Town Squares
Imagine setting up your booth at the local farmer's market with buildings prior to the 20th century as your backdrop? I'm sorry Chico but your markets are slightly lacking in this department. I know its not your fault, just a result of location and your slightly more recent establishment as a town thanks to Bidwell and men like him who followed thru with their dreams and explorations. Yeah, Salzburg traces some buildings (such as Hohensalzburg Fortress) to having foundations from the Roman Empire Era. Ah. So grand.
Or perhaps maybe you would like to dine upon this restaurant's patio? And may I add with its lovely striped umbrellas offering you shade should it begin to get too hot? I think I will say yes...
Perhaps you prefer fountains? No problem. We've got you covered. Also within this square (though not pictured) were several teams of horse-drawn carriages available for hire as you take your lovely tour of the wondrous Salzburg.
Starving?! Yes. You have come to the right place. Der Salzburger Wurstelstand. All I know is I saw "Hot Dogs" and NEEDED to stop. PS. Hot Dogs might be my most favorite food in the world. I know. I've been tormented my whole life by people trying to discourage my love of this great food and attempting to explain how they are made and whatnot; but...I do not care. I will always enjoy this classic, charcoaled specialty courtesy of your local campfire.
River Walk - The Salzach River
Whenever you debark from a train and need to reach a destination, try to find a path that will lead you by water. It rarely disappoints. And ALWAYS head towards the castle. Duh. Is there really any competition when there is a castle in the mix? Just look at it! Sitting on the "hill" so perfectly, evidence of the insane strategic defense choice since the beginning of this region's discovery and settling by a variety people groups.
Oh the buildings lining the river! How beautiful they all are in their many differences!
Churches
Again, of course. They're right up there with castles in my book. Especially when you can envision Maria floating down the aisle in her gargantuan wedding dress to the tune of "How do you solve a Problem like Maria?"
And then we have the nunnery over here with its absolutely beautiful and peaceful private courtyard-garden-cemetery. Serenity at its utmost beneath the walls of the fortress looming above.
High within the fortress itself we have an even more petite and ancient church building, again, showcasing its own lovely courtyard-garden-cemetery. Nonnberg Abbey. I entered this one actually and took no pictures just because I wanted to remember more how it felt than how it looked. Walking into the cool as a cave interior, the only other person inside was an elderly nun sitting in one of the wooden pews. Huge pieces of stone floors, wooden trim all around, the doors closed behind me as I stood in the still semi-darkness. Silence all around. No humming. No murmured whispers of tourists. No shuffling of feet. Just silence. But a restless sort of one. What is a church building without people? Its just another building, albeit a beautiful, exceptionally historical one. Revered yet not holding any value in and of itself. Some boast in their churches... "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. " Psalm 20:7 Do these people know who their God is that they claim to serve? Have they hunted Him down with all of their being, desiring to know Him as He declares Himself to be in His Word? If this is how that nun I shared this small sanctuary with at this moment, regardless of language and culture, viewed my Lord then perhaps we are indeed sisters and will see one another again in eternity? Who knows?
THE Fortress Hohensalzburg
Up alleys and stairs after stairs after stairs....
We finally reach the fortress walls! INSANE.
And so we enter one of the many "courtyards" of the castle. There is a full on village in this fortress. Stairs closed off leading to portions of the fortress long untouched, cobblestone paths leading to each of the different quarters, an overlook above the far walls yet outside the fortress walls, an observation deck, and private apartments boasting their very own beautiful little entryways. Yes, I can easily imagine it being a bustling village of trade and interaction.
Mirabel Gardens
Don't you just want to bust out in "Do-Re-Mi" when you enter this garden?! The song is running through my head as I'm writing... So, of course, when we entered we wanted to recreate a few of the scenes from the movie. Only a few were successfully captured. We were definitely running down the tunnel instead of riding bikes (unfortunately), they sprinted to tap the nasty gnome/troll heads in the random garden (just look at their speed in that photo!), we would've run around the edge of the fountain except for the man sunning himself in his speedo on the very public bench so we declined that, but we finally stood excitedly on the VERY STEPS of the song finale. And we may have hopped a few up and down while reciting as much as we could remember from that very lovely harmonized portion of the song. *sigh*
Salzburg, we love you. We are so thankful you exist and for the rich history evidenced in every corridor, town square, bell tower, fortress, alleyway, garden and everywhere else these slight detours led us!
Though others may have had these very same travels, all the opinions, stories, and photographs above are my very own (with a few being credited to my sister and best friend) as we did travel together this round. Woo! Let's keep exploring where you're at folks, wherever you be!
