The hills ARE alive...

Well, it is confirmed. The hills actually ARE alive with the Sound of Music in Salzburg.

First of all, my sad showing at the Rathaus on Thursday evening... The Rathaus is the scene of the Summer Film Festival, which is a big screen showing of all kinds of opera, concerts, ballet. First of all, they have this huge international food market, which was incredibly crowded and fun! And I do love food, and choices, and a chance to eat something that is NOT meat and potatoes and schnitzel of all kinds! Then, about 9:30, everyone gathers in the Platz in front of this huge screen to watch the opera. Thousands of people, and they actually are become absolutely silent. These Viennese take their opera seriously. But the staging was SO WEIRD! There were football players! I did not understand. My problem is that I was falling asleep by 10 pm. So sad. I am not a night person.

But it was all OK, because I had to get up at 6 am to head out to Salzburg. The city is charming, and I did go on the corny Sound of Music tour and loved every minute of it. And yes, I did sing along with the recording in the van. And hopped up and down the steps. And walked down the cathedral aisle. One of the best parts was that she drove us out to the beautiful lake district, which I do not think I would have seen otherwise.

Then yesterday evening, we went to a Salzbergian (that is a word) restaurant, and there was a huge group of ladies wearing gold hats (their equivalent of the red hat ladies in the US). As we were eating our delicious food, they sang folk songs. I love moments like that!

Today, my two friends went to the ice caves, and I did a couple Mozart museums and came home. Tonight, I will make a second attempt at the Rathaus for Tosca. I am an eternal optimist.