In hiding

Intercontinental Resort Berchtesgaden, the hotel built on a location that was called "Göring Hill" in dark ages: Göring had his chalet there, not far from Hitler's Obersalzberg house; the whole structure grew over the years with additions to the houses of Nazi greats, SS-barracks, a parade ground, and a tunnel system inside the rock, used as bomb shelters and as dungeons for convicts.

Hiding in the clouds above the building: The "Eagle's Nest", high outpost of this mountain retreat for the Nazis. Not far behind the location where the mountain escape of the Trapp family was filmed. Not a good way into Switzerland, then.

Nonnberg Abbey & "Bürgermeister"

One of the best known views of Salzburg, Nonnberg Abbey with its red spire roof left of the fortress. To be seen as a detail of the fortress: "Bürgermeister", the mighty tower that was used in 1511 to imprison the Salzburg mayor and most of his council for alleged conspiracy against the prince archbishop. The real reason: old privileges of the city council granted by the emperor to the annoyance of the local ruler.

Boiling Salzach

It's a warm and quiet October now; Sept 5, after heavy rainfalls in the Alps Salzach river tried to be really impressive.

In the background right, always impressive when it's not hiding in the clouds: Untersberg, the mountain that came to be called Maria's Mountain during the filming of Sound of Music.

Background left: Hoher Göll. Its 'clear' view dominates the blog header.

Summer in the city

So, here it is, shiny and new: the Residence Fountain after long renovation work. And yours truly had time to look; he actually felt a bit like a tourist who has seen Sound of Music a hundred times and now actually gets to see the real place: it's even nicer than in the movie!

Well, all the facades are a lot more colourful than in 1964; there simply are more people around, thanks to tourism. And people have become a lot more open-minded, mostly thanks to tourism.

And there are new places you could not have shot a photograph from back then.