Before I decided to attend the Travel Bloggers Unite conference, I had one city set in stone to my itinerary: Salzburg. My friend Christine and her fiancé Joey moved there shortly after I left for Australia for his job. They were the only people to visit me in Australia, so I thought it was only fair that I return the favor.
We met up at Oktoberfest and they drove me back to their apartment off Mozart Square. It’s always nice to stay with someone who really lives in a place. It keeps me from feeling like a complete tourist. Plus, there’s the added benefit of a free place to stay!
Christine played tour guide, walking me up the hill to the fortress. We didn’t go inside, but we did make it to the Augustiner Brau beer garden, where I saw a monk drinking beer. I can’t think of anything more ironic.
I went on a Sound of Music tour to review for Viator, which lasted all day, and took me to the famous “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” gazebo and the lovely town of Mondsee, where the wedding scene took place. I will admit that I sang along a bit when they played the music from the film. I have no shame.
We went to dinner at Pauli Stubm for my first real schnitzel and one of my favorite Austrian meals. Salzburg was celebrating Rupertikirtag, the city’s own version of Oktoberfest. Stalls lined Mozart Square, complete with roasted nuts, gluhwein and Christmas decorations.
The community came together for the festival, with plenty of rides, including carousels and merry go rounds. On my last afternoon in Salzburg, Christine and I drove to a nearby town to eat lunch and go tobogganing. More on that in another post!
I love Salzburg! The view from the Fortress is amazing. Mirabell Gardens are so peaceful. The Sound of Music (literally) is everywhere :)
A Monk Drinking Beer is a nice catch ;)
Some great pictures there. I love all the architecture of the buildings. It looks as though you had a great time. When will you return?
I’ve never been to Salzburg but your words are really enticing me to visit. Looks like you had great weather there too!
So sad I wasn’t able to make it to Salzburg when I was in Austria last winter! Your photos really show how pretty that city is. Guess I’m going to have to plan another trip to that neck of the woods sometime soon :)