Day 10 - Monday May 24, 1999 - Salzburg, Austria: The train trip from Vienna to Salzburg took a little over three hours. At the train station, I got a map of the city, and purchased a Salzburg Card (200ATS) that provides a 24 hour bus pass, and 24 hours of free entrance to the city's sights. It was such a nice afternoon, that I decided to walk to my nearby hotel, Pension Trumerstube at 6 Bergstrasse (995ATS per night, breakfast included), and checked in. It was another nice, clean, and larger than expected room with a window facing the small front street. I walked from my hotel to go into the old town across the Salzach river, I reached the small pedestrian Markatsteg bridge, and got my first sight of Salzburg a magnificent view of the river with the old town across the way all surrounded by beautiful green mountains, and the white Hohensalzburg Fortress up on top of the hill. At the entrance to the bridge, there was a large group of punk rocker teenagers who appear to live in the streets, and since they had some rather dangerous looking dogs, I decided it would be smarter to walk further down to the larger Staatsbrucke bridge to cross into the old town. It was getting late in the day, and all the sights were closed, so I just walked around the small town center in order to familiarize myself with it.

Day 11 - Tuesday May 25, 1999 - Salzburg, Austria: I woke up early, and walked into the old town, this time through the Markatsteg pedestrian bridge which was un-occupied by the dangerous looking teenagers. It was a very nice sunny day, and I was once again amazed by the scenic beauty of Salzburg's old town, being right next to the beautiful rapid running Salzach river, and totally surrounded by the lush green mountains. I walked to the Mozartplatz, at the center of this plaza is a statue of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Salzburg's most famous son who called the city home for the first 24 years of his life. I walked southwest into Residenz Platz, this square is in front of the Residenz, which was the home of the Archbishop of Salzburg, in the center there is a large baroque fountain with four beautiful horses at its base. The Residenz has guided tours of the interior, but since I only had one day in Salzburg I decided to not spend my time in there. Instead, I walked south under the walkway that the Archbishop had built to connect the Residenz with the cathedral into the Domplatz. The Domplatz is the plaza in front of Salzburg's Cathedral, at its center is a marble statue of the Virgin Mary facing away from the entrance to the cathedral. On the façade of the cathedral there are two angels holding a golden crown, so that if you stand in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary looking towards the cathedral, it appears as if she is being crowned by the two angels, a very cool trick. Although there has been a church at this location since 774, the current cathedral only dates to the 1700's, and is designed in the Baroque style. The cathedral's interior is quite magnificent, with a beautiful organ, and a very large dome exquisitely decorated with the golden dove of the Holy Spirit in its center.

I walked to St Peter's Cemetery just south of the cathedral. This old small cemetery is unique because it is situated right under a mountain cliff that has ancient catacombs carved into it. Next, I walked north to Universitatsplatz next to the Collegiate Church. This plaza has a lively colorful open air market where I purchased some sausage, bread, cheese, apples, and a soft drink for lunch. I then headed out to Mozart's Geburtshaus (birth house) where he was born on January 27, 1756. This yellow colored house is now a museum that displays manuscripts, and instruments used by Mozart, and his older sister, Maria Anna ("Nannerl"). Since I love Mozart's music, and having it heard performed live in Vienna just a couple of days earlier, I was very moved while visiting the house where this genius was born, and lived. My next stop, across the river from the old town, was Mozart's Wohnhaus where he lived from 1773-1780, it is also a museum dedicated to the great composer, and his works. Next, I walked through the gardens of the Mirabell Palace with a beautiful Pegasus fountain in front of the palace. Then, I crossed the Mullnersteg pedestrian bridge back to the old town side of the river, and walked the path along the river back towards the center of Salzburg enjoying the magnificent riverside views. I walked through the Kapitelplaz just south of the cathedral, and rode the funicular up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Riding with me were a couple of tourists, and two musicians that were to perform one of the almost daily concerts held in the fortress. The imposing white Hohensalzburg Fortress was built in 1077 to defend the city it looms over. It is the largest, fully preserved fortress in central Europe, and it was never conquered by enemy troops. Although it was getting dark, the views of the city down below from the fortress were still very impressive. I walked back down to Salzburg from the fortress through very small, and narrow streets that reminded me of the mediaeval origins of the town. My last stop in Salzburg this day was the Getreidegasse which is the city's main street, hosting many restaurants, and shops. My only regret with Salzburg was having only one full day to explore this beautiful small city.

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