excited about. We ended up seeing them in a Mass on Sunday morning, and I loved it.
- Boat Tour along the Danube – not recommended. Mostly we just saw graffiti along the walls. But it was nice to get off our feet, since we were walking everywhere.
- Speaking of walking, the public transport in Germany and Austria were awesome, and easy to figure out. Subways, buses, and trains! Who needs a car?
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- Gorgeous flowers at Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg
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- Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg
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- Lion statue taking a bite out of Zac, Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg
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- Mozart’s birth home, Salzburg
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- Salzburg Dom Cathedral
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- Ceiling detail at Salzburg Dom
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- Outside the Salzburg Dom
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- Salzburg Dom Exterior (Our favorite cathedral)
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- View of Salzburg from the fortress on the hill
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- Crazy looking furnace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg
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- Trick fountains, Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg
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- Another “trick” fountain, Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg
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- Can you tell that I got totally wet from the trick fountains?
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- Zac didn’t get too wet, luckily, because he was carrying the camera
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- Conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna
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- The Original Sacher Torte – anyone know why this is so famous?
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- Austrian Food – Bratwurst and a Pita?
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- We went to an opera in the Vienna Opera House
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- Vienna State Opera House
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- One of the best things about cathedrals – stained glass windows
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- Outside the Hofburg palace after listening to the Vienna Boys Choir
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- On a boat tour of the Danube River, Vienna (wouldn’t recommend it)
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- This was our boat. Nice.
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- Hanging out in the Viennese version of Central Park.
