our personal travel agent has served us well again
vienna - tick - next - milan - but a very long haul
in-between lies salzburg so a day stopover organised
we roll into salzburg station and dump luggage in a locker
locate the information booth for a 10 second consultation
and are pointed in the correct direction with map in hand
we have about 6 hours in this town and another walking plan
very picturesque town/city too - snow-capped mountains in view
home of that huge film from the 60's - loved/hated here no doubt
first point of interest is the local and daily markets
tourists and locals mingling amongst the many stalls
lots of bread, meats, fruit/vege, cheese and pastries
the largest artichokes ever spotted - and chocolate banana cake
we start the eating day in local style and wish we had more time
the markets are next to the impressive main church and gardens
some time spent wandering and soaking up the easy atmosphere
across the river into the old town and more serious shops
small narrow streets and laneways packed with boutiques
the prices indicating a very affluent population
or most likely as it seems a popular tourist town
we limit ourselves to window-shopping and an ice-cream
observe mozart's birthplace and head to the town square
the cathedral is large, cool and as usual very impressive
a simple architectural style with blue/orange frescoes way up
we have a mission as we wander up hill to the fenicular railway
a brief and very steep ride up to the fortress overlooking the town
there's a cafe very strategically placed so beer and pretzels please
followed by an aimless wander around the town on the hill
bastions, dungeons, residences, halls, open areas to see
quite unique really and an hour or so easily soaked up
a pleasant stroll down the walkway to the lower town
we head towards the river and decide a rest is required
so we join the locals riverside on the grass and pass out
it really is a beautiful town - a return trip required
iced coffee is taken at a small streetside cafe
and a wander back to the train station
we manage to get on an earlier train
milan - via munich - here we come...
