Dashing through the snow

The highlight of our day was a trip to a farm near the Lake District outside Salzburg, where we had arranged to have a sleigh ride.

It was the perfect day for it. A nice layer of pristine snow covered the countryside and the bright sun warmed things up and made the fields sparkle. Gorgeous.

Our horses, Amanda and Lara, seemed very happy to get out in the fresh air for a nice walk under the direction of farmer Jacob, and to gossip with each other for an hour. Our sleigh was the delight of families out skiing and walking – everyone was happy.

That was what I call a good way to spend the day. It’s January 20, and there are so many worse things we could be doing! Ride along with us for a while:

Earlier in the day, we visited two other Salzburg must-sees, starting with the Modern Art Museum. You know it is the home of modern art because it is all poured concrete and sharp edges. (Always a clue.) Only some of the art could be photographed, so I did what I could.

But what is most wonderful about the museum are the views it offers over the city. Those are not modern, and are quite captivating in the morning light.

And then it was off to Mozart’s childhood home, not to be confused with his birthplace, which is just down the street. A bit disappointing, as the building is a complete reconstruction, thanks to war damage and careless conservatorship. Plus, no photos allowed of the many artifacts. Mozart’s pianoforte and violin were quite special to see. Creative videos and personal memorabilia made it definitely worth a good hour.

Don’s Food Corner

Exhausted by our ride through the snow, we decided to return to traditional Austrian fare. We ended up in an unusually charming restaurant in a 15th century building. When I asked the waiter how much of the interior was original, I got a puzzled look.  Everything, he replied.

The menu seemed to be a virtual copy of every other menu we’ve seen in traditional Austrian restaurants.  So, what did we have?  Jo: Wiener schintzel!!  Me: Goulash with spaetzle!!  Both were excellent versions of these classics.

We boldly added something new to the equation: Potato soup with cream. Not overly thick, but with tiny bits of potato and carrots and hearty nonetheless. Besides the cream, I think they slipped some butter in there as well. Whatever they did, it really worked.