Austria!

Our next stop was Austria. We started out our time taking a little trip to LichentsteinKlamm-a beautiful area just outside of Salzburg where we went hiking. It was so nice to be outside with nice weather and seeing a new place in the world in nature. It's why I love hiking-being able to see God's creations relatively undisturbed.

 

We had a picnic at the end of our hike next to the waterfall. It was so nice and beautiful. It was a great day.

The next day was a definite highlight of the trip. I knew if we were going anywhere *near* Austria on this trip, that we would be doing a Sound of Music Tour! I loved it!! We decided to do a bike tour with "Frau Lein Maria" Bike Tours. They did a fantastic job and I had a really great time. Of course, we ran into about 4 other Mormons on our tour alone, haha.

Yeah...there's a SOM cow in the middle of the main plaza in Salzburg.

I mean, seriously, can you get any more beautiful than this?

"I have confidence in confidence alone..."

This was the actual church that Maria was a nun in and got married. It's actually different from the movie, but they *did* use the same front gate where the von Trapp kids come looking for Maria in the movie.

The von Trapp house.

"The hills are alive with the Sound of Music!" My best imitation :)

The gate at the church.

Love him!

I'd say this is a pretty good selfie for simultaneously riding a bike, wouldn't you say?

The front of the von Trapp house, which is actually a different building from the back of the von Trapp house. This is currently used to house Mozart concerts.

"I am sixteen, going on seventeen..."

The bridge where Maria and the curtain-clad von Trapp kids were getting their tomatoes.

It was a super fun tour! I'm so glad I got to do it!

We went to Church in Salzburg, which also happened to be Mother's Day. I got a "WunderBar" in appreciation from the ward. It was delicious and just what the baby needed at the time :).

We explored some trails near our hotel that led to some amazing views of the city, and brought us right up next to a castle!

This is back down in the town square area. I liked the little walkway :)

After church, we explored the town and castle. Some more great views of the city.

Austrians like their marionettes :)

On our last day in Austria, we went to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. It's a pretty crazy place that's way up high in the mountains-that was built in an insanely short amount of time. He wanted it there to have strategy meetings and so he could look down on the valley into Austria. He actually only went there a dozen times or so before his death.

This is the "hallway" leading into the elevator. Apparently Hitler would not be in a car in reverse, so he would have the driver drive up to the elevator, and then the driver would have to back out and then back back in this hallway to the elevator when he was ready to leave so he wouldn't have to be in the car in reverse.

He was also very claustrophobic, so the elevator was made with brass mirrors to appear bigger.

There were some a-mazing views of the valley and of the Alps.

Austria was so much fun! We also ended up having some Bavarian food on our way back from our tour. I discovered it wasn't exactly my favorite kind of food, but, you know, when in Austria/Germany, do as they do and eat the Weinerschnitzel... ;)