Salzburg
I vividly recall a trip to Salzburg during my 1994 Air Force enlistment. As my last duty, I vacationed with my Aunt Bruny, Uncle Jay, and Vivian. Many Zagreb friends recommended Salzburg due to its proximity. We planned the trip and watched “The Sound of Music” with the kids to get them excited.
Salzburg exceeded our expectations! We checked out the Augustine Brewery, founded by Austrian monks way back in 1621. It’s famous for its delicious beer and a gorgeous beer garden under chestnut trees. It was a real treat!
We explored the Hohenwerfen Castle, a 900-year-old fortified castle high above the Salzach valley. The kids learned about medieval life and torture. We also witnessed a falcon show where the birds dove close to us.
Dominic’s love for salt led us to the Salzwelten Salzburg, an old salt mine turned into a museum. We journeyed through the dark Middle Ages and the Iron Age to the Celtic miners. We slid down slides, briefly crossed into Germany, tasted salt brine, rafted over an underground salt lake, and viewed a mummy preserved by the salt.
Next, we visited the Mirabell Palace, where we danced around the fountain from “The Sound of Music” and admired its garden. There are also midget statues.
We visited Hellbrunn Palace, known for its trick fountains dating back over 400 years. Unfortunately, Dominic didn’t like getting wet by one of these fountains. There’s a table where guests of Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus sat on seats that suddenly squirted water up their butts, either to amuse or annoy them.
The kids were total champs! They bravely trotted over 8 miles through the beautiful city, checking out all sorts of churches like the Salzburg Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Graveyard, and Abbey. They even made a quick stop to grab some yummy Dutch cheese (except Papo, of course!).
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