Students Salivate Seeing Salzburg's Spectacular Sights - Ben Helgeson

Aw Salzburg. The birthplace of Mozart that won’t shut up about how they’re the birthplace of Mozart. We arrived the day of Mozart’s birthday and were treated that night to Opera singers performing his greatest hits while eating expensive food in small portions. That was a lot of fun especially since Henry got to go and dance with one of the singers. It also marked the beginning of a week seeing nothing but Mozart content. 

Mozart aria dinner in a converted wine cellar that formerly belonged to the Mozart family

The day after we arrived we toured the city with a very happy and quiet tour guide. Then soon after, we went up a hill to visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress (from which I stole a small piece of brick from the area of the fortress used to store literal tons of wine). That night we saw the Vienna Philharmonic which was probably my least favorite show I saw on the whole trip. As Powell warned us about before we saw them, the orchestra is made up almost entirely of old white men with the exception of about four women. It didn’t feel expressive or exciting and was just not a good show.

View from the top of the fortress. Small home in the middle of a field in the city

The next day we went and listened to Mozart's credo mass which was interesting given that I’d never attended a Catholic mass before. We also went up a mountain which was one of my favorite things I got to do in Europe. 

The power of the sun in the palm of my hand

The next day we saw Mozart's birth house and saw a much better orchestra. They also had my favorite Timpanist that I had heard in my time in Europe. 

The next day we saw a string quartet which was something I watched while I was in Salzburg and that’s all I saw about that. That night I also got to sing Karaoke in an Irish pub which was a lot of fun. 

The next day was a very good college orchestra and got to touch Mozart’s butt. that night, we had a delicious dinner and celebrated a trip well spent.

We are touching Mozart's butt

The next day we began the 20-hour journey back to America.