Day 1 in Salzbur

We landed in Salzburg at 9:00am sharp, thanks to our early morning train (5:53 am)!

And easily navigated to our hotel by our Indian-Austrian Merc Taxi driver (Hardev: 0699/10277700). En-route our Indian taxi brother told us about refugee problem in Austria which was quite visible to us as the handsome Polizei surrounded the refuge camp right outside the railway station. 

So..we reached our hotel at 41- Leopoldkrone Strasse, Old Salzberg:(photo taken on early morning of the last day)

Photo taken on at 5:00 am

 We freshened up (at our abode for a three days ) and then headed for bus stand to start the journey to the "Sound of Music Tour" conducted by 'Panorama' services from 'Mirabellplatz'.  The best bus tour i have taken yet, for they made the tour experience something to cherish for long! The booking for this tour should be made in advance via internet.

Peter, the Sound of Music tour guide.

The tour was to start at 2:00pm. So we had enough time to fill our stomach with something vegitarich as it was difficult to get anything ohne fleish (without meat). You can find a few bakeries around, selling veg pizzas.
The whole tour completed by 6:00pm and thereafter, we were left to our own wish of exploring the city. Here are some of the pics from the Sound of Music Tour:

The best ever 'Apfel Strudel' in Europe!

Mondsee (lake) near ST. Michael Church

St. Michael Church (following the footsteps of
 Von trapp Family of Sound of Music fame. 

Mondsee (one of the beautiful lakes in Austria)

Birds of same feather flock together.

Now our stomach needed something to gulp and we found this paradise of palate in the disguise of 'Kathmandu', as restaurant near our guest house that served delicious Indo-Nepali cousine. We were so busy enjoying the home like food away from home that we forgot to capture it in our cameras.

If you want to go there then take your handy and beep beep: +43 (0)650-2000510.

Day2: We were off to Wien (Vienna). We were awestruck by the liveliness of the city center which exceeded we we see at Koenigstrasse in Stuttgart. We took 40 minutes ride of the city's main attraction on a horse driven carriage. It made us realize soon  that Vienna cannot be covered in a days tour. To enjoy the beauty encompassed within the city, one has to a few days in hand. However, we tried to cover as much as we could, including the Opera House (one would want to witness a live Opera here someday, if one has a bend for theater). 

St. Stephan's Church

Inside Opera

Trying hard to pose near old Denau River.

Day 3: And there comes the last day (and we have so much to share). We traveled to two attractions, Wierfen for "Ice Caves" and Hallen where salt mines are turned into tourist attraction. We took a train from Salzburg and in 45 minutes we reached Wierfen, where we again took a local bus that took us to the base of 'Ice caves'. Here we met another Indian group of 16, who asked us to join them to be a group of 20. Because, a group of 20 tourists fetched us discount of around 4 Euros. So.., you know what we did !:). Then we trekked for around 15 minutes and hola!!! comes into our sight a Funicular (kind of cable elevator), that took us to the height of 3000 ~ meters. And finally, from here we marched to the base of the Ice caves. The trek that is around one and a half kilometers long is a treat to the eyes. For a moment we forget everything and let the time stop as your eyes gorge the beauty around! The snow laden peaks and white blanket of clouds around it will make this journey longer, as you tend to stop at every step you take.

Alps!!! defines enough itself.

After being bowled over by 

the beauty of the Ice cave trek, we started for the Salt mine tour. It was about 20 minutes by train and lies in between Salzburg city and Wierfen.

However, beauty of ice-caves over shadowed the fun at the salt mines. So, we would suggest, first complete the salt mine tour and then go for the Ice-cave trek. Also, it would be strategic because while travelling from Salzburg to Wierfen, Hallen comes in between. 

Here comes the end of our trip to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and 'Sound of Music' ! To enjoy it better, you may want to watch this musical movie first. But, even if you don't, the guide would help to relive the movie in an interesting and funny way.. 

Wish you good luck with your trip planning! 

And as it says in Salzburg, Auf Gluck!!!