Salzburg, Romantic Road and Black Forest

November 21-24 2007
Salzburg, Fussen, Baden-Baden & Titisee.




Salzburg:
We took lots of Video footage as its really a buzzy place, and picturesque, so we had two days here. There are pictures of the Abbey and the gates where the Von- Trapp's held up when the Nazis were after them in "The Sound of Music". We spent lots of time in the old town in the squares and market areas, where Christmas was about to get into full swing. Our hotels were great, and we had a great time. We met some Aussies on the first night on the street when that were asking passers by if the spoke english, we said yes, you guys sound Aussie. So we stood there for 45 minutes talking to some english speaking people. it was great to hold a conversation. Like good Aussies, they swore like troopers,(made me feel like swearing too) we laughed heaps.
Pictures don't do this place justice, magical at night. It was really cold, so we did as the locals do, (you know the old sayng...when in Rome....) so we went to the square, drank some hot wine and stood around the open braziers, warming our cold little butts, watching the open air ice skaters, and listening to the band do their Christmas music.

Fussen (Romantic Road)
This area is known as the Romantic Road area which is south east of Munich, and goes up towards Stuttgart. THis was great scenery, with lots of snow,(see pics) and little towns dotted all the way along the way. This is Castle area of Germany, and we have a shot of one of King Ludwig's castles, which, if it looks familiar to you, is what Walt Disney modeled Disneyland's castle from.
We stayed overnight in Stuttgart, we were about half a km away from the Porsche Factory, its more like a city, amazing.

Baden-Baden, Titisee (The Black Forest)
Next Day down the Black Forest area. The start of this is Baden-Baden, and we stumbled on this place, but what a find. Its an up market town with natural thermal springs, with Ritzy hotels, and wonderful cobblestone pedestrian streets, in a very old traditional style. You could just tell there was money dripping off nearly everyone walking by.
They too were getting into Christmas (a decked out hotel courtyard with Nativity scene see Pic), its a wonderful experience as they really get into Christmas in Europe. At the end of the pedestrian area is the stream to the park and one of the buildings that one of the Kaisers had built, beautiful columns, and frescos, and ornate ceiling work as the photo shows. This places is nestled in the hillside, one of the worlds best kept secrets.
Towards the Swiss border, up in the alpine area, (found this by accident, as we went to Freizberg, but it was boring), so we decided to go Titisee, and started winding up through hills and through valley's, up up and up to Titisee. Ski resort on a highland lake, what more can you say.
Off to Switzerland.... bye