The hills are alive with the sound of music

August 9

I was dreading writing my blog today so Andrew said he would do it for me. 

Here he goes: 

More like, "the hills are alive with the sound of raindrops." 

Anyway, I'm gonna start with the now and go backwards, not sure if that's been done before but that's how it's gonna be this time...

Right now, Allison and I are playing this game where you have to make the other person end up with one card, she can explain it to you later if you want to know, but we've been going mad for about an hour trying to figure out the math/strategy/whatever of it all, every time we think we have it down, we discover an exception to our rule, and we go crazy again.  Luckily, the beer is helping. Helping with what you ask? Not sure, but it always helps. We are currently at the Augustiner Beer Hall in Salzburg.  I think it was for the monks back in the day because there are religious items all around and the steins remind me of such and everyone is acting all monkey. Ha. But we are glad we came, it's very unique! 

Before this, we had just finished the "Original Sound of Music Tour."  We got off the bus and walked around Mirabell Gardens where her governess took the children around and taught them how to sing with deer and suns and far aways, something like that. It was cool and we took lots of pictures. Most of them are on my camera though because Allison is silly and ran out of space on her iphone. No worries, you'll see pictures at some point.

 

So before we got off the tour bus, we obviously got on. We were picked up from our hostel by a nice man in a nice van. He was very friendly and when we said we were from America he said "California!" Obviously we laughed and said noooo, Wiscansin and Virginia. He carried on and picked up a few more people, some Saudi Arabians and then more Americans, to which he replied "Texas!" And they weren't, but they turned out to be from just a few towns over from me in Leesburg! Always a small world. 

Anyway, we get on the tour bus and are greeted by a very friendly, excellent English speaker, he asks where we're from, and Allison says Wiscansin, (yes I'm spelling it how all you Wiscansians pronounce Wisconsin). we get on the bus and are whisked away not shortly after for the "Original Sound of Music Tour." Good times. 

He begins his spiel and tells all sorts of jokes and is very flamboyant but funny. He told us (privately at the first stop) this joke, "why did the woman cross the road? What does it matter, why is she out of the kitchen?" He then offers a counter-sexist joke and asks "How are men and a bottle of beer alike? They're both empty from the neck up." Equal opportunity jokester here. Good times. 

So we stop at the lake where they flip out of the boat in the movie. 

then get back on the bus and drive by the front of the house and the abbey and the gazebo, eventually getting on our way about an hour away in the lakes and mountains districts. 

Stopping for an hour at the church where Maria and Cap't Von Trapp get married. 

We check out the chuch and go for the restaurant the guide recommended for dessert, but by the time we order Kaisserschmarrn mit Vanillesoße, (a scrambled pancake with vanilla sauce, SO GOOD, haven't been able to find it during our travels together) they ask us what time our bus leaves and say it takes 15 minutes to make, unfortunately our bus left in 15 minutes. Time flew so she ordered garlic bread and I ordered a ham and cheese toasty. Delish, but time to go. Finish up the tour on the autobahn which bummed us out because the drive up was beautiful with the lakes and mountains and red bull headquarters. We finish up and lead to what you've read earlier. 

Terrible picture but this is the red bull headquarters. 

The more I drink and write the more I'm confused, but I think we're almost done, because basically we just have the morning to talk about, which consisted just of waking up around 9-10 and buying the tickets and then spending loads of time at McDonald's PURELY for their free wifi. But we also had some "good" seafood before the tour. 

I'm not sure I'm supposed to write about anymore before this morning, but I had a pretty comfy sleep and have no idea where I'm headed after this! Will probably say goodbye to Allison unfortunately but we have to go our separate ways. I was so glad to meet her at the Tent in Munich and we had a great time traveling for a few days together as solo travelers. I will never forget her and this week and "Prost" to all! Tschüss!

Andy Pandy