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August 21, 2003
Laurie and I used the internet for awhile and I looked at my watch and realized that there was a train leaving in about seven minutes going to Salzburg, Austria. So we picked up our bags and ran to the train station and then to the gate. It was almost the last gate. The only way we were going to make it is if the train didn't leave on time. We were lucky and it was still there. We hopped in the first door and then struggled through to the first car.
The train ride was a little more than two hours. I made reservation on-line for a place to stay for two nights in Salzburg. To get there we had to take two buses. The place I found was actually a campsite. Laurie and I didn't have camping gear, but the place had large canvas tents set-up. The tent had four cots and a long picnic table. I was quite excited to be sleeping in a tent. It will be so much cooler. Right now Laurie and I are the only ones in the tent.
To go back to the train ride, I wanted to mention how nice it was to see mountains again. The Germany that I saw was pretty flat. The mountains were in the distance and it was hazy, but I could make them out.
Once Lauri and I settled into our tent we were in search of a grocery store. We found one, but it didn't have much. We picked up what we could. The stores close early on Saturdays, so we didn't have much choice.
We had a bite to eat. We hadn't eaten at all today so I wanted to eat everything we bought; pepperoni, cheese, coleslaw, cheese spread, bread, butter, almond cookies, and ice tea. I also had left over peanut butter and jam. I was full when I finally stopped stuffing my face.
We decided to take the bus into town to check it out/ Salzburg is known as the birthplace of Mozart and for the filming of Sound of Music. They have lots of music venues from the end of July through August. There are concerts everywhere. Unfortunately there is a fee for them.
We hopped on the bus to get to the center and walked to the information office. There are a lot of old buildings with all kinds of stores in the square. It was very crowded. Laurie and I decided to walk up to the fortress. As we walked through the square, the small cobblestone lanes, under arches, we heard music coming from different areas. We stopped to watch and listened to a violin player and as we were watching we saw horse and buggies go by and through the arches. It looked so quaint.
We made our way to the fortress the long way, but it was a nice walk along the paths and in the trees. The fortress is quite large on top of a hill. We didn't feel like paying to enter, so we just turned around and found our way back down.
We walked on the pedestrian bridge across the river, down the street to the Mirabellegarten. The gardens were beautiful with flowers in a baroque design (I read that, it was that kind of design. I wouldn't know otherwise). One side of the gardens has a forested lane with benches all along the lane. It was very peaceful even thought all of the benches were full.
After our stroll through the garden we found a bus top and were able to make our way back to the campsite. It will be a nice change from the hot, noisy, and busy hostels in the city.
I checked out the kitchen area and they were playing the "Sound of Music" video. Laurie was already watching it so I stayed to watch. It is really neat to be watching it because it is supose to take place in Salzburg, which is where we are and because parts are filmed around here. I also enjoy watching it because I didn't remember the ending and after being at the places we have been, it is more meaningful.
The movie seemed long and it was too late to cook dinner so we just ate cheese and pepperoni and a dessert we picked up.
August 17, 2003
Laurie and I were out waiting for the bus at 6:10 a.m. We were taking it to the train station. From the train station we were going to Berchtesgaden.
The train ride was beautiful. It is so good to see mountains again. There are a lot of jagged peaks and it seemed to be mostly rock. The ride was about an hour. When we got there we found the information we needed to go to The Eagles Nest and Salzbergweik.
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