The Sound of Music and so much more

I just spent a wonderful few days in Salzburg, Austria.  Some of you may recall that your beloved childhood film The Sound of Music was based on the Austrian Von Trapp Family.

Some of the film is filmed in Salzburg and much of the film is false (for instance the hills you see on the cover are in Germany).  Our eccentric tour guide it very clear that Hollywood took the basic story and made it "more interesting" but completely altering the events outside of the fact that they were Austrian and they escaped from the Nazi's.  I will spare you the rest of the details that prove the story we all know and love false (but you can read about it on the Wikipedia link above if you wish).

As for me, I was ecstatic to see the places that one of my favorite childhood movies was filmed! We sang on the bus as we drove around Salzburg and through the mountains! Although it was winter, so much of the scenery looks very different you may recognize just a few of the pictures!

The Tour Bus =) 

I am skipping down the lane where

Julie Andrews skipped to her new life with 

the von Trapp's!

16 going on 17! among other scenes

This is the lake where the kids fall in.

Unfortunately, winter has made it into an

ice skating rink.

The Church where they get married!

Outside of the tour, Andrew and I explored Salzburg. It is a stunning city surrounded by beautiful mountains, which were covered in snow.  We explored a fortress, the royal houses, and listened to a short Mozart concert in St. Stephen's Church.

Notice that I only had to wear a fleece for

the day! Best day ever! (and I am sad

to report that I have quickly returned to 

full winter jacket since that glorious day..)

This woman performed three of Mozart's

pieces without any music. It was unbelievable!

We also took a cable car up to the top of the Untersburg mountain, which is the natural border of Austria and Germany.  It was about 1,300 meters to the top.  Andrew and I were among four people who were not equipped to snow or ski down.  It was unbelievably cold when we reached the top and I lasted about a five minute walk around the top before heading inside to warm up with a delicious Stiglz lemon beer while watching the sun set over the snow covered Alps.

A view of Salzburg from above

Lemon Stiegl - Salzburg brewed beer

We ended our Salzburg adventure with a trip to the Stiegl brewery for a beer tasting.  It is home to the largest beer museum in Europe, which was surprising large, scary at times, and overall uninteresting.  We followed that with lunch and a beer tasting in their restaurant.  Then we were off to Vienna for more Austrian adventures!

The largest beer "samples" I have ever had!