Salzburg, Austria (foodie pix)

Oh crud. I´ve been trying for 2 days to upload the pix but the hotel´s computer says, "Verbotten!"
I will find an internet cafe and try again within next 2 days... and will send email\ facebook message when done. Thanks guys!


We left Ljubljana on the train headed for Salzburg and while waiting had great conversation with a guy from Scotland and an English-speaking girl from Slovenia. He commented on his travels in America (transportation is difficult, he liked Nashville music, but did not get what´s so great about Los Angeles.) She said she does not like where this austerity thing is going.

But for now let´s talk about Salzburg...and food!

My main mission was to visit "The Elephant" restaurant because of a book I'd read called "The Elephant`s Journey"   by Jose Saramago (Nobel Prize for Literature). While eating at the restaurant he had asked his host about the wood carvings and was told they depicted the story of an elephant that was given by the King of Portugal to Austria´s Archduke Maximilian as a wedding present.

Since these are pictures of the restaurant (in the Old Town of Salzburg) and our fantastic meals, I've decided to post some pictures of meals...and then get around to Salzburg:

Wood carvings around the restaurant tell the story of an elephant that traveled from Portugal to Austria.

These spinach balls are actually a form of pasta. You can barely see the balsamic vinaigrette that made the meal spectacularly good. 

Very tender chicken stuffed with roasted tomato and bacon.

Stuffed spinach, pine nuts and feta resting on a bed of sweet potato souffle.

I ordered a mixed salad (which means different things in different places) so we're brought  white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and of course pumpkin oil. One of the best salads ever.

Lobster, octopus, shrimp, scallops, you name it - fresh and sweet.

Wienerschnitzel : Tender veal  (in this case) dipped in egg batter, breaded and fried in butter. Pressure cooked potatoes and best cranberry sauce ever. Yummy.

I love smoked salmon (lox) and this plate came right from the water, served with a subtle horseradish and dill sauce.

That was fun...now, back to Salzburg.

On train from Slovenia to Salzburg

Mozart

Looking up to the castle (Hohensalzburg Fortress, where the Archbishops lived in 1077 to 1612)

Crowded, crowded, crowded.

From the castle, looking down.

Just a humorous photo op over by the beer garden tent.

From the Salzburg train station it was a little difficult to figure out the bus, but navigating is one of Gene´s strengths even if everything is in another language.  We checked into the Ibis Nord (not even on the city map!) and then headed out to explore the Old Town. Ritzy stores and beautiful Baroque architecture, churches, statues and fountains. Music poured out of the beer garden tent...oddly enough it was American music. But Lynard Skynard´s "Sweet Home Alabama" still rocks when played on an accordian!  In fact all the music we´ve heard has been American pop.

On another note we have not seen any people of color until Salzburg (except for a couple of lady tourists). Here we see many muslim people, some folks of Latin descent, folks from India and one black guy (not counting tourists). Personally I like all the colors.

Above the Old Town, on the hill, is the Hohensalzburg Fortress, definitely worth the funicular ride up - not just for the view, but the castle is a wonderful museum.  Beautiful things to see, but again a reminder of a history of horrible wars.

People have been friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this city in the majestic Alps and hope before we leave to catch the "Sound of Music" tour since the movie was filmed here and is supposed to be very scenic. Oh yeah...and the food is a treat...this is also the home of the delicious chocolate Sacher tort.