Seven things of Salzburg I like

11/20/05 by Engelbert

1. I like to live in Salzburg. It was not always the same for me. The first year’s I’ve lived here I found Salzburg kind of boring, antiquated and rain-spoilt. I used to drive home to my parents and friends during the summer and winter break not knowing that the summer was the most interesting and fascinating time of the year. In summer – as most of you know – here takes place the most important music festival for classical music in the world: the Salzburg Festival. During this six weeks the town is full of glamour and glitter people, famous artists, managers and “a dabeis”. You really can feel a special kind of energy that rules Salzburg in summer. It’s magic.

2. I like, that people remember me. In an anonymus town such as big as Frankfurt where I was born and lived for 18 years it is seldom that somebody in a store, bakery or café recognize you after several visits. Here it didn’t took a long time before I was greeted by name in my favorite stores and clubs. Some of them even remember what I usually like to buy or what I’m looking for. It’s compareable with “coming home”.

3. I like tradition. Once you have to go to Café Tomaselli. First: it exactly looks the same like when it opened the first time in 1705. Second: there is one waitress who serves cakes and tartes only. She comes to your table and ask for your wishes. Then there are several other waiters in suits and black ties who are (most of them) very friendly and helpful and finally not long time ago there was a cashier who came across when you wanted to pay. Third: they bake their cakes by themself AND they make a very delicious ice cream in summer! My tip: try the “coffee ice cream with whipped cream”. Refreshing and delicious!

4. I like that I can walk to my work. It is a great comfort when you live close anough to your work that you can walk too if you doesn’t want to take the car, the bus or the bicycle. Sometimes the busses are too crowded, you know that there is heavy traffic so that it will take you ours by car to your work (and that you might not find a parking place) or that it’s raining cats and dogs so that you really doesn’t like to take the bike. I still have the opportunity to walk.

5. I like the countryside. It takes me 15 to 30 minutes depending on where I go to be in the countryside far away from noise and traffic. Sometimes in early autumn I’ve been up to the Zistelalm which is close to the top of the Gaisberg, one of our two “house” mountains. My tip: rent a deck-chair and a blanket, bring your iPod and some magazines or a good book, your sun glasses, sun blocker and enjoy the incredible mountain panorama view in the warm autumn sun.

6. I like the infrastructure. Do you know that it takes me 7-10 minutes to the train station and not more than 20 minutes (depending on the traffic) to the Salzburg airport from my apartment? That you can be in 90 minutes in Munich and 2:30 hours in Italy if you like? That’s a big plus.

7. I like traditional applestrudle. Oh yes. You may think that this is obvious, but it is not common that you can trust the applestrudle you order in one of the bakeries or cafès in Salzburg. It really depends on where you buy it. Believe me: I’ve tested them all. For me the best applestrudle you can get is the one they do at the Hotel Gersbergalm, which also lies on top of the Gaisberg. They bake them fresh everyday using and old traditional recipe. My tip: ask for additional vanilla sauce or ice cream!!