1st full day in Salzburg

What a great 5+mile day; first, free breakfast in the hotel, and then off to do the Rick Steves' walk - very traditional of us and gives us a good feel for things while also seeing sights. All of this was on the other side of the Salzach River, indicating by its name that this was a critical junction for the salt trade. (Salzburg = salt fort).

This was the "Rome of the North" and lays just north of the Alps so lots of trading with Italy and Germany (before it became Germany) and all sorts of other places. It stayed independent until 1805 when it was annexed into Austria, having started in the late 8th century from one monk that came from Wurms, and later another from Ireland (St. Rupert and St. Virgil, respectively).

The imposing fortress on the hill started to be built in the late 11th century. This fortress was never breached as it scared everyone away for centuries, ensuring Salzburg's independence. They wisely used springs and the river and flushed the streets of filth, so Salzburg never underwent any Black Death from the plague in the Middle Ages. Nice.

Greg finally got a brat and gingerbread in the farmer's market before we hoofed it up to the fortress. Not! There was a wonderful funicular. Tooled around up there seeing views and a marionette museum (think little goatherd schtick in Sound of Music) before coming back to our side of the river and getting gelato. (See Vienna! You can open your gelato stores in March!)

Despite being a Saturday with incredible weather (high 50s) the crowds weren't bad, but I bet this place is nuts in the Summer.Read more