Eurotrip - Salzburg, Austria

We drove into Salzburg from Venice, it was about a 5-6 hour drive. After a few hours, the scenery starts changing and you are now driving through huge mountains, and smaller rivers running below and random waterfalls. (I can only imagine this place in the spring, when the falls are bigger, rivers are stronger, etc). The small farm houses built into these rolling hills, with their chimneys going, it was a sight. It is definitely one of the prettier drives Ive seen. 

Not an hour on the Austrian road, we approached a checkpoint (we did not buy a vinegette). 120 Euro fine. Should have bought a vinegette right away.

We got to Salzburg in the evening and Silvia (our airbnb host) greeted us. Coming from warmer temperatures and Italy to mountainous Austria within hours was a quick change. Dinner recommendation was heavy, but good, meat and dumpling. (Dumpling was just a ball of tasteless something, did not like it), but overall the meal was exactly what I needed.

One of the things I wanted to catch in Salzburg, was a classical music show, but nothing played the 2 nights we were there (off season you have to plan a little better). Crazy thing is when I looked on the wall during check in, our airbnb host Silvia, is in the middle of a poster, for one of the  classical music acts I was researching the night before.

We had one full day in Salzburg for some sightseeing. The day was pretty smooth, started out clutching to my Rick Steves guide and did a town self guide tour learning about the sites. The first little bit of wandering around the city left a great impression, small town, everybody riding around on bikes, city is clean, people are friendly, mountain back drop, the place looked amazing. I was pretty disappointed that the museum was closed on Mondays, was really looking forward to checking it out. I've seen a bunch of old churches, but the one in Salzburg was my favorite, it did not have the usual creepy church vibe, but felt open, had a lot of light and looked really pretty.

Following the Rick Steves self tour, I wondered into Sporer - www.sporer.at, and started tasting their liquors. There met some folks from the states and some local retired gentlemen that come to tie one off. I spent at least a few hours here, trying different liquors and gins. There, I started putting away some booze and just hanging out and getting to know the locals. Exactly how I wanted to spend the trip :)

Then made my way to the top of the fortress for the evening view. There met some more cats, locals that worked at a bar in the fortress and got some ski spot recommendations. The view at night was beautiful. There read some interesting stuff about the fortress and history of Salzburg, the city stayed out of the religious battles earlier in Europes history and were able to easily defend their town. The layout is really interesting as to the left of the fortress from the below pics the town is cradled by a side mountain and on the other side a river, creating a natural protection. Here are the recommendations in a random order, probably need some more research / googling.

• Schladming , zurhia
• Arlberg - ski spots
• Flauchau
• Obertaueren
• Ski amade

Our airbnb host, Silvia, (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/452260?euid=e3a03406-ea27-ef17-f208-e750ac55681e) made reservations for us and Anthony, who was an American Violin student that lived in the same house. Anthony is from Memphis, studying music in Salzburg, then looking to move to Loire valley to play the violin in a local concert hall. We did a little pregame at our place, eating sour ass apples and drinking local schnapps, then headed on the town.

The rest of the late night was a blast. We had dinner, then went to Augustiner, which is a real beer hall, my first. The concept of sitting in a hall at a monastery and drinking lots of cheap beer is a good one! While at Augustiner, we met some locals sitting next table to us, who spoke perfect English. After Augustiner, we went to Murphys law, an Irish pub, where we continued to mingle with Anthony, other American tourists and a few locals. The night was enhanced as we found the Schnitzel Queen by the river (late night grub for after 3-4am). 

My take - Overall Salzburg fit perfectly into what i wanted from my travel, some history, some castles, lots of beer drinking, local food eating and meeting both Americans abroad and locals and having a good time! Definitely top 2 or 3 spots at this point of the trip and a must visit!!!

Next morning we leave and head to Dachau, Germany to visit a concentration camp.

• Would still like to do

• • Kochelverzeichnis  - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g190441-d3728592-r141883898-Koechelverzeichnis-Salzburg_Austrian_Alps.html 
  • Museum, concert
  • fortress, rick steves walk
  • franziskischlossl - did not do it, not sure what it is
• Recommend
• • Our airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/452260?euid=e3a03406-ea27-ef17-f208-e750ac55681e 
  • Sporer
  • Murphy's Law Irish Pub - american football / bar to go to
  • Balkan grill
  • Schnitzel queen by the river
  • Augustiner
• Future trip idea fly in and out of Munich, rent a car, drive to Salzburg, then ski trip in austria - this would be a fun vacation.  Probably can do the same trip for Octoberfest (minus the skiing)