Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg

Those of you who love musicals, and I know you are out there, would have loved this tour.  I haven't seen the Sound of Music in ages, but I can still sing most of the songs.  After going on the tour and seeing where so many parts of the movie were filmed I now have a deeper sense of appreciation for the film.  I am dying to get home to rent it and relive Maria's adventure with the Trapp family!

Our tour bus

Remember this?  They are running through the park singing 

"DO a deer, a female deer, RE a drop of golden sun..."

Backyard of the Trapp Mansion

(Used a different house for the actual facade of the house, 

very confusing when it came to filming)

Church where Maria and Captain von Trapp are married

"I am sixteen, going on seventeen...."

Salzburg is quite salty!

The name Salzburg literally means "Salt Castle".  The name derives from the salt that was mined from the hills near the city and then carried on barges down the Salzach River.  So while I was visiting Salzburg, I thought it would be appropriate to take a Salt Mine Tour.  The tour was very interesting and quite fun - we took a mini train deep into the mountain, we slid down slides to go deeper, and we sailed across an underground lake on a barge.  Many of the pictures I took didn't turn out due to the lack of light inside the caves/mountain, but don't worry I purchased the pictures they take for you!  I will have to get them scanned as soon as I get home. 

the BUS

View from the train we took down into the salt mine

Hot outfit, don't you think?!?

Austrian countryside

It is beautiful!  There are no words to describe it - it is mesmerizing.  I love the mountains anyway, especially during the summer.

View from the train

Train from Graz to Salzburg

Can you see the snow?

Town outside of Salzburg

Stopped here on one of my tours - near the Eagle's Nest

Town of Berchtesgarden

Berchtesgarden

Cute town of Mondsee (Moonlight Town)

Stop on one of my tours

Typical German/Austrian home

Final day in Graz

As the first guest for Carolyn & Art in Austria, I think they did a great job playing host and hostess - comfortable place to sleep, fresh linens, home cooked food - what more could a girl ask for??  Thanks again to the Valentins!  Here are a few final pictures from Graz:

On the Mur River

Mur Insel - holds a cafe and small amphitheatre

Enjoying dinner at an Irish Pub

Kunsthaus - built as an exhibition project in 2003, 

provides great contrast between the old and the new 

(my taste: I don't really apprectiate it)

Schlossberg in Graz

The Schlossberg or Clock Tower

Stairs up to the Schloss...

you'd be surprised how far the climb is!

View of the gardens from the clock tower

CoCo & Arturo sharing a moment

A small garden area awaits you at the top of your climb

The Schlossberg!

the SCHOECKL!!

I had mentioned to Carolyn I was interested in going on a hike while I was in Austria - I heard the scenery was not to be missed.  She found out about a toboggan slide/roller coaster located at the top of a mountain just outside of Graz.  So on Monday, we hopped on a bus that took us 11 km outside of the city. We hiked up the mountain and found a great little surprise!  The hike was no joke - it took us close to 2 hours, but I think it was well worth it.  We went in the morning and it was a bit hazy, but the view really was beautiful - nothing like we could see in Houston!

on the ascent

Pivotal point of the hike...

before we realized how hard it was going to get :)

View from halfway up

View from the TOP

Now it was time to reward ourselves with some FUN!

It was time for the SCHOECKL!!!

Getting ready for the ride of our lives - ha!

Each car was separate and you could control the speed 

by applying and releasing pressure on the handles

Literally on the mountain, super fun - we went twice

Carolyn's Hometown of Graz, Austria

I arrived in Graz on Saturday, August 1st, and I stayed through Tuesday.  I have had very bad luck with internet access (uploading, downloading, etc) and I don't feel like catching up on all of the stories and events of the last days, so I am going to just add loads of pictures so you can see what I have been up to the last 5 days!  Enjoy!

View from the Train - Prague to Graz

(looks a little blurry through the window, 

but you can imagine how beautiful the ride actually was)

The Armoury - holds the largest collection of weapons in the world

Herrengasse Square

 Carolyn showing me the sites of her "new" hometown

I love all the flowers!