Festung Fortress...Salzburg Day 3

I woke early on Tuesday and headed downstairs for the first of many buffet breakfasts I would experience in Austria. The liverwurst was a-flowin' and so was the cheese, rye bread, and plain, sour yogurt. Again, I'm reminded of how much of my childhood was affected by this type of food and I was so glad to find it all exactly the same as what I remember.

A walk downtown quickly ensued. Here is an example of some bread in a shoppe window:

...and a local cafe...

...and the place where I first tried vanille kipferl. I actually cried when I saw the cookies lined up there while in line for a cappacino. I told the shoppekeeper, "Oh my god, I used to make vanille kipferl with my Oma when I was a kid!"

She was not impressed. Her response?

"Me too." Sigh.



Walking across the bridge, snapping all the Austrian flags along the way...

And one happy camper. Note, it may seem that I am wearing the same outfit the ENTIRE time on my trip. You would not be wrong in this assumption. I had two pairs of tights, one pair of jeans, runners, and a pair of boots. The boots never came off and the coat and scarf stayed on as well.

Walking through Salzburg one last time, drinking in the sights near the Dom...

In all their glory and creepy splendor...

Then I headed up to the Festung Fortress. This turned out to be the highlight of my trip, but I didn't know it then.

Four brown men insisted on taking this type of picture. I obliged.

Looks like such a daunting place, non?

I think this is where some part of the Sound of Music was filmed...can't be entirely sure though.



However this was the gazebo where Lisl and her beau danced to Sixteen Going on Seventeen. Or is it Seventeen Going on Eighteen? I can't recall.

Birds of the area (this is where the trek started to take an unknown tour and my trip got infinitely better)...

Looking ahead...over that wall, the most beautiful scenery was witnessed by yours truly.

Just look at that view.

Experimenting with the panorama setting...

What a happy little duck...

Some lovely French Canadians took my picture with the Alps. Are you kidding me?!



On my remarkable walk home, I took a detour through the houses of the area. I saw so much from what I know about Austrian culture...so many things that reminded me of my Oma.

Geraniums...swoon.

Pathways,

Views...

...and walkways...

Down at the mountain's base, a university spreads out before me...

Looks a bit different than Weldon, non?

Gorgeous yellow buildings...

...and spectacular views...

How cute are traditional Austrian clothes?

My last stop was a trip to Mirabell Gardens in the day time. Gorgeous.

LOVE the self portraits.

Love the couple who agreed to have their photo taken. Married 52 years, they explained. Swoon.

And I was off to the train station, headed to Vienna...

Most beautiful three hours of my life.