Navigational Nomads

Is it the city maps we are given, or is it us? Arriving in Salzburg, we booked into the MozartHotel and set out, map in hand, to see some of this city.

The friendliest man on reception drew on the map a few areas of interest. Turn left, end of street, turn right. Even we didn't muck that up. It was a tourist trap, er, I mean, main narrow shopping street, one side set hard up against the soaring rock face. Seems eleven men work after winter end each year on dangly lines to check all the sheer rock surfaces for small chipped or weaken pieces, to remove them and prevent SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH by falling rocks.

Lots of tiny arcades of shops and cafes dart off everywhere. Down one we enjoyed coffee and cake, which had a tangy plum centre to offset the sweet topping. A great balance of flavour. Walking on, we crossed the River Salzach via one of several bridges.

 This led to the old area of Salzburg which is mainly pedestrian areas. Again, lots of tourist shops. We found an outdoor market.

Have I mentioned the amazing variety of fruit here, especially berries and cherries. I bought cherries in both Berlin and Vienna for about €3.99 a kilo and they are plump and sweet. Rob would not try on lederhosen for me, though we saw several local men in them. This is SLzburg Festival time. We saw some very expensively attired people, no doubt heading off to festival events. Don't think our jeans and runners will make the dress code.

Anyway, with the map we tried to find a lovely treed park our Reception Man recommended. Two points. We never found it. We walked off the cake's calories trying to. We followed the path by the river a while. Its narrow banks had many out enjoying the sun. On the other side were impressive houses, several storeys tall, in separate gardens, that wealthy "burgers" probably built years go.

We saw the unusual enormous city fountain built by some rich man, maybe an archbiship? with sloping entrance either end, for the purpose of washing horses. I kid you not!! It is quite a wrm day today. Another perfect summer day as long as you re to trudging along in the heat lost. We eventually found our way back. Time for a refreshing shower, then an even more refreshing beverage, strictly for rehydration purposes.