from the top of the untersberg (otherwise known as “maria’s mountain”)

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

in the sound of music’s famous opening sequence, maria runs down from the mountain, bursts into the abbey in a frenzy, and apologizes for her tardiness, excusing herself by blurting out to her fellow nuns, “i was on my mountain!” (or something to that effect; my copy of the dvd is in europe and, alas, i am not!).

fun fact: i’ve been to nonnberg abbey (the nonfictional convent, home to maria and her sisters) and the distance between its location and the untersberg mountain is…..very far.  in reality, it would have taken, like, days for maria to run from ‘her mountain’ to the abbey.

i got a couple of new emails last week, asking for salzburg travel tips (seriously, that city should be paying me by now…or at least naming a street after me?!) and i thought of yet another salzburg must-see (in addition to all of these recently listed to-dos).

the untersberg mountain is accessible by bus (bus 25 is the one i’ve always taken, but i’m sure there are others).  you can pay a small fee (19 euros, i want to say?) to ride a cable car to the mountain top and back down again.  once you reach the mountain’s peak (the height of which is just shy of 7,000 ft), you can drink a beer, eat a schnitzel, or just stand there looking toward the edge, trembling in fear, which is exactly what i did.  heights are not my friend.

when my parents and i visited, it looked nothing like maria’s mountain.  it was covered in snow and a little bit freezing, but wonderfully majestic nonetheless.

photo (38)photo (49)DSC01593kimhp7DSC01599
[photos: me, the untersberg in all its glory, my mom, my dad, a woman i do not know on skis]
also, can you believe some people bring their own skis and poles and cruise around the mountaintop with them?  such an austrian thing. if only i had been born on skis and raised in the alps, too... as for my parents and i, we were content standing around taking photos until it was time to eat again. it was great!
Alex said...

I appreciate the picture of the woman you do not know. I tend to take lots of pictures like that.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the fun fact - I will forever view Maria's arrival at the abbey differently. "Yeah, right, Maria - whatev!"

Those mountains look majestic. And cold. But mainly majestic.

Alyx said...

Oh my goodness. Austria. I so need to get down there. It's pathetic, but out of the approx. 5 years of my life spent in Germany, I have NEVER been to Austria (well, unless crossing the border and stepping out of the car counts).

Anonymous said...

I don't blame you for going on and on about Salzburg. If I ever live there, I will never shut up about it.

also, The Sound of Music is kind of the best.

choose to be happy blog said...

lets switch lives?

Jan said...

I loved going to that mountain. Especially the cable car ride all the way up!! It was beautiful. A cold but very sunny day - so it was great!!

Bridget said...

ugh. as a huge sound of music fan, i am totally jealous.

Jane {In The Pink & Green} said...

Oh my gosh, this looks incredible! I love the Sound of Music and when my husband and I were in Austria I made him take me on the Sound of Music bus tour (which was us and a bunch of retirees...awesome) and we went by a lot of spots in the movie and our guide pointed to the mountain, but that's so cool you got to go up to the top! I'd love to go back and do this! xoxo

Anonymous said...

before i head to salzburg ill just print out your blog. so keep these types of posts comin girl!

and you really should be getting paid by the city of salzburg. i may have to write them a letter and inform them of this.

Emily said...

"we were content standing around taking photos until it was time to eat again."

Love.

Taylor said...

holy wow!!!! this is one huge giveaway. i'm a follower!

Taylor said...

i follow teatime thoughts!

TeamRamsden said...

Obviously I have to comment. I went there on my Salzburg Hen Weekend, when we did the cheesy but amazing SOM tour and I got to whirl my arms around and sing. Much warmer that day than in your photos.

Hope you're feeling better today.

Jessica said...

It looks so beautiful there. And you look stunning. I absolutely love your sunnies.

Unknown said...

gorgeous pictures! it looks beautiful! xo

Lisa-Maria said...

Funny, i can see the Untersberg right in front of me right now - from the window out of my office (its like 5 mins away by car).
Just yesterday i thought i should take pictures of it, because the mountain was like glowing .. beautiful!

xoxo from Salzburg, Lisa

PS: ive never been skiing on the U-berg. i probably should be ashamed, as my parents house is just right next to it.

Alex, Speaking Denglish said...

I had never seen those ski's that you like half walk in until last week. Maybe this is because I'm from Texas, but mind.officially.boggled.

Brooke T said...

The Sound of Music was my favorite!! That's so cool you got to see the mountain!

Anonymous said...

WoW! Such a wonderful place.
altenpflege

Saara said...

u look so cool there :) :)

Latest Instagrams

© JENNI OKC. Design by FCD.