Salzburg and Munich

"The hills are alive, with the sound of music"...yep, I went to Salzburg this past weekend! The birthplace of Mozart and home to the most well preserved castles throughout Europe, Salzburg boasts beautiful cathedrals and the scenery from the world famous film, the sound of Music. We started off our tour of Salzburg at the birthplace of Mozart, which has now been turned into the Cafe Tessa, my new favorite coffee and pastry shop. We then continued to the Roman ruins which were discovered in Salzburg, one of them being the fountain that Frauline Maria dips her hand in, during the Sound of Music. I think the most beautiful part of Salzburg for me was standing in the stone courtyard of the cathedral of Salzburg and listening to the bells toll. It truly felt like I was in a movie, that what I was seeing before my own eyes, was a dream. We also went to the imperial gardens where the Sound of Music was filmed, and I had so much fun taking pictures and soaking in where I was. I went to the Augustiner for dinner, and I had the best chicken and pint of beer that I have ever tasted in my life! The next morning we traveled into Munich, Germany, and on the way we were actually able to visibly see the Eagle's Nest, one of Hitler's headquarters during World War II. Ironically, Hitler never actually spent much time on the Eagle's Nest, as he was afraid of heights. I also visited the cathedral of St. Michael, which is definately my favorite church I have visited so far. Although it doesn't look like much from the outside, St. Michael's Cathedral on the inside is another story. Dozens of golden statues of angels grace many of the walls of the cathedral and the altar is completely inlaid with gold, and a grandious statue of St. Michael is carves above the altar. Three of my friends and I also went to the  Residenz Palace, where the emporer and empress commissioned a summer home in celebration of the birth their son to be constructed. The palace was at least 3 acres wide as it wrapped around several blocks and gardens. We ended the night at the Haufbrauerhaus, the world renowned brewery, which is noted in helping put out fires with its beer during the Medievil Era. Monday morning I traveled to the small town of Mondsee, where the church that was used for the wedding in the Sound of Music was taken place. This quaint little town has a beautiful lake, which I actually swam in, even though it was about as cold as the water in Maine that I had swam in during the summer which is absolutely FREEZING. I have come to appreciate the beauty of Europe so much more than I could have ever imagined. Seeing these sites through pictures is not enough to experience the inginuity and genius that created the architecture I have learned about in my history classes.  I know that this would not have been possible without the generosity of my parents. I thank you both so much for allowing me to come to Europe and experience all that I have so far. I miss and love you both!