The Hills Really Are Alive!

I finally know what Maria was talking about... okay, maybe not Maria so much as Rodgers and Hammerstein.... but it's true! The hills really are alive!

I went to Austria last month for a conference in Vienna. I had been two years ago, with my mom and Lynn, but ended up staying in the city. Vienna is absolutely gorgeous, but I thought it would be surrounded by alps and it just wasn't. My mom was lucky enough to travel to Salzburg to meet her friend Monique (while Lynn and I slaved at the conference) and saw the gorgeous mountains. I was determined to get there this time.

I remember the first time I saw The Sound of Music. The aforementioned Monique brought her two daughters, Manuela and Jenny, over to our house in Berlin, where we all sat on the floor in front of our TV and watched what would soon become my favorite movie. We moved out of that house when I was six, and I'm not sure when this took place, but it's proof that my obsession began at an early age. As soon as the opening credits began, I was transfixed. I still remember the goosebumps and tingly feeling in my stomach as the clouds parted to reveal the jagged peaks and the gorgeous hillsides. I get excited even thinking of it now. The music begins to play and I imagine myself in the Alps, frolicking through Maria's meadow, singing about my love for the hills.

Can you even imagine how excited I was to be in Salzburg, where it all took place? I went with my boss and the IT guy from work and I don't think they were prepared for my giddiness. I still don't think they've recovered. As soon as the mountains rose from the rolling hills on the car ride there, I started squealing with delight and snapping pictures. As we got closer and closer, I could hear Julie Andrews singing in my head and feel my heart begin to sing every song that it heard.

When we arrived in Salzburg, I was eager to see all of the sights, but mostly the ones that were in the movie. The whole downtown area is beautiful, with cobblestone streets, beautiful squares, and majestic churches. We walked up to the fortress above the hill and were treated to the most fabulous views of the mountains... again with me squealing and taking lots of pictures. We walked back down to the city and crossed the river over into the Mirabell Gardens. This is where Maria and the Von Trapp children sang Do Re Mi and jumped up the steps. I stood on the steps and sang to myself and it was magical. I was in love with the day, the views, the city.... it's like the hills were calling to me! I swear!