After cutting our Slovenian adventure short due to absolute and total boredom (and the rain), we decided to throw in an unplanned stop into our trip to Munich by spending a day and night in Salzburg - the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the backdrop to "The Sound of Music", and yet another UNESCO site (so we knew it would be good),
Since the decision to head to Salzburg had been so spur of the moment (we were clearly starting to really embrace our leaf in the wind backpacker lifestyle), we rolled into the Salzburg train station without actually knowing where we would be staying. Luckily for us, the hostel closest to the train station had 2 beds available at a reasonable price ($25 each). Unlucky for us, we would discover that those beds happened to be in a shared room with a very young and sexually aggressive German couple. (But more on that later.)
Since it was still too early to check into our room, Tarrah and I took to the streets to explore and quickly discovered that Salzburg was, well, spectacular.
We arrived with very few expectations (the city was purely selected in that it was on our route to Munich and I remember my mother once saying she loved it) and were truly blown away by the natural and architectural beauty of this gorgeous, yet still very livable city.
As we bobbled around the streets of Salzburg, we found treasures with nearly every turn and eventually found ourselves in the birthplace of Mozart. For those of you who know my mother, this may not surprise you, but up until I was in 3rd grade literally the only music allowed in our home was classical - so needless to say I can totally get down on some Serenade in G Major and Requiem in D minor.
The birthplace of Mozart exhibit (aka the "Mozarteum") was a great treat and extremely interesting (Though it did make me grateful to not be a woman in the 18th century - Mozart's brilliant musician sister Nannerl and widowed wife really got the shaft).
After hearing some great classical tunes, Tarrah and I took our 21st Century selves out for a sweet treat and a stroll around Salzburg. With every turn we seemed to find something more beautiful...
Since the decision to head to Salzburg had been so spur of the moment (we were clearly starting to really embrace our leaf in the wind backpacker lifestyle), we rolled into the Salzburg train station without actually knowing where we would be staying. Luckily for us, the hostel closest to the train station had 2 beds available at a reasonable price ($25 each). Unlucky for us, we would discover that those beds happened to be in a shared room with a very young and sexually aggressive German couple. (But more on that later.)
Since it was still too early to check into our room, Tarrah and I took to the streets to explore and quickly discovered that Salzburg was, well, spectacular.
We arrived with very few expectations (the city was purely selected in that it was on our route to Munich and I remember my mother once saying she loved it) and were truly blown away by the natural and architectural beauty of this gorgeous, yet still very livable city.
(Exterior of a beautiful church)
As we bobbled around the streets of Salzburg, we found treasures with nearly every turn and eventually found ourselves in the birthplace of Mozart. For those of you who know my mother, this may not surprise you, but up until I was in 3rd grade literally the only music allowed in our home was classical - so needless to say I can totally get down on some Serenade in G Major and Requiem in D minor.
The birthplace of Mozart exhibit (aka the "Mozarteum") was a great treat and extremely interesting (Though it did make me grateful to not be a woman in the 18th century - Mozart's brilliant musician sister Nannerl and widowed wife really got the shaft).
(The birthplace of Mozart, totally worth a visit and 10 euros)
After hearing some great classical tunes, Tarrah and I took our 21st Century selves out for a sweet treat and a stroll around Salzburg. With every turn we seemed to find something more beautiful...
(Hot chocolate from Salzburg. Tarrah was convinced the shot glass of water was to wash your spoon. It's actually apparently just a legit shot of water to drink.)
(A walk in the park - have you ever seen grass so green?)
(Beautiful architecture. Please note the delightful lack of tourists)
(Well hello!)
(Salzburg's version of the Parisian love lock bridge. I have to admit, I like Salzburg's better)
One thing I have to admit about Salzburg that I found a bit unique (and I know no one is going to believe me, but I swear it's true), is that one out of every 10 people we passed on the street was wearing either a dirndl or lederhosen. I first noticed it on our waiter and thought it might be the uniform, but shortly realized that this was apparently a thing here. (I even saw one older gentleman wearing his lederhosen with a briefcase in hand - en route to work!).
(One of every two clothing stores was carrying these things)
After briefly considering buying a dirndl (they're super flattering!), but realizing it might not fly the same way for casual friday here in the states, Tarrah and I went back to the hostel to check into our room only to open the door to discover our two young roommates wildly going at it on the bottom bunk (oh to be young again). After uncomfortably introducing ourselves to the young German high school couple, I texted Tarrah that I was not above reporting loud and inappropriate conduct to the staff should they try to get busy when we're in the room (thus proving that I officially am too old to be sharing rooms in a hostel).
Eager to be rid of our new friends, Tarrah and I quickly showered to once again explore what Salzburg had to offer. Luckily for us, we happened to have arrive just on the tail end of the Siemens Open Air Festival - a free classical music festival which aims at using modern technologies (i.e. a giant television screen in the middle of the Kapitelplatz) to make art and culture accessible to everyone. It was awesome and something I wish we could replicate here in the states.
I should also point out that, appropriately, the entire city that night was literally alive with the sound of [classical] music.
(The Siemens Fest Screen playing an opera to a giant crowd of fixated people. Most of whom probably, like me, have never been able to afford going to an actual opera)
(Our delicious dinner at a restaurant nearby. No idea what it was and couldn't care less.)
Unfortunately for us, beyond the classical music festival, there wasn't much nightlife to be had (it was a Tuesday after all) so after a few drinks at Republic Cafe we did end up calling it an early night (which ended up being to our benefit because we were able to beat the Germans to bed).
Regardless of the lack of nightlife, I would say our random trip to Salzburg was a definite success and I would have a hard time finding a reason not to come back. After all, who doesn't love a beautiful place full of nice people, uncrowded sidewalks, good food, and the sound of music playing on every corner?
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