Austria Day Four { Sound of Music Tour }

On Day four in Austria, we actually left Vienna and took a three hour train ride through the countryside to Salzburg, where the Sound of Music was filmed.

If you've never seen Sound of Music, then you probably won't appreciate the following blog post, and if that's the case, then you shouldn't even READ the following blog post.
You should stop what you're doing.
You should NOT pass go,
you should NOT collect $200,
you should go DIRECTLY to the movie store and rent it and not proceed onward with your life until you've watched it.
It's a classic.
And your life will be richer once you've heard Julie Andrews sing
"Dough, a de-ah a Fee-may-el De-ah..."
and it's likely to cause you to skip around all day and wish that you could make play clothes out of curtains.
And speak with a English Accent.


This was my first experience on a train.
It was basically like a bunch of tour buses hooked together on a track.



Here we are in the Mirabell Gardens where parts of the Sound of Music were filmed.

It's difficult to tell where the statues end and Lula Begins.



One of the main streets in Salzburg...
There's an ordinance that states all signs on this street must be made of iron...
Look for the McDonald's :)

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me

Small and white clean and bright

You look happy to meet me

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow

Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss,  Edelweiss

Bless my homeland forever.

This is the market where Maria juggled oranges... 

Vendors selling pastries....



St. Peter's Cemetery, according to our tour guide, is the "Most Romantic cemetery in the world"



'Til Death Do Us Part, My Love!



This is the fountain Maria danced around and sang, "I Have Confidence..."



The beautiful cityscape...



Bikes.  EVERYbody rode bikes.



50 cent Euro (about $0.65) to use public restrooms...
living in Austria could get very expensive for someone like me...



The back of the Von Trappe Family Mansion where they fell out of the canoe...



Mrs. Lula just needs a few more grandkids and she could BE Maria!



I was sixteen, going on seventeen, when I fell for this guy...



The cathedral, Basilika Mondsee, where Maria and Captain Von Trapp were married...
and us reenacting it :)





On the way home, we drove through the lake district in Austria and had a chance to see the glacial lakes and the Austrian Alps.

Even looking at them now, I can't believe that I got to see these places in real life.  

If only I had brought my Tiger Rag!



Our tour guides had prepared for us to stop at a tiny little restaurant for a "traditional Austrian meat and cheese tray" for dinner.
It was dis.gust.ting.
So gross.
Totally not a fan.
I guess a traditional Austrian meat and cheese tray is an acquired taste which we did not stay long enough for me to acquire!



Mr. Tom decided to make the best of the situation and pile it ALL between two bread slices (which just happened to be very rye-like) and down it.  It's questionable as to whether he felt better or worse after this dinner.



They had some "authentic" entertainment for us at dinner, as well...



And this was the sunset from a rest area on our way home from Salzburg.
What a beautiful day!!!