Salzburg, Austria

I am so excited to visit Salzburg! I am definitely the one who put this city on the list and I have to admit, my main reason for doing so is the movie “The Sound of Music.” I have loved the movie since I was a kid, when my little sister and I would perform all of the songs from the movie together in our living room. After watching the film time and time again, I decided that I had to visit the beautiful city of Salzburg one day. I have heard several times that the movie is purely an American thing and while “The Sound of Music” tours are offered in Salzburg to please American tourists, the movie isn’t a big deal to Austrians and other tourists visiting from around the world. While I would like to say that I am not going to be the typical American tourist singing and searching for every sight from the classic movie, I know that’s just not going to be possible. However, I am still very excited to see and appreciate what Salzburg has to offer apart from one of my favorite movies.

Salzburg is also the birthplace and former home of classical composer Mozart, who was born in Salzburg in 1756. Many sights around the city are related to Mozart’s life and music. While at first I was picturing Salzburg as a city swarming with Mozart fanatics and “The Sound of Music” lovers, the more I researched the city I realized that I think I am going to enjoy Salzburg even more than I originally planned. Pictures of the city look even more beautiful than I remember from the movie and the history in Salzburg goes much farther back than Mozart’s days.

In addition to The Sound of Music tour, which yes, we will spend one of our days in Salzburg on, here is a list of other top sights we plan to visit:

Hohensalzburg Fortress – Also known as “Salzburg Castle,” this castle/fortress (not quite sure exactly which one it is, looks more like a fortress to me) is the most dominant feature of the city’s skyline. The fortress sits above Salzburg offering great views of the city below it. It also features a couple of museums, but I am more excited to explore it and check out the view.


Hellbrunn Palace – Known for its gardens, "trick fountains" and the famous gazebo scene from “The Sound of Music” where Liesl sings “16 going on 17."


Hellbrunner Allee – I hope to take a walk down this charming alleyway which connects Salzburg with Hellbrunn Palace. Also off of Hellbrunner Allee is Schloss Frohnburg Palace, which was used for the exterior shots of the Von Trapp residence in the movie.


Salzburger Dom - The city's beautiful cathedral and one of Salzburg's top attractions.


Mozartplatz Square – A memorial to Mozart in the heart of the old town of Salzburg. Since I am not quite sure if we will have time to make it to the birthplace of Mozart, I would at least like to see the statue of the composer which stands in the middle of the square. Also in the square is the Salzburg Museum which exposes visitors to the history, arts and culture of Salzburg.

Residenz Palace - Once the palace of the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, now a magnificent palace open to the public in the old town of Salzburg.

Mirabell Palace – The palace is famous for its flowers and gardens, for fellow Sound of Music lovers, Mirabell gardens is where Maria and the children sing “Do Re Mi” on the steps of the garden, around Mirabell's famous fountain and run through a hedge tunnel.


Before we leave Salzburg we will have to try a "Mozartkugel" or a "Mozart Ball," a delicious dessert made of pistachio, marzipan and a nougat core coated in milk chocolate. These treats are extremely popular in Salzburg!


And of course, after we have the chance to visit a German beer hall in Munich, we will have to visit an Austrian beer hall in Salzburg to compare! I hope to visit Müllner Bräu, or the Augustiner Brewery which is supposed to serve Salzburg's most delicious beer!


For more information on what to do and see in Salzburg, Visit-Salzburg.net has a lot of great information and is where I did most of my research on Salzburg!

Munich, Germany

After our time in Italy, we will head into Germany. I am especially excited to visit and plan Munich, the capital of Bavaria which brings to mind beer, the beautiful Alps and Oktoberfest. I don’t know much about the city of Munich, but nearby are some places we’ve always wanted to visit. Because our interests will put us in the heart of beautiful Bavaria, it only makes sense for us to also explore the cultural and historical city of Munich while we are in the region for three days.

Day 1 - Explore Munich

We will kickoff our time in the capital of Bavaria with a visit to the oldest church in Munich, Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church), a 13th century gothic church in the heart of the city.

From there we will head to the nearby Viktualienmarkt, an open-air market known as the “stomach of Munich” with its fresh produce, wine, meats and cheeses.

We will stop by and check out Odeonsplatz, Munich’s most beautiful square near the Residenz (Royal Palace), which I am anxious to see.


If we have time we will visit the grounds of the historical 1972 Olympics, now known as Olympiapark.

We will spend the evening in one of Munich’s famous beer halls, I would really like to get the Bavarian beer hall experience at Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, which holds 4,500 singing and shouting beer drinkers. From there we will head out to experience Munich’s eclectic club scene.


Day 2 – Neuschwanstein

I am extremely excited to visit Neuschwanstein, Mad King Ludwig II’s fairytale castle, which is a two-hour trip from Munich in the medieval town of Füssen. The castle overlooks Füssen in the picturesque Alps and was built in the 19th century by the mad King Ludwig. The majestic landmark is known as the inspiration for the castle featured in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and for its role in the classic movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”


Day 3 – Dachau

We will spend our last day in Bavaria visiting Dachau, the Nazi’s first concentration camp. We really want to visit a concentration camp and since Dachau is only a 45-minute trip outside of Munich, this is the perfect opportunity. Dachau, which operated as a concentration camp from 1933-1945 is now renovated and preserved as a memorial. Two barracks remain to give visitors insight into the once horrible conditions at Dachau, which also now features a museum.


For more Munich travel information, Frommer's guide to Munich is a great resource!

And as always, suggestions are invited and welcomed!

Naples and Capri, Italy

After Lisbon we will be heading to Spain and then into Italy, getting into Chelsie and Chelsea’s planning of the trip. Chelsea studied abroad in Spain so we’ve decided she is going to plan our time there and Chelsie studied in Italy so she will be taking care of most of our time in Italy. However, none of us have ever been to or know much about Naples and Capri. My aunt and uncle spent their honeymoon visiting the Amalfi Coast and have told me how gorgeous it is. After seeing pictures, I’ve always wanted to visit Capri and the more I hear about Naples, the more interested and curious I become about the city. When I first brought this up to C and C, they were a little hesitant because Naples seems like it is so far down there! I’ve heard its only a two hour train ride from Rome, but it seems so removed and different than most of the places in Italy we will be going. I’ve also heard so many contrasting opinions on Naples, I don’t really know what to expect! But, I think that’s all the more reason to go. Italy is one of the destinations we are most excited about on this trip, so why not get a feel for a totally different region of Italia???? And besides, Naples is the birthplace of pizza! How could we not?

Naples

Also referred to as "Napoli," we will only be spending a day here before heading to Capri. I’ve heard Naples is the kind of place you either love or hate. It gets a bad rap for its corruption, congestion and of course the Mafia. Yes, all pretty bad things I suppose, but yet some people say its their favorite place in Italy! Why? Well there’s the….

Pizza! Napoli is the birthplace of pizza and I have heard it is amazing here. There are even rules in Naples governing how pizza in this city shall be made! I’ve decided we will be eating at Da Michele Pizza, the world famous restaurant mentioned in the book “Eat, Pray, Love” that started serving pizza in 1870! They only serve two kinds of pizza, Margherita and Marinara and I hear they are both Benissimo!


We will also visit The National Archaeological Museum of Naples. One day won’t leave us a lot of time for visiting sights, but I’ve heard this one is a must. We also won’t have time to make a day-trip to nearby Pompeii, so we can get a feel for the ancient Greek and Roman roots of the area by visiting this museum filled with ancient artifacts, many excavated at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

We will have to make a stop at the Duomo, Napoli’s most famous cathedral.


Most importantly, I want to get the feel for Naples by wandering through the city’s historic center, stopping at sights that interest us and taking a break to enjoy a cappuccino and a sfogliatelle, a clam shaped flaky pastry filled with sweetened rictotta cheese. These sweet treats are a staple in Naples and I am already excited to try one!


Capri

We will take a ferry from Naples, which will be about an hour and half ride and will surely include some incredible views!


There are two towns on the island of Capri, Capri and Anacapri. I am just going to go ahead and plan on us staying in Anacapri, which is located on a plateau above the town of Capri. I say this because it is less popular with tourists and therefore cheaper. But, it actually sounds better to me because it is quieter, more relaxing and includes some amazing views since it sits above the lively town of Capri. Also, since the island is so small, it’s still not very far from the excitement below it.

While on the island we will have to take the chairlift up to the top of Monte Solaro where we will enjoy the amazing views. Another must is to take a boat trip to the Grotta Azzurra, the legendary blue grotto, a cave which reflects blue light that illuminates the cavern and must be entered by rowboats of two to three passengers.


I think our two days on the island will be about relaxing from the craziness of our journey while we enjoy a limocello and simply enjoy the Mediterranean feel of the island with its abundance of lemon and olive trees, flowers and scenic views. The island is supposed to be easy to explore by foot since it is only three miles long and offers many hiking paths. We will take advantage of this by doing some hiking and enjoying the natural beauty of the island. Of course, we will have to spend one night experiencing the famous nightlife of Capri!

FRANCE

No trip to Europe is complete without a visit to France… the wine, the cheese, the romance, haha… however, as I mentioned in a previous blog post, we decided to forgo Paris on this trip. Not that I don’t want to go back to Paris, believe me I do and I will one day, but we want to see a different side of France on this trip. We’ve all been to Paris, but this time we want to go off the beaten path. We want to stay in the French countryside, have a picnic with some fresh cheese and a local bottle of wine, bike ride to the nearest chateau, you get the picture. The only problem is figuring out where exactly to go for this experience. Here are the options I have been entertaining:


The Loire Valley – This region is referred to as the “Garden of France” and boasts vineyards, flowers, chateaux and rolling green hills. Sounds exactly like what I have been looking for…. what makes this choice difficult is that there are several towns to choose from in the Loire Valley, the most appealing options seem to be:

Bourges – Paved stone streets, Medieval and Renaissance architecture, a beautiful gothic cathedral overlooking the town, nearby chateaux and vineyards….

Chambord – Home to the largest castle in the Loire Valley and I’m guessing it is also the home of Chambord, I’ll take a glass of champagne with a splash of Chambord while I tour the castle please…..


Tours – University town and known to many as the hub of the Loire Valley, features Renaissance mansions, museums, wine, nearby chateaux and castles, oh you know just the same old same old in the Loire Valley….

Amboise – Known for its beautiful castle and white stone houses, this town was also once the home of Leonardo Da Vinci….

Many great choices, they all sound amazing and pretty similar, however I don’t want to let my travelmates down and choose the wrong Loire Valley town! Tough decision I must face, I know…. Any suggestions?

Outside of the Loire Valley I am considering:


Bordeaux – Much larger than the towns of the Loire Valley, this port city is located in southwestern France on the Garonne River and is known as a university town. What caught my eye about Bordeaux is that it is the heart of France’s wine industry, but I guess also known by some for its art and history.


Lyon – One of the largest cities in France, a major industrial city, but more importantly, the gastronomical capital of France, need I say more?

At this point, the Lorie Valley is sounding like the place I want to be. As much as I love food and wine, I am sure the Loire Valley also has some fabulous food and wine to offer along with its smaller towns, wineries, castles and chateaux. Any suggestions about where to stay in the Loire Valley or about our other options are welcome! Too many choices.....

Travel Warning Issued For Americans In Europe

With all the talk and news stories this week about the elevated threat level for Americans in Europe, I felt it was necessary to discuss the issue of safety concerns abroad.

While I realize the risks of traveling to any foreign country, I’ve never really thought of my trip to Europe as especially dangerous. I’ve heard of so many people backpacking through Europe so the only safety concerns that have crossed my mine have been issues of petty theft, not terror. But generally, I haven’t been really worried about safety at all. My parents on the other hand, think that three girls traveling a foreign continent is the unsafest idea they’ve ever heard. Now, with this terror warning, I am even more scared to hear my parents’ thoughts!

Like most people, I’ve assumed that traveling to Europe is pretty safe with regards to terrorism. Europe seems like the safest place in the world for Americans to travel other than within the United States. I do remember the terrorist attacks on transportation systems in London and Madrid years ago and I will admit, I was a little nervous to ride the Tube in London, but I also get nervous riding the subway in NYC thinking how easily the same thing could happen.

I appreciate the warning from the State Department. People complain about the vagueness of this warning but people would criticize the government for not warning citizens if something were to happen. But considering the vagueness of the warning, what are Americans already abroad supposed to think? Or those about to leave on trips they’ve been planning for months, even years? It made me think how I would feel if this warning was issued while I was on my backpacking trip in the spring. Like most of the American travelers interviewed on CNN.com, I don’t think the warnings would change any of my plans, other than maybe not riding the metro systems.

I think the main implication of this travel warning is that in the future Americans may re-think traveling to Europe. Maybe Europe isn’t as safe for Americans as we have all assumed. Personally, this warning will have no effects on my trip in March. I would only reconsider travel plans if a very severe warning were issued for a specific location in Europe.

How do you all feel about the travel warning? Would it deter you from traveling to Europe?

Getting Around Europe

With our flights officially booked, our plans getting TO and FROM Europe are finally set! The next step is figuring out how we are going to get AROUND Europe once we’re actually there.

There are quite a few airlines in Europe that offer low-cost flights to many European destinations. Two that I know of are Easy Jet and Ryanair. I flew Ryanair twice last summer, to Dublin and Pisa. My travels on Ryanair were interesting to say the least, but you really can’t beat the prices. I booked my flight to Pisa a couple of weeks in advance and I remember it costing only about $50 round trip. However, as the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for!” For those of us that are not citizens of the European Union (EU), boarding a Ryan Air flight is quite a hassle. I saw plenty of EU citizens breeze by, but non-EU citizens must get their passport checked and boarding pass stamped before getting on the plane and the line is usually extremely long. Our group traveling to Pisa actually spent the night at the airport (London’s Stansted and that night is a story in itself) before our early morning flight and we still almost missed our plane because of the long passport line! On board, there are no assigned seats (think Southwest Airlines in the U.S.) and everything costs money (no free drinks). I have even heard that Ryan Air is proposing selling standing tickets! Cheap air travel definitely has its disadvantages but these cheap airlines get you from point A to point B for ridiculously low prices! I even know someone who found a free flight on Ryanair’s website and only had to pay tax! For those doing weekend traveling or looking to quickly get across the continent, budget airlines are a great option.

We’ve decided that our best option would be to travel Europe by train. We plan on visiting about 15 different places, so rail would be the easiest and cheapest for us. Eurail offers many different options. You can buy a pass for a particular country (if you are only traveling to one), to a few countries that border each other or a global pass that includes 21 European nations. Travelers should do some research on Raileurope.com to find the best option for themselves. The website allows you to input how long you will be traveling for, how many places you will be visiting and your age to determine the best deal for you. Based on my trip (2 months, visiting about 15 places, under the age of 26) I will be buying a “Global Youth Flexi Pass” which will allow me 15 days of travel in any of the 21 countries within 2 months. Flexi passes allow you to choose your travel days within the time frame (two months in my case) but consecutive day passes are cheaper. Eurail also offers discounts for seniors (60 and up) and a saver option for groups of 2 or more traveling together at all times. In addition, the youth option will save travelers under the age of 26 a good amount of money. I was initially expecting to pay about $1,000 for my rail pass but I will only be spending $674.

It should be mentioned that you cannot use your Eurail pass in Great Britain (you can only use your pass in the 21 participating nations). Great Britain uses its own train system called BritRail, which is completely independent of Eurail. Also separate from Eurail is the Eurostar, the high speed train that connects London to Paris and Brussels through the underground “Chunnel.”

Making A Plan

Staring to plan an 8 week backpacking trip is a pretty daunting task..... We realized this when we first sat down earlier this summer to begin the process. It's hard to figure out where to start! There are soooo many things to consider: Budget (How much can we spend and how do we know how far that is going to take us?), Timing (when to go and how long to stay in each location), Accommodations (Do we book hostels before we go or wait until we get there?) and my favorite part of the planning process.... developing an itinerary! We started out sprawled out in the corner of Barnes and Noble with probably 10 guide books. While these will be helpful when planning what to do in each place and where to stay, we found the internet to be most helpful starting off. During a Google Search I found a webpage (First Time Europe by Rick Steves) that mapped out an itinerary containing many of the places we wanted to go and for the right amount of time! Even the description fit us perfectly, "two months, plenty of energy and a desire to see as much of Europe as possible!" Using Rick Steve's itinerary as our foundation, we made some slight modifications (8 days in Scandinavia wasn't going to work) and developed our own perfect itinerary! Here is what we came up with:

London (U.K.)
Loire Valley or Bordeaux (France)
Lisbon (Portugal)
Valencia (Spain)
Barcelona (Spain)
South of France
Cinque Terre (Italy)
Rome (Italy)
Naples/Capri (Italy)
Florence, Venice, Verona (Italy)
Switzerland
Munich (Germany)
Salzburg (Austria)
Prague (Czech Republic)
Berlin (Germany)
Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Pretty extensive list, huh? It was actually longer at first and we had trouble trimming it down. Once we reached this list though, we just couldn't eliminate anymore places. Each of these stops is a "must-see" for at least one of us! Are there any other "must-sees" we overlooked? Are there any of these places that don't live up to the hype? I'm sure some of you will notice one big city missing from the list.....Paris! We all agreed to skip it. Each of us had the chance to visit Paris on our study abroad trips and felt that is wasn't somewhere we had to visit again. I know it sounds crazy, but I didn't love Paris as much as I thought I would! Should we give it another chance?

Please let me know your thoughts/advice on our tentative plan!

About This Blog

Hey everyone!

I'm really excited to start this blog! I've contributed to a few blogs before, but I have never had one of my own! When my Campaigns professor, Dr. Russell announced that one of our assignments this semester would be to actively participate in some form of social media, I knew that I was going to start a travel blog. I love to travel and I am currently planning the most exciting trip of my life! I hope to use this blog to talk about/plan for my trip as well as many other travel related topics! I plan to make it very interactive with lots of links, comments and hopefully followers :)

About my trip:

I don't really remember when we came up with the idea, but about a year ago (shortly after returning from our various study abroad programs) my two best friends (Chelsie and Chelsea) and I decided that after we graduated college we would take a backpacking trip around Europe. We all had so much fun on our study abroad trips in Europe and loved the traveling aspect, but wanted to go back and explore Europe without school work on our minds (I studied abroad at Oxford, so it was just as much work as it was play). We talked to our parents about our plans and received mixed reactions. Chelsie's Dad was excited for us, mine not so much.... After spending a lot of money funding our study abroad trips, our parents were understandably worried about how much this trip was going to cost. After promising that we were going to travel as cheaply as possible and fund part of the trip with our own money, our parents finally all agreed that this would indeed be the perfect graduation present!

We plan on leaving March 1st and returning at the end of April. We will be visiting about ten countries (mostly Western Europe). We will only be bringing our backpacks and plan to stay only in hostels! We've spent a lot of time this past summer doing some planning and I hope to use this blog to continue the planning process and receive some advice!


Chelsea, Me, Chelsie






Pisa, Italy


Notre Dame in Paris



The London Eye


Ireland