Altstadthotel Salzburg

... we had already thought to be little punks waiting to pick pocket someone...they spoke english. So we went over to them and it was super cute, he was so excited to help us. He told his friends to back up and be quiet so he could help us...and then he whipped out his i phone and google mapped our address so we knew exactly where to go! Very nice! So we started walking...but the kid had told us take the second right, and the internet ...

... the way, we stopped at Mozart’s house, which was admittedly a little anticlimactic. Anyway, the gardens are the site of several shots from The Sound of Music, which gave me a little more inspiration than usual while sketching. After getting a few drawings in, we headed over to the train station for my first falafel sandwich (they are everywhere in Europe, so this is surprising) and the beginning of our trip to Vienna!

... where apparently there is a lake, so full of salt with such clear water, that the boat on the top of the water, looks like its hanging in mid-air - we saw a picture and it looked awesome!), you can also see the underground ice caves, do a 'Sound of Music' tour and visit many sights from the movie, and finally visit Hitler's 'Eagles Nest' - his getaway/hideout, which is located inside a mountain (just like Dr Evil from the Austin Powers movies...)!

In total, our stop in Salzburg ...

... After we had wandered around the old town admiring the buildings and wares and taking a few wrong turns we arrived at the Castle entrance. We had just walked inside the entrance gates and were admiring the view of the town and surrounding countryside when what seemed like an enormous explosion went off just over our heads. I thought it was a cannonball on the loose. Luckily the pieces of burnt tissue paper that wafted ...

... comments to it. As a tour goes I think that it was probably not the greatest, but I have done it now and can say I have been and seen but probably wouldn't do it again like some on the ladies on the tour (for some it was their fourth time!)

Whilst Nat and Paige were off doing their best Julie Andrew's impersonations, Declan and Jamie decided to hit the Salzburg Museums.

First stop was for Declan to get himself a huge ...

... to the Christkindlmarkt. It was an easy walk and the market was really nice and not so crowded that you couldn't enjoy browsing. We didn't buy anything this night but b-i-l spotted a smoker seller and decided to return for the snowman smoker that was just super cute. We walked down the main street which was very crowded but decorated very prettily and ended up at the smoky pub type place, don't know the name ...

... the fact that we had had little to no sleep, a brewery tour was decided upon. We left the hostel, detoured to the house that Motzart lived in as a child and then got the the brewery. It was a magical experience, I confess we spent most of the time humming the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Song (In a family guy style). It included a few free beers in their hall, and a souvenir beer... wonderful. By this time we ...

... themselves. One prelate, when told of the poverty of the peasants huddled outside the Residenz, is reputed to have replied "let them eat sausage". This story is definitely apocryphal as I just made it up. From here our day took a downward turn. Mozart's Geburtshaus (his birthplace) was a great disappointment. I was extremely bored and assumed that this was because I was an uncultured philistine. I was relieved to learn that Margaret (highly cultured and a violinist to ...

August 26-Monday
We left Kitzbuhel at 8:30. There was a brief stop in Berchtesgarden, in Germany, at 10:00. Up on the side of the mountain, we could see Hitler's Eagle’s Nest. It was rather chilling to see that part of history. The bunker is now a restaurant. Our rest stop overlooked a valley filled with wonderful homes. What a view! Back on the bus and on to Salzburg. Time 10:35.

Salzburg
August 26-MondayWe had to get up a little earlier today because we were headed for our first big road trip: Salzburg, the home of Mozart. ( I am really looking forward to this trip.) We left Kitzbuhel at 8:30. There was a brief stop in Berchtesgarden, in Germany, at 10:00. Up on the side of the mountain, we could see Hitler's Eagle’s Nest. It was rather chilling to see that part of ...