From Salzburg to Prague
OK, in Prague now. So much easier to concentrate without that film on in the background. Only got as far 'The Lonely Goat Herd' on Saturday night but made it up to 'I Must Have Done Something Good' on Sunday night. Fully intend to see it all the way through when I return.
Salzburg is beautiful. Only really view of the hills (or mountains) was on Monday morning when we were going to the station.
Rained a lot and snowed and was generally very cold. Incredible views from the Schloss, the fortress. The city is quite small and sits on the river between the hills. It doesn't impose itself on the landscape and doesn't climb the mountains. There's still a lot of farm land and country side out beyond it. Fortress is virtually impregnable and was never captured in battle. Though it was voluntarily surrendered to Napoleon in about 1805 (what can I say? The man was a military genius).
Had fun in a toy museum on Sunday morning and went to my first catholic mass in the evening. (We couldn't find the English speaking protestant church so we went to the English speaking catholic one instead.) Priest drank all the wine so we got Gluehwein (mulled wine) afterwards and drank it the Mozartplatz next to the outdoor ice rink.
Looking back to Munich, Michaelskirche was very impressive. Eugene Beauharnais-Napoleon is buried there. For those who don't pay attention to my Napoleonising, he was the son of the Empress Josephine and, I think, Napoleon I's adopted (and step-) son.
And did I mention Bamberg? Really easy, light atmosphere. The town has a unique history, built by Holy Roman Emporer Heinrich II, it was only ceded to Bavaria in 19th century. Been a holy place for almost 1000 years and was never bombed or suffered from a Reformation ('suffered' in terms of art loss, that is).
Salzburg is beautiful. Only really view of the hills (or mountains) was on Monday morning when we were going to the station.
Rained a lot and snowed and was generally very cold. Incredible views from the Schloss, the fortress. The city is quite small and sits on the river between the hills. It doesn't impose itself on the landscape and doesn't climb the mountains. There's still a lot of farm land and country side out beyond it. Fortress is virtually impregnable and was never captured in battle. Though it was voluntarily surrendered to Napoleon in about 1805 (what can I say? The man was a military genius).
Had fun in a toy museum on Sunday morning and went to my first catholic mass in the evening. (We couldn't find the English speaking protestant church so we went to the English speaking catholic one instead.) Priest drank all the wine so we got Gluehwein (mulled wine) afterwards and drank it the Mozartplatz next to the outdoor ice rink.
Looking back to Munich, Michaelskirche was very impressive. Eugene Beauharnais-Napoleon is buried there. For those who don't pay attention to my Napoleonising, he was the son of the Empress Josephine and, I think, Napoleon I's adopted (and step-) son.
And did I mention Bamberg? Really easy, light atmosphere. The town has a unique history, built by Holy Roman Emporer Heinrich II, it was only ceded to Bavaria in 19th century. Been a holy place for almost 1000 years and was never bombed or suffered from a Reformation ('suffered' in terms of art loss, that is).
posted by Michael at 5:47 am
2 Comments:
I think Napoleon modelled himself on Charlemaine. There's an argument: was Napoleon the last of the Warrior-Kings or the first of the modern dictators?
OK, very informed coments so far....but....
I watched Sound Of Music two nights ago, so I'll comment on THAT.
Wondrous film. I hope you have watched it all the way through now. I sang along with gusto throughout. Probably harder in a hostel.....
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