Salzburg

Salzburg, Austria

Day 1

+3C
Wet Snow

Our first full was a half day walking tour of old town, the perfect introduction to Salzburg. Our guide Anna (that would be the one volume-high-Anna) met us in the lobby at 12:30p and we headed out across the Salzach River just as the snow started to fall. Our walk included the main shopping street, Getreidegasse, the outdoor market...

... St. Peter Church and Cemetery,

To the funicular and the ride up to the Fortress Hohensalzburg...

back down, thru Residenz and Mozart squares...

... to Mozart's Birthplace...

... and back across the bridge to the Hotel for our first of many Wiener schnizels, and a pre-NYE nap.

We opted to celebrate New Years Eve at the hotel. The set meal, wines and service were outstanding.

Duet of Goose Liver with Quince, Cacao Brittle and Spiced Brioche...

Light Veloute of Muscat-Pumpkin with Roasted Scallop St-Jacques and Imperial Caviar...

Mosaic of Dover Sole and Alp Salmon with Thai asparagus, Bouillabasse Cream and Lobster Raviolini...

Crepinette of Quail on Parsley Puree, Sauces Duxelles with White Truffle Foam...

Filet of Mile Fed Veal with Barolo Sauce and Polenta Strudel...

And an amazing dessert...

Dinner was served in two very different rooms.

The eye candy in the loud group of Russians at the next table. Check out the cell phone charger.

As midnight approaches, we head out in the light rain for the fireworks...

After midnight, the chef and his staff parades the honored guest...

And the view from our room at the end of the night...

Day 2
+6C
Light Rain

Our driver/guide Peter picked us up at noon for the short 20 minute drive to the beautiful nearby Lake District.

In spite of the light rain, we really enjoyed the sleigh ride through the picturesque countryside.

For lunch, we stopped at the spectacular Schloss Fuschl.

And a nice sunset as the weather clears on our drive back to Salzburg...

Special thanks to SZG-based sentom for his outstanding suggestions for great Salzburg restaurants. Our first dinner was at trendy Magazin, a complex of buildings including wine bar, wine shop and floral decoration shop. But the star is the amazing contemporary restaurant located in an beautifully decorated old bunker.

With limited January 1st openings, we relied on tripadvisor.com's rankings and had a great meal at Gasthof Schloss Aigen.

Foamy sun choke-chili soup with pastry wrapped prawns...

Grilled venison...

Day 3

+5C
Light Rain/Fog
Peter picked us up at 9:30a and we head out for our day long visit to the Wachau Danube Valley, home to vineyards and historic villages. Unfortunately, clouds and at times dense fog blocked a lot of the spectacular vistas.

Our destination today was Lower Austria and the historical Stift Melk (Abbey Melk), one of the world's oldest Benedictine abbeys. The abbey is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube in Lower Austria.

We visited the museum...

The marble room...

The library...

And the church...

Our final Salzburg dinner was the culinary highlight of our stay, at amazing Pan e Vin. Our incredible meal was perhaps the best meal I have enjoyed anywhere in the past year.