SALZBURG: DAY TWO September 7th, 2008

The best idea we have ever had. Everyone one else had been up to the Castle above the city. Everyone but us. We were saving it for the right moment. And I am so glad we did. It worked out so well. Sunday morning, we got up at about 5:00 am, and set out from our hostel. We wanted to see the sun come up on this city that we all had fallen in love with. What better place to see it from than the castle overlooking it? We got to the gates of the castle at the absolute perfect moment: some random kid, dressed like a skateboarder (perhaps an angel is disguise) had a key around his neck and was letting himself in. Caitlan just boldly stepped in front of him and said Danke! and pushed past him, because he was turning to lock it behind him. He disappeared and he never saw another soul the whole hour and a half we were in the castle. It was still quite dark, and we wound our way up the hill, and through the maze to almost the highest point. The city lay below us in the darkness, still sleeping. It was extremely quiet with a light breeze. Perfect. We sat down on the wall, or rather up on the wall, and waited. Scroll down for a progression of the sunrise.

Yeah, those are my feet dangling over a 750 year old castle wall high above the most beautiful city in the world at sunrise on a September Sunday. Wunderbar!

Caitlan, Liz and Christi, sitting on the wall in anticipation of the beauty that was about to be unveiled with the rising sun.

This is the city in those few magical early morning moments when you are not certain wether it is still night or already day. I guess they call that dawn. I searched the whole day to find a postcard like that. But my picture just was better.

Me, standing on, well, I don't know what exactly, enjoying the morning breeze.
Caitlan and Liz contemplating the sight.
Liz wanted that little flower...even if it meant hanging off a sheer-100 ft. drop wall for it.

Liz and her little blue flower. Sucess.

The pink church is the oldest in the town. It is in Mozartsplatz.
No caption necessary.
Christy and the Castle
What a morning!
The Castle Kapelle

Caitlan pumping from the cool dragon head well
So beautiful it makes you want to cry.

That looks like a nice spot for tea, eh?

Caitlan, Liz and I on a pile of cannon balls.
This Church across the river had the front doors wide open and you could see down the isle to the Tabernacle from where we were. You can't see it in the picture, though.

Going for a walk around 9 am Sunday morning. John Paul is taking the picture, and Brendan looking up.
Painting in the Parish church of mulln. If you can make it out, it is kinda dark, there is a random foot right under Veronica's veil. I have no idea, but there must be a story.
The interior of the Salzburg cathedral
Stopped by the parish church of Mulln across from the Augusteiner as we wandered early Sunday. It was built in 1450. Mass was about to begin.
Count them - one, two three, four, five organs! We were treated to a high Mozart Mass on Sunday, with a half orchestra, a choir of one hundred voices, and two organs playing!

The cuppola of the Salzburg Cathedral

Liz looking cute as usual
Look familiar? It is in Sound of Music...the Nunnberg convent.

The courtyard of the Nunnberg convent where Maria VonTrap was a postualant!

Grapes and Tomatoes on a stucco wall with a small fresco of Our Lady. Just stating the obvious.

Absolutely no more gelati. You can do it. Be strong.

I have definitely found my new favorite substance in the world, and its name is Gelati. There was a great little gelati shop in Salzburg. The Italian brothers there made it. They greeted you with a boisterous "Buon giorno, principessa!" and then they sang you an Italian song while scooping a generous protion of tiramisu gelati. I mean, how can a girl not fall in love with a guy singing to her in Italian while handing her gelati?

John and John Paul sharing the blue squishy pillow