The Hills are Alive in Salzburg, Austria

by Esther K. Choy

Our friendly tour guide regales our bus with tales of the real von Trapp family. Contrary to popular belief, the von Trapp family didn’t profit much from the success of the film. Maria von Trapp needed money when a publishing house approached her about their story. Unfortunately, she signed away all of her rights in the book deal without fully understanding the ramifications. According to her autobiography, she was not even invited to the movie premiere*.

Austrian Honeymoon

After the four-hour tour, my husband and I dive into our much-anticipated Austrian meal at a neighborhood restaurant. Like their German neighbors, Austrians love pork in its variations of snitzels, sausages and cordon bleu, which is deep fried pork filled with ham and cheese. Beware of the vegetarian options. Vegetarian for some restaurants might mean that there is just less meat in the meal. And, since we were in Austria we topped off our meal with a large glass of beer. It washed everything down perfectly!

My husband and I round out our vacation with a hearty breakfast at a local café.  We look over our many photos and go over some of the highlights from our trip. The countryside of Austria is picturesque and lived up to its allure. Salzburg reminds me of an enchanted city from the storybooks I read as a child. I look forward to coming back and discovering hidden villages and ancient castles tucked behind an overgrown mountain. 

On our way home to Chicago, the frantic and unfriendly airport security system in Frankfurt is a stark contrast to the peace and beauty we experience in Salzburg. But this doesn’t overshadow the sweet second honeymoon we have experienced. Eventually, we get seated on the airplane and stretch out our legs for a long trip home. My adoring husband dozes off soon after we take off, but, thankfully, he sleeps silently most of the way home.

* Author referred to “Maria von Trapp, My Own Story” by Maria von Trapp

Esther and Bernhard used Panorama Tours for their second honeymoon to Austria. You can contact them at: www.panoramatours.com.

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Esther K. Choy is a regular contributor for Wedding Chicago. During her engagement in 2000, Esther and her then-fiance’, Bernhard Krieg, were presented with a unique challenge. How do you plan a wedding if your friends and family are scattered in different countries around the globe? After weeks of research and deliberation, they chose to celebrate their wedding on the beautiful island of Maui.

Esther believes that “honeymooning” is a state of mind between two people, rather than a first vacation after the wedding. Honeymoons reflect the love between a husband and a wife and can occur many times throughout the marriage. Her adventures will guide you as you plan your first honeymoon.

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