ROADTRIPPIN IN AUSTRIA

On my trip last time to Europe, to Vienna, Warbucks wanted to take me to Budapest to see it...but we didn't have time. On this trip to Budapest, we did have the time, so we did a 2-day road trip to Austria. It was great to see more of it, and why not since your so close right?  Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, we had a lovely drive from Budapest, to stop in briefly in Salzburg, with history and culture, and birthplace of Mozart, and an ancient fortress. It's best to spend the night, for after sunset, most day trippers clear out. The city itself has some great Baroque architecture, and very little of this city was touched by World War II. Some snippets of the road trip.

Views from the Fortress Hohensalzburg which was built in 1077

A view toward the fortress. The building dead center with dome is the Salzburg Cathedral.

Mozart's birthplace! The family lived on the whole third floor of this building on Getreidegasse Street, which is now a museum and preserved. This is where Mozart was born and raised, played the violin and the clavichord he used to compose the Magic Flute as a child. 

Town square.

On our way out of town.

Looping back toward Budapest we hit up the beautiful towns of Hallstatt to stretch our legs and walk a bit...and then in Grafenegg to see the Schloss Grafenegg Castle, which is considered an outstanding example of romantic historical architecture. 

Hallstatt

Yes...some snow and ice is still left behind yet. But this area took my breath away. The air was so crisp and clear. It smelled...clean?

Mr. DeVice is not going to be happy I made a friend.

And the castle in Grafenegg.

The best thing is these places are all within 5 hours of Budapest by rail or car, but we choose by car to take in the stunning scenic country sides of Hungary and Austria respectably. So beautiful. Budapest was only a little less then 5 hours and Grafenegg only a mere hour and a half . Needless to say, the two days after were spent relaxing and in bed with coffee. And Budapest had some of the best coffee I've had outside of Costa Rica. The nice thing of spending 15 days in a city if you can, it gives one time to see things, but also spending time relaxing. I try to always have a day or three, to relax, with no agenda.

SALZBURG

Another of my favorite spots in Austria, was Salzburg, where we spent two days, and without a doubt, the Mirabell Palace and Gardens. During our two days, we kept finding ourselves back in these gardens again and again. The outside of the palace is stunning, but we didn't tour the interior, as much as I might not have minded seeing the Marble Hall. Mirabell dates back to 1606, when it was then known as, Altenau Palace. Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau commissioned the building as a token of his love for Salome Alt, his common law spouse. After Wolf Dietrich's death in 1617, his successor renamed the palace "Mirabell". The most famous room of the palace is the Marble Hall. It was originally the Prince-Archbishop's ballroom, but was also used as a concert hall where Leopold Mozart and his children would regularly perform. The gardens were a joy to visit, and considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque gardens in Europe. Some of these pictures may look familiar for being in the film The Sound of Music, where part of the movie was filmed when Julie Andrews sang Do Ri Me to the kids.  But the Dwarf Garden gave me the willies. It is on an old bastion, a little removed from the main part of the Mirabell gardens. It features a display of misshapen dwarfs. It's believed some of these sculptures are people who were actually lived on the court of the Prince Archbishops of Salzburg. Creepy. But then I've seen to many horror movies where these things come to life and terrorize.

Seen in a shop window...