Austria

A view of Salzburg, Austria

We drove to Austria over the fall break, in hopes of seeing castles and Sound of Music sights, and taking hikes in the mountains.  We were successful on all three; with even some snow thrown in!  Our first stop was Dinklesbuhl, Germany.  It is a quaint, midevial, fortified city, much like Rothenburg, along the Romantic Strasse.  Cute buildings, old, cobbled streets, and great pretzels and hot cocoa! 

Dinkelsbuhl, Germany



Neushwanstein Castle was our next destination.  We stayed right across the German border, in Pinswang, Austria, at a place Chris and I had stayed at 10 years ago with friends.  It is a gorgeous setting with cows in pasture, an occasional small church steeple, and breath taking mountians all around.  We decided to bike to the castle, through a forest that passes across an old German/Austria border check point.  Chris and I had done this 10 years ago and had clearly: 1. not remembered how hilly it was, 2. had no young kids with us, and 3. were 10 years younger... But, it was a highlight of our trip.   It took us an hour or so, and when we arrived at the castle, we met up with our friends from school and toured the castle. The enormity of it is incredible. Before we hopped on our bikes to head back, we got the best bratwurst ever from a street vendor.  I think the key to a good brat is to throw it in hot oil to cook it...Of course we topped it off with a pretzel...

Neushwanstein Castle was built by Ludwig II of Bavaria.  He lived in the castle for 172 days before he was deemed crazy and died mysteriously before he was 30.  The castle was never finished and less than a third of the rooms are complete.  He bankrupted the country by building it and weeks after his death, the first tickets were sold to tour the castle.  It is the inspiration for the Disneyland castle.

On the way to Salzburg, we stopped at an old salt mine.  This was hillarious.  You put on pants and coats over your clothes, ride a oversized kid train into the mine, listen to a tour given in German, and slide down several wood slides throughout the tour.  Allie and Tessa thought it was a little creepy, but all in all, a lot of fun.  The veiws on this day of driving were amazing!  The mountains had a fresh coat of snow; absolutely breathtaking!  We happened upon a great hike to a waterfall after the tour.



Coming down a slide

 

"It's off to the Salt Mines again, Allie..."



In Salzburg, it was all about the Sound of Music.  Chris couldn't have been more excited!  We saw the sights in the city, the gazebo and best of all, stayed in the actual Von Trapp house.  They lived there until they left Austria for Vermont in 1938.  After they left, it was taken over by Hitler's #1 in command and utilized throughout the war.  After the war, it was used as a monestary until it was turned into a bed and breakfast a year ago.


The Von Trapp estate

Welcome to the Von Trapp Villa

Just for all of you Sound of Music fans...