Salzburg in the Rain

Got up early in Salzburg and caught a city trolley-bus to a stop near the Mirabell Palace, then walked about fifteen minutes across the river and into the old city. Passed the Rathaus (city hall) and the square with the fountain featured in The Sound of Music. The streets were pretty empty because it was still before eight in the morning and drizzling slightly.

Rather than walking up the steep path, we took a very modern funicular for a short ride up to the fortress. From the top we got this perspective of the old city and the river beyond it. Among the first things we saw in the fortress were its fortifications, and there were stacks of cannonballs everywhere. Mostly stone balls, in more-or-less standard weights of either about 24 pounds or 100 pounds. In addition to the many buildings that are part of the fortress there was a set of dioramas at the start of the museum tour that showed the successive stages in which the structure was built. This is the first stage, begun in 1075 by Archbishop-Prince Gebhard, whom I mentioned yesterday.

There was a lot to see in the museum, which wound its way through most of the rooms of the main castle building. We spent the morning exploring and enjoying the hilltop, before coming back down to walk the narrow streets of the old city. By the time we left the fortress, tour groups were beginning to arrive (I was surprised how light that door was on its hinges, despite its size!).

A constant but light rain probably thinned the crowds in the old city, from the throngs we saw (and escaped to the mountains) yesterday. We shopped for t-shirts and souvenirs -- I got an Austrian hat. Walked by Mozart's "Geburtshaus" and I sampled one of the chocolate-marsipan Mozartkugeln. The ones with the blue wrappers are reputed to be the best and I was duly impressed.

We jumped on another trolley-bus and were quickly back in North Salzburg. It was very nice not worrying about driving and parking. Went out for an early dinner only about a mile away from our Gasthof. Considered going back into the city to have a meal at a place that has been open 1,200 years and claims to be the oldest restaurant in Europe, but it was back in the old city and had prices to match its age. Overall, it was a great day of touristing. Tomorrow Hallstatt!