Tuesday, July 13 - The Sound of Music

When we came down for breakfast, I found Christopher just hanging up the telephone. He told us he had just set us up for a "Sound of Music" (SOM) tour. We would be picked up by the tour company and taken on the tour. We had time for a quick bite before the van arrived. And off we were to experience, and yet, ANOTHER life-long goal. It also confirms..........I'm a nerd!

The van took us to meet the large comfortable motorcoach bus where we were transported back to the spring of 1963, when they filmed SOM in Salzburg. Our tour guide, Christine, was an American, who has lived in Austria for the last 13 years. She was an AWESOME tour guide! Her charisma transformed, what could easily have been, a boring tour into an experience down memory lane.

It was quite the world-wind tour, another reason to call it an "experience." With my remaining memory, I recall what we visited first and last. The order of the remaining sites is a bit unclear.

We have guitars......they have bulls!


First stop, Schlossleopoldskron, (castle leopoldskron). It is privately owned, therefore our view was had to be from afar. It was a beautiful setting.
This was the Von Trapp's back terrace in the movie. As you can see, we weren't able to get very close. It's now being used as private dorm and academy for several differnt college programs. One being UT's Academy on Media and Global Change.


Schlossleopoldskron, is an 18th century Rococo palace built by the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg yet owned by the King Ludwig I of Bavaria.


This is the view FROM the back of Scholssleopoldskron.....or, as close as I could get!


This monestary was seen in the movie at various time. It overlooks the city.


The infamous gazebo was moved to Hellbrunn Palace.





While traveling from one site to another, she would test our trivia with various facts.


I know....it's a bad picture....BUT, in the distance, you see the pedestrian bridge used in "Do Ray Mi"


In the distance, in the grove of trees, is the house used as the FRONT of the Von Trapp in the movie. It's now some kind of school....so we could only ZOOM past. In the past, tourists have disrupted learning.....and we don't want that....do we?


This is outside Salzburg, on our way to Mondsee. This beautiful lake was used in the opening scenes of the SOM.


Near here is headquarters of Red Bull energy!


At each stop, Christine would give some tid-bit of behind-the-scene tale.




And this............is Mondsee Cathedral. Mondsee is a town about 25 kilometers east of Salzburg. This was the "wedding church" used for SOM.


The basilica was built in 1487.








Our final stop was Mirabell Gardens. In the heart of the city and at the heart of the movie.


I don't think I need to tell you which part of the movie was largely filmed here.






















Can you see Julie Andrews and the children skipping and singing through this vine covered walkway?

Tuesday, July 13 - Villa Trapp

We were awakened by the beautiful song of birds singing gayly at the Villa Trapp in Salzburg, Austria. This is the authentic home of the REAL Von Trapp family which is now a charming bed & breakfast.



I look out of our second floor window to inspect the enchanting estate. Our room is situated on the corner of the house. It is pictured here on the right.
I put a red box around one, out of our two, window(s).


Inside the front door:


The authentic, yet rustic, staircase:


Situated just inside the entrance are two identical yet unusual but beautiful benches. These pieces were originally owned by the family.


The Livingroom, which they call the "salon."


I was so excited to be here, I quickly got ready for the day and ran downstairs only to find NO ONE was awake yet. So, I looked around....a bit nosey....then fell back asleep in the salon. Later, this same day, I fell asleep again in the salon. It's just SO comfortable, quiet, and peaceful there. It's easy to relax.


I think I like the term "salon" better than "livingroom." lol
It just sounds proper or formal.........


............and glamorous! LOL


Looking into the back garden from the salon.


A view of the house from the back garden.


Christopher, the owner, was (is) an extremely pleasant, charming, and accomodating proprietor. His wife and children didn't interact much with the guests. I don't THINK it was personal. I think it was just how they conduct business and keep it seperate from their personal lives.



Later.......that same day.......



Here, Christopher saw me walking around takinig pictures, and came out to greet and chat with me. You can see him walking out to greet me on the left side of the photograph.

He wanted me to try an infamous Austrian wine spritzer. So, I sat down under an umbrella at the back and drank a white wine spritzer of which Christopher was quite proud.

Authentic photographs of the Von Trapp family graced the house in every room.

While the REAL story of the Von Trapp family is VERY different from the Hollywood production, it is still quite the harrowing tale.


The Von Trapp children soon after or just before the marriage of Maria and Georg.

He had seven children before Maria. Later, they had three more of their own.

I encourage you to learn more about the real Von Trapp family as it's just as an interesting story as the Sound of Music.

Villa Trapp Website:
www.villa-trapp.com

Monday, July 12 - The Eagle's Nest

We had to get up early as our 10 hour tour started early. It was the BEST night's rest we had on this trip. We have our usual tolerable (unusual) breakfast provided by the hotel. Afterwards, we make our way downstairs. As we stepped off the elevator, mutter missed a step and fell flat on her face. She was sprawled out on the hotel lobby floor. She laid on the floor, still. Panic engulfed me. Everything flashed before my eyes......what do I do in a foreign country for a serious health care emergency? You know, stuff like that. She did a quick self analysis while she was lying still on the floor. Next thing I know, she popped up, sat down on a bench, got her bearings and off we went. She has been a real trooper on this trip!

Out of convenience, we roll our enormous and heavy suitcases (which now feels like an entourage) to the train station and put them in a locker for the day. We were to meet our organized/guided tour across the street from the Munich central train station, which is just down the street. Upon our return from the tour, we were scheduled to leave immediately for Salzburg.

We arrive at the tour's assembly area and wait. We're a bit early. Mutter never meets a stranger and this day is no different. As we wait, we chat with several other Americans from various states. Several differrent tours start at this location, so some of our new "friends" are on different tours and a few on ours. She befriended a very nice fellow that I called Kentucky Ken. He was traveling alone, sightseeing around Europe a bit before returning to the U.S. after a two year stint in the Peace Corps. We chatted with him throughout the day.

We departed shortly after 8 and it was a long ride to our destination. It was a large double-decker bus/coach with air conditioning! The ride was beautiful and somewhat comfortable. The countryside amazing. Perhaps I'm a nerd or just a typical tourist, but every little thing amazed me. I just love to look at EVERYTHING!

At one point, we passed through a small quaint village and our tour guide (a frauline), pointed out a small unassuming church. She said that was the first church to sing "Silent Night."
Well, I'll be doggone!

After crossing a valley floor, we ascend a mountain.....on a narrow winding road. It wouldn't have been frightening if we weren't in this enormous bus. But we were and it was. I held my breath.

I was turning blue and about to pass out from holding my breath (I'm kidding), when we arrived. Our petite frauline bolts off the bus and takes off. We tourists (about a 100 in all?) slowly pile off and take off running after her. We catch the quick little lassie to find out what to do and where to go next.

We are then informed we have to take ANOTHER bus the rest of the way up the mountain. OMG! So, off we go. A crowded bus. Another narrow winding road. Another traumatic experience looking out the window. Same mountain.

After a while of this, we reach a plateau area....near the top. The air is crisp and clean. The air felt a bit cooler but not cold (for this altitude). The view is beautiful. Once again, we had to chase the little frauline to find out where to go....what to do.

She leads us into a very dark, omnious, cold, wet tunnel. We walk the inclined tunnel to an old elevator. We wait in a long line and finally get squashed into the elevator, like sardines! After a short ride, we arrive at the VERY top of the mountain inside the Eagle's Nest, Hilter's private getaway.

*Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" was designed and built for Adolf Hilter's 50th Birthday by his personal secretary and Head of the Nazi Party Chancellery Martin Bormann. The monument is called "Kehlsteinhaus" in German because of it was originally intended to be a "Teahouse" for the head of the Third Reich. This mountain-top hideaway played a prominent role as the main unit objective in HBO's critically acclaimed mini-series "Band of Brothers."*

*The allied bombing and battles of World War II left the building intact and today the Eagle's Nest remains in its original state. In the years after the war, the Eagle's Nest and the surrounding area of Berchtesgaden remained a part of US Armed Forces property in southeastern Germany. The US military set up a recreation center where servicemembers could hike in the summer and ski in the winter. The US military returned the area to Germany in the 1990s.*

*At that time, the German government demolished the American General Walker Hotel at Obersalzberg, to make way for the existing bus depot that serves the Eagle's Nest.*

*Taken from: http://www.letsgo-europe.com/Germany/eagles_nest/

The view from here was even MORE amazing. The house/structure is now a restaurant. Mutter has had enough. She sits down to eat and relax while enjoying the gorgeous view. I'm on top of the world, I can't think about eating.

Kentucky Ken and I head out on the hiking trail behind the restaurant where the majority of people are hiking and taking pictures. It ends up being quite the hike but he and I go out on the crest as far as the trail would allow.

I took all the following photographs on the hike along with a couple of short videos.







As you can see..........the views were spectacular!





I can hear the Ricola commercial playing in my head as I gaze out. I want to shout "RRIIIIICCCOOOLLLLLAAA." But I refrain.




I took pictures on both sides of the crest (facing opposite directions). I have no idea which is which.





The U.S. has its own charm and spectacular views, but I have never experienced anything like this.






This is the view looking back to the Eagle's Nest building structure.




I think about the classic "Heidi."


I can hear Julie Andrews' young voice echoing in song.




I am grateful I have no thoughts of Hilter as I take in the splendor of it all.

A very large cross sits at a high point on the trail. A large likeness of Edelweiss sits in the center of the cross.

I was told:
Edelweiss only grows naturally at very high altitudes. It can and will grow anywhere from seeds. You can plant the seeds in a sandy soil mix and water it frequently for two years. After two years, it will bloom and continue to flourish from then on. However, the Edelweiss seeds resemble the seeds of an illegal substance. Therefore it was suggested not to transport them.
Well, I'll be doggone!

I made it back and looked around quickly at Hilter's little hide-away resort/tea house. It wasn't impressive (other than sitting at a mountain peak).

There were several photographs of Hilter taken there along with placards with explanations. I can't read Deustch.

This is the view he had from the Livingroom focal point.


I found it rather odd that this historic structure is now a restaurant. I guess it's ok. It's not like a "good" piece of history....but it is still historic.


Me and Mutter.....on top of the world!




Eagle's Nest Website: http://www.kehlsteinhaus.de/en/index.php

Of course, we went back the same way we went. We made it back to Munich around 5ish. Got our luggage from the lockers and hopped aboard a train bound for Salzburg, Austria.

Once in Salzburg, we grabbed a McDonald's hamburger, a cab, and went to our bed & breakfast villa. It was dark....we couldn't see well.....we were tired.

We arrived around 9ish. The large house was dark. With very few lights, the owner quietly checked us in and took us to our room. Every move we made seemed to be loud but it was just that the peaceful old house/estate was quiet.

We collapsed with exhaustion.