Carpenter File 6: Salzkammergut Excusion

So this weekend we took a group excursion to the Salzkammergut or “The Lake Country” near Salzburg. It was some of the most beautiful and peaceful scenery I’ve ever encountered. We saw the church where Maria got married in the Sound of Music (which correction I don’t go to school right next too...it’s next to an incredible old cathedral just not that specific one…random fact correction). However, I think all of you will be quite disappointed to discover that though the church is beautiful it is actually rather small. (the yellow one in the picture) I have no earthly idea how they made it look so massive in the movie!!! It’s really pretty but once again small!

Side note: You’d be surprised how unknown the film Sound of Music is over here! Actually most natives either haven’t seen it or hate it because of the obnoxious tourist who only come to the city because of the movie. The only people who really like the movie are the tourists! The scenes from the movie are filmed ALL over Salzburg. One scene to the next could be miles apart. It’s kind of disillusioning. Sorry to burst your Sound of Music Bubble but Edelweiss is also not the national anthem of Austria. Rogers and Hammerstein made that one up to! No one who is native knows the song. Kinda sad. It’s still cool the walk around the city and see the different fountains and scenery from the movie!

Anyway back to the Lake Country. We saw several lakes and even went on a Ferry Ride across one of the larger lakes. It was very peaceful and we all had fun joking and taking pictures. In St. Wolfgan, a little lake town, there were several weddings going on so it was neat to see everyone dressed up in the native Deirdal and Leiderhousin (the traditional dress in Austria). Then we went to Hallstat, my favorite little town so far! It is so small of a mountain town that the houses are built into the mountain on top of one another. It used to be only accessible by boat on the lake. The interesting thing about the city is that they have never had enough land for a large cemetery. So after 15 years or so people’s graves are dug up and the bones are taken out to make room for new graves. The people then decorate the bones and put them in the bone house! Kinda Cool huh! I know it sounds gross but it was really interesting. Also Hallstat had just about the most beautiful views. All the pictures above the group shot of the four girls are from Hallstat. The little paddleboats and the mountain reflection are my favorites!

P.S. I just learned how to cook Viener Schnitzle and Apple Strudel in Austrian Cuisine! You guys are going to love it!!!