I hate computers. If thats not clear by now I will reiterate. I hate bloody computers. Got into the hotel last night and as Crispy drifted of to the land of nod dreaming of lederhosen and roast pork i settled down with the blog.
This little eyepod has always been reliable and like a good little silicon based intelligence has always done what I ask without question. Recently and without my permission it has sneaked onto the interweb and updated its software. Now it has developed a real attitude problem and thinks its Al off 2001, a space oddity. Every time I try to do something, like add a picture, edit a sentence it says "Sorry Peter, I cant let you do that". So frustrating but I've had a very stern talk with it and it seems to be behaving much better.
We were up early yesterday and set off straight into the old town. The plan was to try and see all the sights made famous in the 1965 musical staring Julie Amdrews. Our first port of call was the Mirabelle gardens where the curtain clad cast frolicked in the fountains. We too had designs on a little splashing type activity but the gardeners are well switched onto tourists trying to recreate this iconic scene and patrol the area like
Storm troopers. We wern't to upset at our plan being foiled as the day had started cloudy and we did not bring our trunks.
From the gardens we crossed over the "padlock bridge" towards the old town and castle. Whoever came up with the idea of starcrossed lovers forever locking themselves symbolically together by putting a lock on a bridge was onto a winner. Every shop close by is making a fortune from selling pound shop locks at ridiculous prices. Crispy really wanted one but I told her the one on the shed back home was our symbol of undying affection and she semed happy with this.
In the old town we made our way past the old square, now minus the red swastika flags, which for my money would have added a touch of colour, to the Nonnberg. The convent that Maria comes from. It is beautiful and very serene. It is the oldest convent in the world and is still in use today. Although I think the nun number is in decline. The best part of this is a little photo gallery near the front gate. It has pictures of the aging nuns going about there daily buisness. My favourite is the one where they are sat in deckchairs on a snow covered roof , laughing there bits off, doing what appears to be a mexican wave. Another shows them in the middle of a snowball fight around a great little snow nun they had made. Now they didnt show that in the movie.
From the convent we made our way up to the castle. It was a tad expensive but we had a great couple of hours walking through its numerous rooms and exhibitions. Worth a visit if you find yourselves stuck for something to do when your in Salzburg.
The rest of the day was spent just walking around the shops and cafes within the medieval town. There are a lot of shops selling lederhosen and traditional Austrian dresses. At first I thought these were purely for the tourists but im glad to say I am amazed to see so many locals actually wearing them as day to day apparrel. Of course you do get tourists, usually Japanese, parading about in them like an oriental Heidi but im glad to say they are the exception not the rule.
Of course Crispy wanted one but I managed to ralk her out of it after a few sulks and tantrums.
Dinner was spontaneous. We had called for a cheeky little drink at a resaraunt on the Golgasse when Crispys highly tuned senses picked up on the scent of roast pork. Shes like an airport security hound when it comes to roasted meats. The restaraunt served a local delicacy called Haxn. Pork knuckle but roasred all day so it falls off the bone. Gorgeous and after only having beef juices and vegetables yesterday set about it like a caveman. It was devoured in no time and I had to stop her gnawing at the bone to preventba possible dental type emergency.
After dinner we set off back towards the hotel. About halfway home the skies rapidly darkened and a thunderstorm of biblical proportions hit the city. It was rolling in from Germany and colliding with the high pressure over the alps producing an amazing lightning storm.
We took refuge in a bar till the blitzkrieg was over. The young fraulin working there was not happy that the gods had dumped gallons of water over her pristine little bar and as soon as the deluge was over ordered us to leave as she was tired, fed up and wanting to go home.
German hospitality at its finest..
Back to the hotel and bed time. Tomorrow we aim to head into the Black Forest for the day to visit Hitlers mountain top command centre. The eagles nest. Crispy is really excited at the prospect and is already worrying how many flights of stairs will be involved...
Bare and Crispy signing off, Salzburg, Austria
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