With some lovely ladies at the 2003 Christkindlmarkt
Nothing, not even my creaky joints (more on that later), can quell my enthusiasm for our week-long trip to Munich and Salzburg. We depart Saturday morning, and for about the past week I have been planning, planning, planning everything that I want to see, do and hear with Matt and Christopher. I can't wait to show them this nook of the world that I hold so dear to my heart. I've probably talked their ears off with some of my experiences and my wishlist for the coming week. In no particular order, here are some of the things I can't wait to do with them:
1. Portrait of Jesus in the Dom - There is a large, beautiful painting of Jesus in the nave of the Salzburger Dom that captivates me. When I am standing in front of it, I feel such peace and presence. When I felt stressed or troubled during my two semesters in Salzburg, I often went here to find solace.
2. Augustiner - Second to Haus Wartenburg, I probably spent more time here than anyplace else in Salzburg. Studying, reading, writing, people watching or socializing, the cavernous rooms filled with wooden tables and benches are so familiar to me that I can close my eyes and smell them and hear the dull roar of Austrians of all ages laughing, eating and drinking.
3. Wandering up and down Getriedgasse - The ironwork signs and cobblestone streets make this one of my favorite places to people watch and window shop. Plus I love ducking into passageways and finding previously undiscovered shops and cafes. I'm hoping the organ grinder with the monkey and the lady selling handmade marionettes are both still there.
4. Coffee and sweets at a cafe - There is something eternally lovely about sitting down in an immaculately decorated cafe, ordering a coffee and some delectable sweet such as Sacher Torte or Mozart's Mistress and spending a leisurely hour or two reflecting on your day. Our hotel offers afternoon "Kaffee und Kuchen," but I also plan to visit my old haunts of Cafe Tomaselli and Cafe Nimetz (where my friends Iris and Sarah and I once made dinner of dessert).
5. Schnitzel with noodles - And warm apfelstrudel, kasekrainer, pretzelbrot, Mozartkugel, tafelspitz, spaetzle, gluhwein, all kinds of wursts and crusty rolls. Did I mention I love Austrian cuisine? YUM! And Doner Kebab, because that is an institution unto itself :).
6. The Orangerie at Schloss Mirabell - I found this little jewel by accident, but its the perfect place to warm up if the weather is a bit nippy after strolling through the gardens. The glass room contains exotic plants, iron benches and a water fountain where small turtles swim and lounge on rocks. If only all of us could have such a room attached to our house.
7. The Glockenspiel and other bells of Salzburg - One of the other sensory delights of Salzburg is its glockenspiel and bells of the surrounding churches, convents and monasteries. The surrounding hills may be alive with it, but the town is also full of the sound of music. I love to hear the different tones of the bells and occasionally catch a peek at them swinging in their towers.
8. Christkindlmarkt - I'm delighted that our visit will coincide with the beginning of the Advent season. Salzburg at this time of year is incredible. The market is full of vendors selling Austrian street food, warm spiced wine and traditional Austrian crafts. Street musicians form impromptu holiday concerts. You can run into a gentle St. Nicholas or wild and wooly Krampus just walking down the street.
9. Crossing the Salzach - The view either direction is beautiful. From the Old Town side, you can see the elegant Hotel Sacher, Mozart's Home and the rising Kapuzinerberg. From the New Town, the view is breathtaking: the spires and domes of the churches, the Baroque facades of the buildings and above it all, the Festung Hohensalzburg.
10. Gruss Gott - I can't wait to hear my first greeting of "Gruss Gott!" once we land in Munich. How pleasant is it that a phrase that translates roughly as "may God greet you" is the default greeting in Bavaria and Austria? I've been teaching Christopher to use it and can't wait to hear his little voice chirp it back to someone during our trip.
2. Augustiner - Second to Haus Wartenburg, I probably spent more time here than anyplace else in Salzburg. Studying, reading, writing, people watching or socializing, the cavernous rooms filled with wooden tables and benches are so familiar to me that I can close my eyes and smell them and hear the dull roar of Austrians of all ages laughing, eating and drinking.
3. Wandering up and down Getriedgasse - The ironwork signs and cobblestone streets make this one of my favorite places to people watch and window shop. Plus I love ducking into passageways and finding previously undiscovered shops and cafes. I'm hoping the organ grinder with the monkey and the lady selling handmade marionettes are both still there.
4. Coffee and sweets at a cafe - There is something eternally lovely about sitting down in an immaculately decorated cafe, ordering a coffee and some delectable sweet such as Sacher Torte or Mozart's Mistress and spending a leisurely hour or two reflecting on your day. Our hotel offers afternoon "Kaffee und Kuchen," but I also plan to visit my old haunts of Cafe Tomaselli and Cafe Nimetz (where my friends Iris and Sarah and I once made dinner of dessert).
5. Schnitzel with noodles - And warm apfelstrudel, kasekrainer, pretzelbrot, Mozartkugel, tafelspitz, spaetzle, gluhwein, all kinds of wursts and crusty rolls. Did I mention I love Austrian cuisine? YUM! And Doner Kebab, because that is an institution unto itself :).
6. The Orangerie at Schloss Mirabell - I found this little jewel by accident, but its the perfect place to warm up if the weather is a bit nippy after strolling through the gardens. The glass room contains exotic plants, iron benches and a water fountain where small turtles swim and lounge on rocks. If only all of us could have such a room attached to our house.
7. The Glockenspiel and other bells of Salzburg - One of the other sensory delights of Salzburg is its glockenspiel and bells of the surrounding churches, convents and monasteries. The surrounding hills may be alive with it, but the town is also full of the sound of music. I love to hear the different tones of the bells and occasionally catch a peek at them swinging in their towers.
8. Christkindlmarkt - I'm delighted that our visit will coincide with the beginning of the Advent season. Salzburg at this time of year is incredible. The market is full of vendors selling Austrian street food, warm spiced wine and traditional Austrian crafts. Street musicians form impromptu holiday concerts. You can run into a gentle St. Nicholas or wild and wooly Krampus just walking down the street.
9. Crossing the Salzach - The view either direction is beautiful. From the Old Town side, you can see the elegant Hotel Sacher, Mozart's Home and the rising Kapuzinerberg. From the New Town, the view is breathtaking: the spires and domes of the churches, the Baroque facades of the buildings and above it all, the Festung Hohensalzburg.
10. Gruss Gott - I can't wait to hear my first greeting of "Gruss Gott!" once we land in Munich. How pleasant is it that a phrase that translates roughly as "may God greet you" is the default greeting in Bavaria and Austria? I've been teaching Christopher to use it and can't wait to hear his little voice chirp it back to someone during our trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment