Linz and Salzburg

Today we woke up in Linz.  Linz is the 3rd largest city in Austria and the capital of the state of upper Austria.  In 2009 it was designated at the European Union's cultural capital.  The itinerary for the day had us having breakfast at 7 and hopping on buses for a 2 hour ride to Salzburg.  It was a nice bus ride - and it snowed most of the way.  We arrived in Salzburg and got a 1.5 hour tour followed by free time to explore the city before getting back on the buses at 3:30.  Our guide told us that most Austrians have no idea about anything related to Sound of Music.  He says that at the time it came out - not many Austrians spoke English - and those that did, didn't want to be reminded of the Nazi occupation - so there wasn't much interest.  He saw it for the first time when he was a student in England and noted it on TV showing places her recognized.  That said we got to see the park where Maria and the children sang do-re-mi, the abbey graveyard where they hid from the Nazi's (actually they held in a replica in Los Angeles because they couldn't film in the real one……but they couldn't hide in the real one as most of the gravestones are rod iron and see through.  Sadly - Rodgers and Hammerstein took a lot of liberties with the story of the Von Trapps - but I like the musical version better (it's a happier story).  We also saw the festival hall where they sang Edelweiss.  We also saw the Xmas Market, the castle, Mozart''s birthplace, the home of Christian Doppler (think Doppler effect).   It's a beautiful city and we had a wonderful time.  We had sausage at the Xmas market and then we had to try a Nockerln Salzburger (basically a large merengue on top of berries (I think they were winter berries).  

We learned that Salzburg was once thought of as the clean bull city.  In the early days - the people of Salzburg had only one bull left.  Instead of eating it, they would parade it around for their enemies to see every day.  At night they would wash it and dye it another color and parade it around the next day.  They didn't want their enemies to know they only had one bull left (nothing else to eat).....they wanted them to think they had enough food for a long time so their enemies would eventually give up and leave them alone.  That said - they did eventually get their enemies to give up and leave them alone.  This is a plaque to commemorate them.  

We left Salzburg and drove back (again through snow) to Linz.  Andy and I walked to the center of Linz to their Xmas market and Andy got his nightly Glauwein (he's really liking this stuff which is a hot mixture of red wine, white wine, rum, and spices.)  This market was the nicest in terms of stuff they were selling - we saw some cool stuff (sadly mostly things that would likely break if we tried to bring them home).  We returned to the boat - went to dinner and sat with the same people as last night.  Sue and Jerry, Tom and Linda - two couples from Michigan (avid Michigan State Fans).  They are very enjoyable people (despite the fact that they refer to UM fans as Walmart Wolverines).  They said grad school at UM is okay though  :)

AFter dinner there was a musical presentation of Mozart and Sound of Music pieces.  It was fun.  We leave at midnight for Milk.  

   

Mozart's Birthplace (3rd Floor)

 Mirabellegarten

 Close up of pansy's growing in the snow at Mirabellgarten

Mirabellgarten (where do-re-mi was sung) 

 Mozart's teen home

 Christian Doppler's Home

 plaque

 View of Old Salzburg - castle on Hill

 Plaque commemorating Austria as Bull washer state (see text)

 Getreidegasse

 Cemetery

 More cemetary - replica made in LA 

View up to the castle

Courtyard in Salzburg

 Andy in view from castle

More views from castle

 More views from Castle

 More views at Castle

 Snowball before it hit me

 Panoramic shot

 Me on top of castle

 Castle

Me again!

 Andy in Castle

 Panoramic View of Salzburg

 View from funnicular coming down from castle

 Cemetery (recognize from Sound of Music)

 More Cemetary - note in background the catacombs

 trying on hats

 I think Andy looks good in a hat

 Trying the famous Austrian dessert

 Nockerln Salzburger

Linz