Salzburg - 8 June

June 8

We arrived in Salzburg last night and settled into the Yoho hostel as Pat has mentioned.
The hostel had a bar, an internet room and a Tv Room. The TV Room constantly has the Sound of Music running IN ENGLISH. I immediately veged for the next two and a half hours, thoroughly enjoying the old movie for the umpteenth time. Meanwhile, the boys thoroughly immersed themselves in the bar. A great evening was had by all.

Yoho Hostel.

Salzburg is the home of the Sound Of Music, so you can envisage the landscape. The next morning we wandered along the old city streets, wound up beside ancient stations of the cross leading up a steep hill, past an ancient monk (who greeted us politely in German) to an old monastery and beautiful views across the city and river to the fortress.

Near the old monastery.

View from near the monastery, across the river towards the castle.

Many, many steps as usual.

Crossing the river we arrived at the historical city centre, UNESCO heritage listed.
This area was bordered by the Residenz of the bishop princes, Mozart's memorial , the main cathedral and conservatorium.

Shops in the old city - if only we weren't on bikes!

The castle.

The highlight of our cathedral visit (beautiful as always but crawling with large tour groups) was our discovery of the crypt downstairs. Apparently, tour groups are not allowed to visit this area, because none of them came anywhere near it. We assumed this didn't apply to individuals, and took ourselves down for a most interesting inspection.
It was a mixture of modern design and ancient features.

One of the crypt rooms.

We took the funicular up to the fortress of the bishop-princes of Salzburg. The fortress is extensive and well preserved, and includes a display of war and torture memorabilia from the days of The Inquisition to the end of WWII.

View from the fortress.

More steps.

Another view from the fortress.

Rod was very engrossed in this section, partularly a serated edged chastity belt, which gave him pause for thought.

Very nasty.

A torture mask of some sort.

Lunch beside Mozart's birthplace and a stroll through old town streets and the gardens of Schloss Mirabel (of Sound of Music fame) completed our Salzburg sightseeing.