Then we went for a bit of an explore...here is the Max Reinhardt Library - I went up the hidden stairway to get to this level.
Then another walk around the grounds...
Then it was time for another recreation - 30 years ago, I came here and stood on the other side of the lake, wistfully gazing across. Today, we walked around the lake to almost the same spot - even the ducks!
Then it was time to say goodbye to the Von Trapps and head into our little hotel in town - single rooms again here, and a cute, quirky little hotel - I had to write the name down for the taxi driver - Altstadthotel Kasererbraeu... The taxi driver had lovely classical music playing, which didn't really correlate to his driving - like a bat out of hell! It reminded me of the scene in Silence of the Lambs where Hannibal Lector is doing horrific things while listening to a symphony.
Anyway, we arrive in one piece each and even though it's early, we can check in and one room is ready so we can put our luggage in there. Then it's off for an explore...
The Fortress.
A square...
Dom zu Salzburg, huge church!
Through cute little laneways and market stalls, an expensive street...
Then we get to...
..Mozart's birthplace. Can't take photos here - which I found out the hard way when I did take a photo and the woman came running. There was a small sign by the door that you couldn't see as you walked in the door! I deleted the photo and then of course, the no photo signs were everywhere and obvious!
This is a great museum - they have his family history - parents and children, only two sons survived infancy, there were six all up, (I think). He loved his wife, Constanze, a lot, called her, "Beloved, dearest little wife."
There were original manuscripts, letters from Mozart to his parents, his wife, his sister. There were a few items of his - hair from his head, buttons, a ring, etc. There was his violin and piano, lots of information, really well laid out, and through the house they lived in and he was born in.
A lot of information on his career, his move to Vienna and travels all over, lots about his operas, set designs and music exerpts. There was one letter to his sister in which he described his daily life in Vienna - composing, lunch, visiting, composing again and so on, fascinating reading.
It would be great if you could visit these places without other tourists! Particularly tourists with children. There were so many annoying kids here and their parents didn't stop them from sprawling over the displays when others (us) were trying to look at them!
Couldn't take photos but here is a postcard of his violin and piano.
Great museum and fabulous composer!
Next, we wander down towards the bus stop, through the crowded streets. I am on the lookout for a camera shop as my camera card is now full and somehow or other, we find the one camera shop in all of Salzburg! The guy here is so very friendly and helpful - he sells me a camera card, wraps up my old card to protect it, and then gives us directions to the bus stop we are after. We are calling him Mr Handsome on the Inside...
We find the bus and hop on and then five minutes into the journey, the bus stops at a stop and doesn't start again. We see the driver hop off, look at something, try and close the side doors... This went on for a while then he gestured for us all to get off - out into the cold - and wait 20 minutes till the next bus came. What is it with us and Austria transport?
Anyway, the next bus did come along and we got on - it was very crowded and we were at the front, which was great coz we could see out to the pretty countryside.
Then we arrive at...
..Hellbrunn Palace, a summer palace built between 1612 and 1615 by a crazy guy, Markus Sittikus, the prince-archbishop of Salzburg at the time. It was like the theme park of its time and is hilarious and fun. We get our tickets and then have time to go into the palace for a short audio tour.
We go up the stairs and there are three doors, we go in the one marked like this...
..but in here, the number for the audio guide is 7. Trying to work this out and go back to the main hall. Look at one of the other doors and it is marked...
And the audio guide number in here is 4. So back to the entry and there is a third door marked...
And none of them lead to audio guide number 1 - we finally find that about two rooms over from the second door we went in - hilarious and an indication of the manner of this place! Room 1 was a large room with a fresco all over it. It had a large contraption with chairs on it, you sat on it and it revolved - picture is a bit fuzzy but it gives the idea...
Then there was the music room - amazing structure in here...
Lots of information about the palace and Markus, we didn't have time to listen to it all as we were due for the 3:00 tour of the trick fountains...
These start easily enough with an outdoor pond, garden and table...
You can see us all climbing onto the forum bit at the end and the long table and chairs on the left. The opening in the centre of the table was to keep drinks cold. Our guide explains how Markus would sit at the end of the table and when he got bored or wanted a bit of entertainment, he flipped a switch and...
..water sprayed out of the chairs and all over - and the guests were required to remain sitting. See his chair at the end of the table - dry...!
Then we go along a path with some random statues - Orpheus and Eurydice...
..into a little cave where there were birds singing - but they weren't birds, it was water contraptions set up so the water would run through whistles, making them sing like birds.
Along a waterway with little grottos depicting different scenes until we get to a really old little theatre where the characters moved, all run by water flowing.
At both these stops, while people were looking at different things, the guide would set of water hoses and spray people - they were everywhere! And they came unexpectedly and frequently. It was hilarious!
Then there was a crown that was lifted by a strong spray of water and our guide went crazy here with the water shoots - Alison copped a good splash.
You sort of had to try and stand somewhere that wasn't wet to start with - it was pretty safe there, but not totally. Too funny and so incredibly advanced for something that was build in 1612!! Markus was indeed crazy, but interesting.
Out through the lovely gardens and the occasional random statue.
Back to the bus stop, onto the bus and home for a quiet night.
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