Over three days we drove to Salzburg with stops in Karlsrhue, Germany and Reutte, Austria. On our first driving day we again visited 4 countries in one day, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.
Leaving Reutte this morning, we drove along a stunning lake, Plansee. The colour was a brilliant turquoise, with mountains soaring above.
We had to stop, take shoes off and wade in. The water wasn’t cold at all!
We had time to sit and take in the view and fresh air, but not enough time for a swim sadly.
We got to Salzburg and spent some time at DHL sending another parcel home.
By the time we got to our hotel we were able to check in.
We dumped our bags and headed out for a walk into the centre of town.
Boy was it hot and humid!
We stopped for a beer, and an ice-cream, then a water, then another beer.
In the evening we went to a cooking class where we prepared apple strudel and Austrian pretzels. We then had dinner of goulash, pretzel and strudel with our classmates whilst being serenaded by a soprano!
After the class we strolled back to the hotel
past the “Do-Re-Mi steps” and jumped into a cold shower.
We started today with a tour to the
Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden (Salt Mine) across the border in Germany.. It opened in 1517.
The mine tour takes you deep into the mountain to where they are still mining salt today producing 1 billion cubic metres of salte per year from 40 caves. They still have 100 years of salt already identified to be mined. The saline water is piped 20 miles to processing plant.
The mine tour is part adventure, part light show, part museum that included 2 train rides, a boat ride on a Salt lake 130m below surface and 2 40m long wooden slides. No photos allowed inside the mine but the train ride part looked something like this.
Germany’s oldest mountain gin distillery ages it’s gin in the mountain!
After the mine we stopped in the town of Berchtesgaden for a walk around and a quick bite to eat before heading back to Salzburg.
Between tours we had time to duck back to our hotel, take a quick cold shower, lay down for 10 mons then walk back for part 2.
After lunch we had a Sound of Music tour, fulfilling Sarah’s 45yr old dream to visit Salzburg and do the Sound of Music tour. (Her initial dream was to be a von Trapp child, but some things aren’t possible!).
First stop of the tour was the lake out of the back of the family home, or at least the place where the scenes with the lake background were included. This was where the Baroness tried to endear herself to the children by playing ball with them and also where Maria and the children fell out of the boat into the lake.
From here we passed by Schloss Frohnburg. This is the other location where all shots of the “family house” were filmed, where Maria arrived for her 1st day as Governess. It is closed to the public.
Then we visited the Gazebo where “I am 16 going on 17” was filmed and Maria and the Captain declared their love. The public are not allowed inside anymore as too many people apparently injured themselves skipping across the benches.
On top of the hills we could see Nonburg Abbey, it’s still a working Abbey. The mother superior didn’t want anything to do with the film but relented to allow filming of a scene where Maria left the Abbey. Julia Andrews was the only cast/crew member allowed in the grounds of the Abbey. The cameraman had to film from outside!
Then we had a 20 minute drive to the lake district during which we all had a sing-along on the bus. The scenery was stunning, turquoise lakes, mountains, blue skies.
The destination was Basilica St Michael in Mondsee where Maria and the Captain married.
Even that was filmed from multiple angles to make it look different in the movie!
The final stop was the Mirabelle Gardens for the do-re-mi steps and fountain.
This evening we’re attending a production of ‘The Sound of Music’ at Salzburg Marionette Theatre.
Oh this was so much fun! After a while you stop seeing the strings and then a seemingly giant hand reaches onto the stage to remove a property. At the end they raised the puppeteer screen so we could see them operating the marionettes. They also suddenly seemed like giants.
Can only recommend this theatre to anyone coming to Salzburg-they do a range of shows, not just the Sound of Music.
An Unplanned Year 
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