Christmas Day - Salzburg 2005

25^th December

After breakfast we are collected from the hotel to do the “Sound of Music” Tour (35 euros each) – talk about dispel the myth!  

We visited many of the sights where the movie was filmed in 1964.  Filming in Austria was scheduled to last six weeks but dragged out to eleven due to bad weather.  Little Gretel (Kim Carot) nearly drowned during the boat scene when the divers rocking the boat from beneath became too enthusiastic and Julie Andrews, who was supposed to grab Gretel, lost her footing and fell the other way!  Christopher Plummer also refused to carry Gretel during the ‘graveyard’ scene as she had put on too much weight during their extended stay in Austria eating too much strudel!   They used a stand-in!

Although the film takes place in 1938, the real story extends from 1925 – 1938 – 13 years.  In the film Captain and Maria use their real names but all the children have fictional names.  The eldest child was a son, Rupert, 16, Maria was 22 and the Captain 47.

They escaped by train to Italy – not walking across the mountains which would have led them straight into Hitler’s camp!  The wedding scene was filmed at St Michael’s in Monsee not Nomberg Abbey as the nuns refused to allow filming inside.

When the Von Trapps finally escaped they went to Italy, through Switzerland, France to England then to New York.  They toured as a singing group then settled in Vermont after buying a property there. Two daughters, aged 91 and 92 and one son, 88, are still alive today.  Two of the sons had six children each and four of the great grandchildren still perform today as the ‘New Von Trapp Family’ singers.

On our return to Salzburg we walked up to the fortress (or take the trolley car for 8.40 euros which includes entry) – great view! Went to an Italian restaurant for pizza.  Bought two paintings (dancers) from a stall holder on our descent (20 euros each).

After a couple of hours rest in the afternoon we went to a little restaurant (turn right outside the hotel then turn right and walk about 2 – 3 blocks).  Alstadht Restaurant – an ‘organic’ restaurant and quite good.

You are 16 going on 17.....

Monsee

The church at Monsee where the wedding scene was filmed

Pegasus

Looks a lot greener in the movie!

I almost burst into song

The girls waited below while we climbed to the top of the fortress.
Great view!