SALZBURG

Well we are out of Krumpendorf and on the rails again! We left around 9am this morning and got to Salzburg around 12:30pm. There was another incident on the train but fortunately this time its an Austrian train so I didn't panic. We were going along just fine cutting through the Alps heading north to Salzburg when all of a sudden at a train station two stops out of Salzburg (about ½ an our) everyone on our train got up and left! The conductor had been saying something in German immediately beforehand--- as the last woman in her late 60s I'd say as leaving Carol said, “Do you speak English?” She turned a little frantic and said, “I'm sorry- I have to go! We have to change trains to go to Zurich!” and she was gone--- We're still not sure why but for some reason everyone on our train heading to Zurich and Innsbruck had to get off at that station- there were probably 100 people on the platform as we pulled out- but in ½ an hour we were in Salzburg and all was well- except they have torn down about ¾ of the train station since we were here last year!! Here I was a little cocky thinking ah this is the ONE place we are traveling (other than Klagenfurt) that I've been before- and the entire train station was different!! We still aren't sure exactly how to get on a train tomorrow but we'll figure it out.

This is a shot of Salzburg coming in on the river from the train station. On the left side- see the church with the red tower? That's the abbey where Maria Trapp was in the convent when she met the Baron (Sound of Music)- By the way I had a picture of Julie Andrews from that movie up in class last week and a couple students groaned and said, "Do you realize most Austrians have never heard of that movie!" I told them that I had actually learned that last year- only three students of 12 in class had ever heard of it- isn't that just funny.

The fortress on the hill is Festung Hohensalzburg. Its been built in different phases but construction on it began around 1,000 AD. Its had other additions in the 1400s. Our hotel is located right in the heart of old Salzburg near the largest green dome which is the Salzburg Cathedral. I actually took this picture last year on a beautiful warm day. You can see the difference between then and now when you look at the grey pictures I took today :)