Salzburg, Austria

Love Salzburg. Probably more than Prague. Things just keep getting prettier. We took the Sound of Music tour from Bob’s Tours recommended by Rick Steves and it was worth it. Our tour guide, Steve, was originally from Massachusetts so he was quite the character and immediately asked us if we were big fans of the movie. We said it was a part of our childhood, but that’s as far as it went. Turns out there are Sound of Music sing-a-longs in the same vein as the Rocky Horror. I’d love to see how that goes. Joey? Up for it? Let’s find one. As our tour guide said, “Usually in an area where you would find a gay population, and if you’re okay with that kind of thing, I mean I’m not into that but I’m not offended by it either, then you should check it out.” Very funny. Since we weren’t die-hard drapery-wearing brown-paper-packages-tied-up-with-string kind of fans, he made our tour a little of the movie and a lot of the area in general.

It was just the three of us and nice couple in their early fifties who had both just retired with a nice “thank you for leaving so we can pay a kid less then we pay you” package from the California School District. Steve took us around the outlying country and it was breathtaking. We kept asking what people do for a living because I think we all had the same idea of trying to move here. Mostly tourist supported work either directly or indirectly. Also, we learned the drink Red Bull originated just outside of Salzburg by a rich Austrian and the factory is here. It is called Red Bull everywhere because they thought the macho American name would sell better. Apparently so. I hate Red Bull though, but Steve started saying he could go for one (maybe with a little vodka mixed in) so we all agreed to stop at this “blow-your-mind” lookout where there was a little cafe. We had dessert (Linzer Torte) and coffee. No Red Bull. The coffee did us well though. Actually, to be accurate, we had espresso with cream or a few cappuccinos.

A lot of shopping and drinking to be had here in Salzburg, so we’ve made sure to do a bit of that. If anyone is ever here, DO NOT miss the Augustine Braustubla: a beer hall in Salzburg that is attached to a monastery and in which the monks brew their own beer. You grab a mug and they pour you beer straight from the wooden barrels. Amazing. Charity and I left Rebecca to sleep while we went and sampled a bit last night. We were at one point pleased to have the table of locals next to us say a loud traditional toast and follow it up with a four part harmony (all men) of a beautiful German song. All this while I was trying to translate the sign above them which turned to read, “Singing, Laughing and {something indecipherable} not allowed. A drunken Australian came up to them after and told them they were amazing and clapped for them. They smiled and laughed at him. Later we had the good fortune of meeting that same Aussie back at the hostel. Paul was quite a character and when Charity, Peter (a newly college grad from Massachusetts we met at dinner), and I started playing table football, Paul was quick to learn and soon proud to excel as he sobered up. He was surprised that all of us knew how to play. I was pleased that the east and west coast childhoods were actually very similar. I can remember science class freshmen year of high school, kicking some serious male butt at that game. I also remember that was the last quarter I got a 4.0. Maybe I should take the game up again.

This has become a long entry. We are waiting to catch an overnight train to Venice. We leave at one in the morning and get in a little before 9am. We’re hoping to find lockers for our bags because we won’t check into our lodging until later. Italian food, here we come! I’ve probably had enough beef, veal, and sausage for a while.

Sidenote: Any interest in Table Football, this site might give you a better idea of how it looks but no one actually makes a table or buys this thing. It’s all homemade, good ol’ imagination.