Dachau, Germany to Salzburg and Zell Am Moos, Austria

Thursday 31st October 2019
We have had a lovely day today. I have finally ha about 7 hours sleep in one night, Yay Me. Lisa is still a work in progress in that regard. We had a lovely breakfast at our hotel in Dachau then headed off to Salzburg. About a 200km drive to Salzburg city today, mostly on the autobahn. (Austria Vignette €9.20 for 10 days.) From Germany to Austria. A change of road signs again. I haven’t even got used to the ones in Germany yet. Oh well. Good for the brain. It seems a lot easier driving this time. I have relaxed in to it a lot quicker, though it is very intense on the autobahn, but the German drivers are so courteous. I love them.

The day was a little foggy, overcast and cold. 6°C again today. Very brisk. Once we arrived in Salzburg we visited Mirabell Palace and Gardens, The Old Town, Salzburg Cathedral, St Peter’s Church and Cemetery and we went up the funicular to the Fortress Hohensalzburg and also went through the inside of the castle. It was really interesting and an enormous structure. Like with all castles, each new ruler/king of the castle added a bit more to the building. We also did a little shopping as we walked through the town and markets.

Then we headed to Lake Mondsee to visit St Michael’s Basilica where Captain Von Trapp and Maria were married in the Sound of Music. Unfortunately the weather was too dreary to enjoy a visit to Mondsee Lake. Maybe tomorrow.

We then headed to Zell Am Moos for our sleep tonight in a little country Guesthouse and enjoyed another lovely dinner at Seewirt Guest House. Schnitzel, Potato, and Cranberries and Stirfried vegetables, chicken and rice. Followed by an ice cream filled pancake. Yummy!

St. Peter’s Cemetery was a good inspiration for the movie makers: It was rebuilt in the Hollywood studios for the scene when the Nazis were searching for the von Trapps and the family was hiding behind the tombstones. St. Peter’s Church can also be seen in the opening scene.

Hohensalzburg Fortress isn’t only the biggest fully preserved castle in Central Europe, it is also the emblem of Salzburg City. Construction of the fortress began in 1077.

: Christmas wreaths in the Mirabellplatz marketsMirabell Palace Gardens

: Mirabell Palace gardens

: Looking to the Old Town from Mirabell Palace

: The Sound of Music ‘Do Rei Me’ steps in Mirabell Palace

: Unicorn statue – Mirabell Palace

: Dwarf garden in Mirabell Palace

: Old Town Salzburg

: Old Town Square Salzburg

: Street entertainer hanging in mid air

: View of Salzburg Old and New Town from Fortress Hohensalzburg

: View of Salzburg Old and New Town from Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Well in Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Marionette museum in Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Cannon – Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Cannon and statue – Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Golden Room Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Ornate walls in the Golden Room Fortress Hohensalzburg

: War display – Fortress Hohensalzburg

: War Communication display – Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Kitchen – Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Ornate cupboard –

: Old painted wall uncovered in Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Grounds of the Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Square in Fortress Hohensalzburg

: View from Square in Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Square in Fortress Hohensalzburg

: Don’t drink and fly – eeekk!!

: View of the Old Town

: Ste Peter’s Cemetery – where the director of ‘Sound of Music’ got the inspiration for the hiding place when the Von Trapps escaped to the Abbey. This was recreated on set in studio.