Sarah, Author at She Reads

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Salzburg Can You Hear The Sound Of Music?

I have a confession to make. I’m an unashamed sound of music fan. It’s one of my favourites movies and something that reminds me of my childhood. So Salzburg was very high on the list if places to visit. And I was not disappointed.
Salzburg is a beautiful city. It is picturesque and a good mix and old and new. It has a rich history , both sad and happy but is perhaps most famous for being the birthplace of Mozart and of course the Sound of Music. So popular is Salzburg that 8 million people visit every year.

So things to see and do. The Festung Hohensalzburg is an amazing fortres that overlooks the old town. It also is home to classical concerts during the year.
If you are like me and a bit of sound of music fan then a tour is an absolute must. Not only for fans though as it takes you around various film sites but also showcases the amazing Austrian countryside. The tour was fabulous. We went out of the town to the hills…which were alive with the sound of music 🙂
We went with Gray line tours booked through the tourist centre in the old town. We had some amazing traditional food and local wine. A highly recommended restaurant is Zum Fidelen Affen, we had fabulous goulash and wine there. The staff were friendly and accommodating on a busy night with no reservation.
If you visit Austria you need to spend a few days visiting this historical town. There is heaps to see and do 🙂

October 24, 2013

Backpacking Europe

The Floating City Of Venice

Venezia, the Floating city, is made up of 118 islands within a lagoon linked by canals and bridges. When you visit you can see why it’s often called the city of bridges.
It’s Sarah here. I thought I’d write a wee blog about this incredible city which far exceeded my expectations.
Venezia is impossible to describe. It’s amazing. From the architecture to the atmosphere it’s romantic and beautiful.
We were yet again blessed with amazing weather both sunny and warm the two days we spent there.
Accommodation that is central is expensive however you can find some good bargains on ratestogo.com which is what we did and we were lucky enough to get a cute and central hotel for a reasonable price.

Venice is easily walkable and surprisingly not to hard to navigate.
We enjoyed a cruise on the canal which is a must do in Venice. Sitting in Piazza San Marco is lovely and great for people watching but be warned there is a service charge which is often hefty as they pay for the band that play in many bars. This is well worth the money for a great experience especially in the afternoon sun enjoying a glass of Chianti.

For those wanting to visit St marks basilica they are very strict on entry so don’t take backpacks in with you. It’s a unique church that is currently being restored. Also watch your footing it’s very uneven.
The food in Venezia is great . We ate very well and they cater to all budgets. Trattoria da Rino was a highlight. We ate their twice and both times we enjoyed our food. It was expensive but the risotto we had was amazing.
Overall Venice was great. I’d recommend visiting to anyone. It’s a world of its own and has to be seen to be believed. Especially as in fifty years time it probably won’t exist anymore. I think it’s safe to say we enjoyed our fair share of tiramisu in Italy and Venice also did not disappoint there! Italy was amazing but onto Austria it is!

October 18, 2013