Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, with another exciting adventure! Today, I traveled from Passau, Germany, to Salzburg, Austria, and ended the day in Linz, Austria. I learned all about Silent Night, saw where Mozart was born, explored amazing Christmas markets, and even walked where the Sound of Music was filmed. Let me tell you all about it!
Breakfast in Passau and Heading to Austria
We started the day with a cozy breakfast in our cabin while docked in Passau. Afterward, I hopped on a bus for a special excursion to Salzburg. This was the second country of my adventure, and crossing the border into Austria was so exciting!
Our guide told us lots of interesting things about the region as we drove through the misty countryside. Austria is famous for its music, beautiful mountains, and delicious food—I couldn’t wait to explore!
 |
| Entering Austria |
 |
| A MIG aircraft outside a Building |
 |
| The Inn River, Innsbruck |
Maria im Mösl: Where Silent Night Was Written
Our first stop was Maria im Mösl, a small church in Arnsdorf, Austria. This is where Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics to Silent Night over 200 years ago! On Christmas Eve in 1818, the church organ was broken, so Mohr asked the organist, Franz Xaver Gruber, to create a melody for the song. They performed it together for the very first time with just a guitar.
Inside the church, two singers performed Silent Night for us in both German and English. Their voices were beautiful, and hearing the song in the place where it was written gave me goosebumps!
Outside, there was a small cemetery around the church. Our guide explained that when the cemetery filled up, they sometimes had to exhume old graves to make space for new ones. It was a bit spooky, but also very interesting to learn about how things were done in the past.
Stille Nacht Kapelle: Where Silent Night Was First Sung
Next, we visited the Silent Night Chapel (Stille Nacht Kapelle) in Oberndorf, Austria. This little chapel is built on the site of the old Nikolauskirche, where Silent Night was performed for the first time during a Christmas Eve service.
The chapel was small but beautiful, and it’s a perfect tribute to a song that’s now sung all over the world. Did you know Silent Night has been translated into over 300 languages? It’s a song about peace, hope, and love—and that’s why people everywhere still sing it today!
Exploring Salzburg: Mozart and The Sound of Music
After the Silent Night stops, we arrived in Salzburg, one of Austria’s most famous cities.
Mozart’s Birthplace
Our first stop was the yellow house on Getreidegasse, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. Mozart was a child prodigy who wrote his first piece of music at just 5 years old! He went on to create famous compositions like Eine kleine Nachtmusik and The Magic Flute. His birthplace is now a museum where you can learn all about his life.
Nearby, we saw Mozartplatz, a square with a statue of the composer and a winter ice rink where kids were playing hockey.
The Sound of Music
Salzburg is also where parts of The Sound of Music were filmed! We climbed up, up, up to Nonnberg Abbey, where the real Maria and Captain von Trapp were married. It’s not where the wedding scene was filmed (that was at Basilika St. Michael in Mondsee), but it’s a special place with a lot of history.
Before leaving Salzburg, we walked through Mozart University Plaza, where Julie Andrews sang “Do-Re-Mi” with the von Trapp children in the movie. Our group couldn’t resist singing a little bit of the song—what fun!
Christmas Markets and Local Treats
Salzburg’s Christmas markets were so festive! We explored the stalls, found handcrafted ornaments, and enjoyed some delicious local treats. My favorites were:
- Spaetzle with Cheese: A creamy, cheesy dish that was perfect on a chilly day.
- Powder Sugar cookies: A thin dough then loosely rolled into a ball and baked, dipped in Powder Sugar
- Warm Drinks in Market Mugs: We got hot chocolate in cute mugs that we kept as souvenirs.
- Stiegl Beer: Rob had a local Austrian brew that’s been made for centuries.
The markets were full of twinkling lights and cheerful music. It felt like stepping into a Christmas story!
Evening in Linz and Laughter on the Ship
After a scenic bus ride, we arrived in Linz just as our ship was docking. We had time to explore the Linz Christmas market, which looked magical at night with all its glowing lights. I even smelled the honey mulled wine (and Toni got another market mug to add to her collection!).
Back on the ship, the evening entertainment was a trio of sisters who sang songs by the Andrews Sisters and Christmas classics. They started with Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and got the crowd laughing by inviting volunteers to the stage.
One of them was Rob, and soon Gary and Dane from our group joined in. The three of them became an “air band,” pretending to play instruments while the sisters sang. Everyone laughed so hard—it was the perfect way to end the night!
Wrapping Up the Day
After the show, I returned to the cabin and found that St Nicholas, and not the Krumpas, had left us a small bag. We then watched as the ship departed Linz, gliding down the Danube toward tomorrow’s adventures in Melk and Vienna. What an incredible day of music, history, and holiday cheer!
Educational Notes for Kids
- Silent Night: Written in 1818, Silent Night was performed with a guitar because the church organ was broken. Today, it’s one of the most popular Christmas carols in the world!
- Mozart’s Genius: Mozart started composing music as a young child and is one of the most famous classical composers of all time. You can listen to his music for free on YouTube or Spotify.
- The Sound of Music: The real von Trapp family lived in Salzburg, but many scenes from the movie were filmed in different locations around Austria. Can you spot Salzburg in the movie?
No comments:
Post a Comment