The City of Music

This is the second instalment of our Golden Anniversary travels. We touched down in Salzburg last night, as the sun was setting behind the surrounding mountains in shades of pink and gold and made our way to the appropriately named Goldgasse Hotel situated in the old part of the city. Our hostess was on the door to meet us and plied us with a welcome glass of something sparkling whilst the formalities were dealt with. Something tells me all will be well, as the supper that followed was of a similar ilk!
Salzburg has long been on our hit list and is a small city that has changed little over the years I suspect. To say music is at its heart would not be far from the truth. It is of course the birthplace and home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the musical genius, and we have visited his birthplace today, along with his marital home, which is a museum, now next to a Spar shop. “How useful!” exclaimed Peter, “should the great man need a snack between compositions”! His musical output was prodigious, (Mozart’s not Peter’s!), having written his first symphony at eight years of age, but he struggled to make a living, as his outgoings always eclipsed his income (a common problem!). His early death at 35 in December 1791 left the world with the beginnings of modern music and his wife Constantia was tragically left to bring up their two surviving children alone. She was 29.
Salzburg is full of beautiful architectural masterpieces and is a joy to walk around. Lunchtime found us walking along the banks of the River Salzach when what should come into view but the terrace cafe of Hotel Sacher of Sachertorte fame. This of course was exactly what Peter had been waiting for and we took a table overlooking the river and the castle looming above the city, whilst we awaited delivery of the long awaited coffee and cake! It was no disappointment and quietly enjoyed to the full in the warm open air whilst watching the world go by.
It is Sunday and the inhabitants are out walking and socialising, beautifully turned out to a man and woman. No scruffy souls here. It was a joy to behold. Most of the fascinating individual shops are closed, it being the Sabbath, and we were reminded of days gone by in England, when Sunday was special and not just like any other day.
The other musical claim to fame of course is Salzburg being the city where ‘The Sound of Music was filmed. You can take ‘the tour’ should you so desire, but we chose to wander through many sites easily recognisable from the film and I kept expecting Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp children to appear around the corner at any moment, singing Do-Ray-Me! This was particularly true in the Mirabellgarten and the Pegasus fountain. In the grounds of the Schloss Mirabelle is a very grand Aviary built by one of the Archbishops to house his collection of singing birds. They were apparently in glorious full song today and so we went to take a look. A bit of a disappointment! The birdsong was on tape and an art installation of modern type was on display to represent our feathered friends. I’ll upload a photo so you can appraise the artistry!
Late in the day we reached The Dom Quartier of Baroque splendour, again little changed over the centuries. The superb Cathedral was Mozart’s church, where he was baptised and later became organist. Imagine the musical firsts performed here and written by the master?
It was whilst I was taking photos of the square that Peter had one of his incidents. Ever since we have been married he has been approached by strangers from time to time, demanding to know ‘where the Persil is kept these days young man’ and similar enquiries. Obviously, he is tall and was black haired, now white, and stands with an upright posture and an air of authority about him, as if he knows what he is doing, (quite untrue of course, he is just waiting for me!). Usually the question is in English and so can be answered with a degree of aplomb, not on this occasion. Out came a spate of questions from a German lady who seemed to think Peter was the answer to her prayers and didn’t take it very well when he didn’t ‘sprechen sie Deutsch’. Oh to be able to take a video at the correct moment rather than to be off taking photographs elsewhere! Let’s see what tomorrow brings!!Baca lagi