The Sound of Music tour

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,

Brown paper packages tied up with strings,

These are a few of my favorite things."

This song brings back memories of watch the "The Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer and of course my favorite teen actress Angela Cartright, who was also in the sci-fi classic "Lost in Space."  This movie just made me feel good.  The scenes, the love story and of course the music.

We spent from 9am to almost 6pm with Bob's Sound of Music tour.  Travelling through the city of Salzburg and the surrounding countryside.  Beautiful and breathtaking scenery that our photos cannot do justice to.  You will need to see it for yourselves one day.

The home of Captain von Trapp on Swan Lake.  You can see the terrace where they drank pink lemonade and the children danced during the big party with Maria.

"Doe, a deer, a female deer

Ray, a drop of golden sun

Me, a name I call myself

Far, a long, long way to run

Sew, a needle pulling thread

La, a note to follow Sew

Tea, a drink with jam and bread

That will bring us back to Do (oh-oh-oh)

Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do

So-do!"

The trees below are where the children climbed them as Captain von Trapp drove by in the car.

"The hills are alive

 with the Sound of Music

With songs they have sung

for a thousand years."

"The hills fill my heart

With the sound of music

My heart wants to sing 

Every song it hears

"My heart wants to beat

Like the wings of the birds

That rise from the lake to the trees"

This was the home of very good friends of the von Trapp family.  It is now a hunting lodge.  The opening scene of the movie films this beautiful lake as it pans over the mountains.

 The grassy meadow is the site of the picnic lunch scene where Maria is sing and playing on her guitar the "Do-re-mi" song with the children.  This was our view from the terrace of the restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.

Our guide for the day, Peter, from Salzburg.  Wearing a traditional ensemble of lederhosen and a Captains hunting riding jacket.  Warm and welcoming.  Very knowledgeable about the movie but also about Maria von Trapp.  Her input into the filming of the movie.  There were only 4 of us on the tour plus Peter. Two ladies from Japan who shared with us that their English teacher back home is a Canadian from Toronto.

This picture is taken with the beautiful village of Hallstatt behind us.  This was a full day tour that included this side trip. 

"How do you solve a problem like Maria?

How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?

How do you find a word that means Maria?

A flibbertjibbet?  a will-o'-the wisp! a clown?"

The red topped Abbey can be seen above this Old town buildings which is were Maria lived in the convent.  Her vocation was not to be as a nun and the Reverend Mother knew and realized this.  Maria was an orphan and had no family.  She was looking for something but it was not this.

The nuns prayed on it and shortly there after the Captain arrived looking for a governess for his children and their prayers were answered.

"I'd like to say a word in her behalf

Maria makes me laugh."

"So, let them bring on all their problems

I'll do better than my best

I have confidence they'll put me to the test

But I'll make them see that I have confidence in me."

When Maria leave the Abbey with her guitar and suitcase she sings the "I have Confidence" song along the path in front of the yellow building below and the tree lines road below.

"I have confidence in sunshine

I have confidence in rain

I have confidence that spring will come again

Besides which you see I have confidence in me."

"I am sixteen going on seventeen

I know that I'm naive

Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet

And willingly I believe."

The gazebo that Rolf and Liesl sing and dance in to the music "Sixteen Going On Seventeen."

It has been moved into a park area where tourist can visit but can no longer go into it.  It remains lock as some tourist were breaking their ankles while trying to do the dance from the movie in this tiny gazebo?

Our mini tour bus.  While we travelled through to each site, Peter played the music of the Sound of Music with Julie Andrews.  As well, we listened to the original von Trapp family singing.  On our way home the Viennese boys choir music.  It made us feel very happy.

"Climb ev'ry mountain

Ford ev'ry stream

Follow ev'ry rainbow

'Till you find your dream."

The scene of the wedding march.  The Reverend Mother sang "Climb Ev'ry Mountain." while Maria walked up the aisle to marry Captain von Trapp.

"A dream that will need

All the love you can give

Everyday of your life

For as long as you live."

The inside of this beautiful ornate cathedral.  

Peter, during our tour, shared with us some secrets and tricks of the filming of "The Sound of Music."  But I am not giving anything away.....it will take the magic from it.

We loved it and would highly recommend this tour.  Peter made it come to life.

"So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight"