June 29 - July 4, 1961 - Austria

THURSDAY JUNE 29, 1961 – SALZBURG & ST POLTEN,AUSTRIA

Salzburg a lovely city on the Austrian border, only a few miles from Germany’s famous Berchtesgaden.

1.     Saw the famous cathedral (Sound of Music filmed here).

2.    Catacombs in the rocks where Christians hid out.

3.    Mozart’s birthplace & museum & original manuscripts.

4.    Castle, once a fortress, dates back to 1077. Had tea here atop castle.

5.    Heard & saw the Glockenspiel at 11 AM.

Wore out in 3 weeks my first pair of shoes. These cobblestone roads sure are rough on feet.

FRIDAY JUNE 30, 1961 - VIENNA. AUSTRIA

We arrived at about 11 AM & took our 0pal to the large dealer here for 600 mile checkup & oil & grease change. Windshield leaked so had it & doors adjusted. Taking it back on Monday for further service. So far 677 miles.

Schonbrunn Palace (Schonbrunn means beautiful gardens) (Car in garage) This is the palace where Mr. Kruschev & Pres. Kennedy met and where state dinner was held.  This is where EmperorFranz Joseph was born lived and died.  Most gorgeous palace I’ve ever visited. Beautifully kept. Also visited carriage house & all the beautiful carriages used by the royal house. Here is a fortune in saddles. jeweled harnesses. martingales & fancy horse dress. Most carriages are 20 carat gold leaf, lots of silver, etc. The castle has over 1,441 rooms most of which are now rented to persons of state empl.  We were taken through 45 all in their original furnishings etc. Saw the bed where Franz Joseph was born and the one where he died. Expect to see the fountains lit up tonite. Had a steak dinner in a local beer garden, very good. Only $1.00 with beer etc. Room was $2.80.

SATURDAY JULY 1, 1961 - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

1.     BelvederePalace, built 1714, former house of Prince Eugene of Savoy, lots of fine art.

2.    Took pictures at SchonbrunnPalace & walked through the gardens etc. (1st clocks were made with wooden movements).

3.    Visited watch & clock museum. Clocks here from the beginning of time.  Very good (met 4 Canadian boys, lots of fun)

4.    Historical museum of the city of Vienna

Met an Austrian Dr. here who talked fine English & we went along with him. He was very interesting. During the war he taught 2 years at John Hopkins Hospital.

SUNDAY JULY 2, 1961 - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Being Sunday many places are closed. However we did get into HofburgPalace which was open until 1 PM.  We got into the part where all the crown jewels, treasures & royal robes etc. were shown. It was a marvelous sight. From here we went on to St. Stephens Church which is a world known church of royalty, which are in caskets in the catacombs. Also, burial caves where bodies were put into a shroud & thrown into a pile left here until only bones remained. Then the bones were stored like wood in store rooms.  St. Stephens Church has 54 urns containing the intestines of deceased Hapsburgs. The hearts are in urns at St. Augustine’s Church near the palace.  Also visited St. Peters Church.  Also visited Maltese Church.  All full of interest. A tour of St. Stephens was by far the most interesting. The tunnel was very scary. Saw also the Hero‘s Square with monuments of Prince Eugene & Archduke Chas. close into HofburgPalace. More of this tomorrow. Finish the day by going to the amusement park called Prater. It was fun. We went on the roller coaster & Chas. took a ride on the bumper cars. We’d stay longer only the mosquitoes were eating us alive. Now it’s beer time & bed. Still have lots to see tomorrow & some work done on the car.

MONDAY JULY 3, 1961 - VIENNA & GRINZING, AUSTRIA

Had the car ceiling cleaned after leak stains. Wasted much time here. Had dinner at Amer. Rondo.  Met an Amer. couple from S.F. area who were pick pocketed clean in Salzburg. We invited them along to Grinzing, a small town nearby for new wine festival.  Met a couple from NYC we joined forces and came back to Vienna together.  NY couple was loaded, jewelers on a round the world trip. We had some drinks at the Opera Plaza & later departed for our own hotels.

TUESDAY JULY 4. 1961 - GRINZING, AUSTRIA

Visited St. Augustine chapel where the hearts of the Hapsburgs are stored in urns.  Franz Joseph and Elizabeth stopped this sort of burial so it ended with his father and mother. Opera season is over but we did visit it today and took the tour through. It is very beautiful, especially the old port. Half was bombed and now rebuilt and very modern but beautiful and another style.  Went back to HofburgImperial Palace & took the guided tour through the rooms opened to the public. The living quarters of Franz Joseph & Empress Elizabeth, his wife. Needless to say the art treasures are priceless. Paintings, tapestries, china, clock & furniture.  We‘re at our hotel now, the Golden Lamb ($3.60). We’ve been here 4 nites. It’s raining like mad so l can catch up on my writing. We think we have covered Vienna and will no doubt hit the road tomorrow. There aren‘t too many things left to do. We‘ve done the most important anyway. You never can tell how long it’s going to rain either. The thunder is loud & lightening bright. Being the 4th, someone told us there was a party at the American Embassy.  If it clears we may investigate it. Rain never stopped.