Let’s start at the very beginning…….

Salzburg is definitely a great place to visit. I fulfilled yet another dream of finally going there, a place on my list since I ws 9 years old and fell in love with the movie, The Sound of Music, when our school took us to see it at Metro cinema in Bombay, in class IV. I even drew the von Trapp house as my dream home for a geography assignment in types of houses that year.

The Turnerwrit guesthouse is old, very well located next to a bus stop, safe and friendly. I loved my airy room, the large windows and clean, comfortable bed. The breakfast was usual fare. The management was super nice. I would rather spend my money on food and sights than hotel rooms. As long as the basics are taken care of, I am fine.

Although I couldn’t climb every mountain, I did follow every little girl dream in my pocket, My favourite things were all there, raindrops on roses in the beautiful gardens, spectacular mountain lakes and peaks covered in snow. I wish the weather allowed me to wear a white dress with a blue satin sash!

Salzburg and the mountains around it are rich in Catholic and Nazi history. Hitler had his famous Eagle’s Nest nearby. Quaint alpine villages, snowy peaks, meadows and lakes make for perfect postcards. The city itself is old and filled with stunning architecture since it was a very rich seat of power for the Catholic church. Mozart claims special place in the heart of the city, with a beautiful statue. So much to explore in just a few days.

Salzburg is super safe for solo female travelers. People are friendly. The super friendly railway help desk really was a relief, and travel was easy by bus and walking.

Lots of food options from local bier gartens, pizza, fastfood and old fashioned tyrolean cuisine.

I made friends with a marvellous opera singer, business student who is Austrian from New York. Oh the long chats we had in English, he was so happy to babble in his favourite language over pizza and wine. Thank you Michi, it was wonderful to get to know you!

Of course if one is in Salzburg it ultimately is about the Sound of Music. The authorised movie tour runs from the city centre, and begins with the famed do re mi gardens right across from the kiosk.

I fell in love with the Schloss Mirabelle, now the local town hall.  My heart missed a beat as I stared at the iconic fountain Julie Andrews and the children marched around in matching drapes. I could see them, and oh those steps they go up and down! What a stunning garden with the vined tunnel they raced down on their bicycles. It’s all there. All these movie hotspots are beloved and have been locally adopted with much affection.

I kept returning to the Mirabelle gardens, basking in warm sunshine and enjoying the beautiful flowers as I munched on a sandwich or German pastry. There is an elegant cafe at the entrance and I enjoyed an aperitif every evening.

The garden even has a puppet theatre for little ones, showing the ( what else ?) Puppet show from The Sound of Music .

From there it is a quick walk to a bustling area filled with cafes and restaurants or you could cross the river by footbridge and wander around the historic centre which is more like a médiéval town, some of which you will recognise from the do re mi carriage ride in the film.

We finally clambered onto the bus, grabbing window seats. We spent the morning traipsing around the Salzburg countryside to revisit some of the most iconic locations from the movie. It is really quite a tour and as cheesy as it is heartwarming, and fun and nostalgic if you are a fan. I’m glad I am a huge fan, and I loved the tour,  weeping shamelessly with joy as we all sang in unison to the soundtrack. There was something definitely magical about being there and singing those songs with Julie Andrews at that very moment.

Our bus was filled with people from so many different countries, and all of us knew the movie by heart and the location s too. It was a treat to do this bus ride with so many fellow fans.

We walked to the lakeside from where we could see the old mansion. There, the steps to the river where Gretl falls into the water, almost drowning, during the shoot ( she couldn’t swim and the boat tipping over was not in the script!) And those wrought iron gates!

We passed Maria’s bus stop and the large house that she enters,  the tree lined avenue, remember where the children are noisily hanging from the trees? Unfortunately, the family does not encourage tourists so we only got a peek from far away.

We took a ride out into the country and sang all the way. We visited the church where the grand wedding takes place, in a quaint town dotted with colourful buildings, cafes and meadows of flowers. Salzburg is so beautiful!

We posed for photos, reliving childhood memories and dreams. We channeled our inner Maria and laughed and sobbed with sheer joy. We were the children again. We were singing about our favourite things.

All sighs of rapture were reserved for that most tender of romances: 16 year old Liesl and her beau, Rolf. The glasshouse is a set made for the film especially, and is carefully preserved for visitors. I think I was almost sorry to see it up close and shatter all my romantic memories of that stormy night with the two of them dancing around the gazebo like ballerinas.

Me, I was transported to my childhood bestie’s home where seven little friends would watch The Sound Of Music, on VHS, every single time we met until we knew every word, song, beat and pause by heart.

I still do.