Around town

The past couple of weeks have been about collecting memories in Salzburg.  We take the bus into town and wander around, discovering plazas and streets, shops and cafes, and more items to add to our must-see list.  

Walking down Getreidegasse - How can I explain it?  The street is famous for its elaborate signs that hang into the street like flags.  Hundreds of years ago, these signs were necessary for customers because most people were illiterate.  Now, taking a walk down Getreidegasse means hearing multiple languages spoken, seeing creative window displays, scoffing at prices, and avoiding tour groups like the plague.  It is fun, don't get me wrong, but after 11:00 on a nice day, one should steer clear.

This is a photo of me in Kapitelplatz, one of the largest, if not the largest, squares in the Alt Stadt (old town).  Yes, that is a giant gold-colored sphere with a statue of a man standing on top.  Along with the art, this square has delicious pretzel stands.  Grab a pizza pretzel and you're on your way!  Today, they were holding an organic food festival here.    

Here is another view of Kapitelplatz looking East, and also in the square, a fountain with Neptune.  Salzburg's origins are Roman, so he's Neptune, not Poseidon. 

This is from Domplatz, a square connected to Kapitelplatz by a series of arches.  The statue is of the Virgin Mary, and the grandeur of both the statue and the church shows how important religion was in creating the Salzburg of today.

And, on the other side, this is just a little frond from the park running next to Mirabell Gardens. Expect a heap of photos of Mirabell in the near future!

These are some of the love locks on Makartsteg Brücke.  Some areas are more dense with the locks than others, and some are more handmade while others are more commercial.  The variety is what's beautiful.  We'll add ours before we leave.   

On the left is a view of the Hohensalzburg Fortress, originally constructed in 1077 and expanded in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.  Back then, I can only imagine what travelers/intruders to Salzburg felt when they saw this massive fortress perched on top of the hill.  It is imposing and it helps to orient us when we're in a new area of town.  Taking the tour of the fortress is on our list.

On the right is a view from Residenzplatz.  The arches lead into Domplatz.  During the day, horse and carriages are lined up to offer tourists a ride around the city.  The Residence Gallery is located in the building on the right.  A post on our trip there is in the works!  

 

These figures stand on top of a building on Schwartzstrasse, across the river.  I think it may have been a post office.  The architectural details here make each building seem special.