Vienna

Vienna led us to a hostel on the west side of town. It was an easy navigation with their underground and tram systems, which are fabulous. We had a big two bedroom suite, that was clean but poorly laid out with kitchen and bathroom behind the same door. Oh, and don't forget the entryway with some semblance of a lazy boy chair and desk. The conversion of these old family homes into hostel rooms are quite the adventure.

Hotel Hernals

The first night there we went to Prater square, and rode the oldest ferris wheel in Austria. It was built for the world fair in the late 1800's. Char was freaked out because of it's hieght and creakiness. Krystal walked from one side of the box (big enough to hold table and chairs for 6 people) to the other just to add to her freaked-out-ness!

Char trying to act calm

Loosing time on computer, will post more later!.... :)

Wrapping up Salzburg and off to Vienna (Wein)

Our hotel concierge suggested a restruant with traditional dishes. Char had the wiener schnitzel and Krystal had fried chicken (but just to try the cucumber dill potato salad!). Veal is quite tasty battered and deep fried with cranberry sauce. We ordered a very expensive traditional desseret, Salzburger Nockerl. It's just a big 'ol soufle served on cranberry sauce! We ate it, but cannot reccommend it. :) We gave 1/3 of it away to the people next to us, and they loved it...so be it. We wanted traditional regional food and we got it, along with italian children chucking food stuffs out of their 4th story window into the courtyard. But we ratted them out, and we are pretty sure their butts got canned.

The smiles were before we tried the stuff!

Do I have anything in my teeth?

Sunday morning took us to church where we met several other travelers. The ward is very friendly and accomdated us with headsets for translation. In sunday school we had an Elder sit behind us a talked into our ears for translation. He was from Maryland. After church we met 2 sisters serving from Ohio and Utah. The travelers we met, whom Char nicknamed as "Louisanna" and "Utah" shared the cab with us back to the hotel and saved us 5 euro's! The boys were too young for Charlotte and Krystal was too old for them.

After church we saddled up our backpacks and walked to the train station where we bought our train pass (ouch) and headed back to Vienna. Bye Salzburg, you have been good to us!

On the train we found ourselves sitting behind a mother and son (9 years or so). The darling little boy was a royal pain. He fought with his mom when she tried to take a toy away from him, and they had slap fight right there in front of us! Let's just say we were glad when that train ride was over.

Waiting for our train

Side Note Post

Free internet in the hotels don't allow us to use usb devices, so until we find one that does, you'll just have to use your imagination! :)

Day in Salzburg

Today we started with a tour of the Sound of Music sights where it was filmed on location, including the lake, gazebo, church where they were married, and the strolled in the Maribell gardens. Char decided to lead the tour bus in Do Re Mi (they loved her and took pictures!). Oh, and coming soon to Youtube our very own rendition of the song! :) We had some of the best known warm apple struedel with vanilla ice cream. Took lots of fun pictures, had a short power nap to rest the feet, and now we are off to go find some dinner! Oh, and hopefully some cute men! Salzburg is beautiful and exciting. Our feet are tired but we are loving it anyway. Salzburg is an old town but new to us, and has treated us well. Tomorrow we are back to Vienna after church in the morning. Gospels the same in all languages right?

Gazebo

Leading "Do Re Mi" on bus

Arriving in Salzburg

Well, after travelling for 36 hours straight, and getting to know way too much about the terminals in New Jersey (saw Statue of Liberty and Empire state building from airplane...so cool!) we finally landed in Vienna then quickly jumped on a train for 3.5 hrs to Salzburg.

On the train to Salzburg

On the train we chatted with Reanhart, a teacher on the way to a conference (ok, Krystal mostly slept), who told us all kinds of history about the area. We quickly jumped in the shower and ran off (like we run...taxi was more like it) to a marionette show of The Sound of Music. Awesome!! Those dolls are so small!

Char with a bloody little marrionnette

Krystal in front of Sound of Music marrionnette with "Maria" on bike.

After the show we strolled home on the freshly rained streets, and had some italian food. Yah, who eats italian food in Austria, but it was all that was open that late. We finally crashed for the night. Oh, but not until after some yummy white chocolate mouse with pistachio and candied cherry dessert. Char just liked the dark chocolate drizzle!

Enjoying white chocolate mouse

Off to Europe!

Check back for updates as my Aunt Charlotte and I (hopefully Shay too!) take off on our 30th and 50th birthdays adventure (drum roll please)...backpacking in Europe! We will be exploring Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. I will try to post as often as possible, so you can be continually jealous of all our fun! hehe. :)