THE VAN TRIP(PS) IN AUSTRIA

In Salzburg, Austria, last summer we were limited on time so we took a van tour around the city.

Like Savannah, Georgia, thrives on the movie
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Salzburg hypes The Sound of Music unabashedly. "Here's where Maria and the children were dancing atop this beautiful fresco." Another time our guide gushed, "The backside of this castle was the backside of the Von Trapp house." We seemed to be paying more attention to two beautiful swans next to the shoreline and almost within reach. As I stood next to one, she looked up at me as if to ask for food and when receiving none left me for another. Actually 3 others. Baby swans with hair before feathers. Is that what down is? Anyhow, they were fun to watch with that backdrop.

Actually, we like The Sound of Music and would have taken the 4-hour tour but our schedule wouldn't allow. We didn't even get to see any edelweiss. But I hear it's hard to find even in the land where "the hills are alive."

Our van ride continued as the Alps seemed to get taller and taller. Obscured by clouds now and then, mountain tops would break through and we could see fresh snow. Mostly shrouded in clouds, hitler's Eagles Nest was pointed out by Irene, our guide. He couldn't have seen much on this day, but maybe it was days like this when he didn't want to be seen, when his conscience got the best of him. Oh, now, we were in the land of The Sound of Music, so I could be a little dreamy.

After lunch half way up a funicular or tram or cogwheel that soared up the mountains, we rode the rest of the way to a very cold top. Great views when clouds rolled past were a highlight as well as some sheep and hikers.

After our ride down, a 15-minute walk on cobblestones led us to our hotel, the Goldener Hirsh where we left for the train station for a ride to Innsbruck. I awaited some great sleep time.