A Very Good Place To Start...

I'm not sure if you heard, but this lady, the last surviving child of the original seven von Trapp children, died at 99 a few weeks ago. Maria was third of the Captain's seven eldest and was the one who Maria, her eventual step mother, entered their household to tutor. She was the last to pass on to her parents and brothers and sisters, survived by her father and step-mother's three children and the family's continuing generations beyond that. 

Why am I sharing this with you all?

Well, I feel that I should because of what this meant to me. This family and the story that survives them all will always be alive in my heart and has shaped my life since my mother bought me "The Sound of Music" for my fifth birthday. And when I found out about Maria's recent death, I was deeply saddened by the close of an era that was the beginning of a new one for many, including me. 

I'll always be comforted to know that their story, whether in the movie or the elder Maria or Agathe's books or simply in my head, will always be there for me. And I wanted to share that with you. My love for this family. I can't get too into it, because it's indescribable, and I don't like to be obnoxious in my obsessions, as it may come off as crazy (haha) but I promise you, this isn't like that.

In short, to understand better something that I love, it's The Sound of Music and the von Trapp's, so I thought that I would ease into sharing my trip to Salzburg with you because as you can imagine, it is my favorite place in the world. I've only been there once to date, as a part of my trip to Europe with my mom for graduation, but it wasn't like the first time you go somewhere and everything is so new. I felt as though I had been there all my life because in a way, I had. It was beautiful, historic, rich in culture, friendly... And my heart will always be held there.

Here is where it actually began, and we thankfully got to stay... The real "Villa Trapp" in Aigen, which is just outside of Salzburg. Can you believe it? We actually got to stay in Maria and Georg's bedroom from when the family relocated to the third floor bedrooms. (Confession: when I first got to the room and was sitting in the windowsill, letting it all sink in, I bawled my eyes out) The Villa itself and the landscapes surrounding it were gorgeous and I can't wait to return again and again!

The next exciting thing was The Sound of Music Tour that we went on. Fun, fun, fun!!! (I can assure you I was the first one on that bus)! This took us in and around Salzburg, through the mountains, to Mondsee (a little town where the wedding's cathedral was filmed) and back again. We listened to some of the soundtrack on the bus and everything!

Leopoldskron Palace. Used for the back of the movie's Villa.

Mommy and Me :)

The Gazebo. A must of course. It unfortunately cannot be entered by tourists anymore due to an older lady who decided to dance like Liesl and broke her hip on one of the tours. How silly!

Mondsee Cathedral. Where the wedding scene was filmed, also another place where I cried.

(Not very good quality, sorry! Much more beautiful in person!)

Outside of the tour, we visited a few other places...

Mirabell Gardens. Of course, where "Do Re Mi" was filmed. Absolutely beautiful. I always get teary-eyed listening to it now because I have flashbacks to where they were.

Residenz Square/Fountain. The fountain from "I Have Confidence" (of course I splashed the water) and there are the horse-drawn carriages trotting around the square as well, like the ones ridden by the children and Maria during "Do Re Me."

Here's some miscellaneous pictures, including the Mozart Footbridge, his Birthplace, one of the many side streets containing beautiful shops, some traditional, others high-end shopping. Also a view of Hohensalzburg fortress, which overlooks the city, nestled nearly beside Nonnberg Abbey where Maria had come from before arriving at the von Trapp Villa.

And finally, no city in Europe is complete without their own delicacies and scrumptious surprises. Mine were found in these decadent desserts, adorned with Mozart Liqueur, unlike anything you've ever tasted!

Well, there is my trip down memory lane and your trip along with mine to Salzburg. It really is such a remarkable place to me. I'm very lucky to have found that special place that holds my heart. I know that it will always be there for me to return to, to feel at home. And it's all because the von Trapp's shared their remarkable story with the world and it will be there forever, for all of us to share with whoever we so choose to. I'm sharing with you, as I will with my family and friends (pretty much anyone who will listen haha). I will always be thankful for this story, the family, and this fantastic place for being a part of my life...