Innsbruck, a city in the western part of Austria, is a popular location for the Winter Olympics. This city is the least commercialized among the 3 that I visited (the other two are Vienna and Salzburg) and its untainted scenery is its greatest charm.
We were there bright and early on a weekday morning, before the crowds started streaming in via the Nordkette cable railway. And there we were, on top of the Seegrube and Hafeleka Mountains, enjoying the magnificent view of the alps with a cuppa hot chocolate.
In Salzburg, the hills are alive….with the sound of music!
Based on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers, The Sound of Music remains one of the most popular movie musicals to date. Beauty lies in simplicity, and in this case, it was the witty and fascinating romance of Maria and Captain von Trapp (not forgetting the gorgeous views of the Austrian landscape) that touched the hearts of millions, including that of yours truly.
Interestingly, the Austrians were totally oblivious to the existence and popularity of The Sound of Music as it was never screened in the country till recently. Hardly anyone in Austria (besides the tour guides) is familiar with the movie!
If you were to ask me for my honest opinion about the tour, I would say that save for the nuggets of historical information dished out by my humorous tour guide and the absolutely jaw dropping scenery, the tour was rather mundane because most of the attractions were out of bounds to visitors.
Much to my dismay, the famous gazebo where Liesl sang “Sixteen going on Seventeen” was locked and the majestic mansion where the Trapp family apparently lived could only be viewed from across a lake. I was even more disappointed to find out that the interior of the mansion in the movie was actually not authentic. The tour guide told us that Hollywood modelled it after the real mansion in Austria.
That moment of realization crushed me. I felt like a kid who just found out that Santa Claus never existed.
Nevertheless, the scenery was worth every bit of my time. Without this tour, I wouldn’t have ventured into the outskirts and stumbled upon the beautiful Mondsee Lake. Here are some of my favourite photos:
One of the key highlights of Salzburg is its Old Town. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is also where you’ll find Mozart’s birthplace alongside rows of modern shops housed in preserved baroque buildings.
I was excited about visiting the Old Town because Mozart’s birthplace, otherwise known as Mozart’s Geburtshaus, lies right in the heart of the town. The yellow visage makes it almost impossible to miss.
The food in Austria is generally tasty yet very affordable as compared to most European countries. My main course usually sets me back by about S$15 or at most S$20. I can’t remember what main course I had here, but it was probably pork with pasta. Doesn’t sound or look appetizing I know, but I swear it was good! The thing about meat dishes in Austria is that like the Chinese, the meat is always well-marinated, albeit with herbs and spices.
The meal at the cafe marked the end of my tour at Mozart Geburtshaus.
The Mozart family later shifted to a larger residence situated at Marketplatz in Salzburg and that has since been converted into a museum as well. But alas, I’ll be saving that for my next visit to Austria. π
Most importantly, these classic designs are evergreen so you’ll never go out of style!
Check them out at http://eldaffe.livejournal.com!
I usually go for the egg prata. It is fragrant and exceptionally crispy, even when it has been left on the table for a while. The best part is, it only costs S$1.50! Very economical indeed.
We brought my family there recently and they loved it as much as we did. I am so looking forward to my next meal there! π
Sometimes, gems appear when you least expect it. π
The journey up the mountains was already a feast for our eyes. We were treated to breathtaking views of the alps, accompanied by the confluence of white fluffy clouds and the early morning mist which lay atop the city like a blanket of velvety wool.
The entrance to Eagle’s Nest is located at the foot of the last mountain. You would first have to walk through a dark and dreary tunnel which leads you to an elevator that takes you right up to Eagle’s Nest.
I was very attracted to the Sisi Museum as I could relate to the Empress in many ways. In spite of her wilful ways, I could empathize with her plight and her constant desire to break free from social norms and conventional court rituals. This caused her to suffer from wanderlust and she was always travelling around Europe under a pseudonym.
Her relentless pursuit for freedom eventually cost her her life at age 60. An unfortunate twist of fate led to her tragic end while she was on holiday in Geneva. Her assassin was hoping to kill a prince from the House of Orleans, but turned his attention to Empress Sisi instead after her cover was blown in the local newspapers. She was stabbed in the heart.
Besides her penchant for freedom, Empress Sisi was also known for her beauty, fashion sense and her draconian diet and exercise regimen. She was extremely vain, as evidenced by her tireless efforts to preserve her beauty.
Vain as I am, I can never imagine taking half a day to wash my hair and spending another 3-4 hours just to style it. Well, but that was exactly what Empress Sisi did!
Incredible isn’t it?
She also stuck to a very strict regime to maintain her 20 inch waist. With Royce chocolates, Awfully Chocolate dark chocolate ice-cream and Best Fries Forever (YUMMY!!!) all within my reach, I can never imagine myself going on a diet.
Empress Sisi was also romanticized in many Hollywood films and musicals, the most famous being Sissi – Forever my Love. She was portrayed as a public figure in these films, but in reality, the Empress was anthrophobic and often went around town with a scarf shielding her face.
Here’s a short clip on Empress Sisi in the movie Sissi-Forever my Love. The song, I belong to me, is from the Empress Sissi musical.
Have a great weekend everyone!
About Me
Hi! My name is Regina and I am a style, beauty and travel enthusiast who enjoys writing, photography and letting my creative juices flow.
My blogging journey has been nothing short of exciting. I was recently named the winner of Her World Magazineβs Estee Lauder Style Superstar Awards 2016. My blog was also awarded Best Fashion Blog (Grand Winner) at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014. The year before that, it won Best Online Shopping Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013.
Additionally, it is listed as one of the 10 interesting blogs on Singapore by AsiaWeb Direct (http://www-singapore.com/blogs.htm). I was also featured on both local and international mainstream media for my views on style, fashion and online shopping:
The Straits Times (14 Oct 2014)
The Business Times (14 Oct 2014)
My Paper (13 Oct 2014)
CNBC ("Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online" - 28 Dec 2014)
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Thank you!