60 Hours in Salzburg

Written Friday afternoon driving through the Swiss Alps

How would I describe Austria? Green. Misty. Lush. Mountainous. Green.  Breathtakingly beautiful. And did I mention green? Peach, mint, and sunshine colored houses all sit in a row, with oversized bouquets of purple and hot pink flowers hanging from the windowsills. After spending a week in a concrete jungle, our short stop in Salzburg was much appreciated.

We had our first hostel experience in Salzburg, and I was pleasantly surprised. The rooms were quite cozy, but very clean and much nicer than I expected. We’ll stay at another hostel in Interlaken, where we’re traveling to right now, and another one in Geneva.

But back to Salzburg. This town is quintessential Europe. It’s small, it’s cute, and it has a castle you can see no matter where you are around town. We went to a concert at Mirabel Palace, where Mozart performed, and trekked up to the castle after dark. We walked through the city and marveled at Old Town with its creamy red marble and interconnecting squares. And of course, it wouldn’t have been Salzburg without taking The Sound of Music Tour. Twenty girls from our trip went on it, and our guide told us we were the most enthusiastic tour she’s ever had. Basically, we rode around to all of the important sights where the movie was filmed and learn fun stories about the cast. Oh, and did I mention that by the end of the tour we had sung every song from the movie? Yes, it was every girl’s little piece of childhood heaven played out in real time right before our eyes.

We saw the two palaces used to film the house, the gazebo, the lake where they tip over in the boat, and took a beautiful drive into the mountains. The church where the wedding was filmed was breathtaking in person, and the lake town of Mondsee was as cute as can be. So, we ate gelato and sat by the lake over looking the Austrian Alps. It was one of those glittering moments from this trip that I don’t want to forget. Because my time here, this trip, it is a gift. A huge blessing. So, I’m taking this glimmering gift and running with it for all it’s worth. 

We just crossed the border into Switzerland, and soon we’ll stop in Zurich for a few hours before heading to Interlaken. We’re onto country #4 on this wild adventure. I’m trying to pay careful heed to God, to recognize that every part of this trip is a gift from him. The days in class, the late nights reading, the wandering adventure to find the most authentic locals-filled place to stop for dinner, all is a gift. It’s hard sometimes, because our days are overflowing with so much that the most time I have alone is in the shower, and even that’s as quick as I can make it. But I see the beauty of creation everywhere, in the misty, misty Alps, so misty that when we went up to the Eagle’s Next yesterday (Hitler’s Austrian hideaway), instead of gorgeous views of the Alps and valley below us, all we saw was fog, white fog and mist so dense I had to squint at times. But I’ve learned to give thanks in all things. Because, a true saving faith is a faith that gives thanks, a faith that sees God, a faith that deeply trusts. It’s my job to receive the gifts, no matter what the Giver chooses to give. So here’s to another city, another country, another opportunity to bring a little bit of the divine into everyday Europe Semester life, and another chance to shamelessly celebrate God’ s glorious creation.

Elizabeth and I at Hellbrunn Castle in Salzburg

Emily & I at the Eagle's Nest 

Out in Prague

Dessert on the terrace at the Charles Bridge in Prague