The Sound of Music Bicycle Tour in Salzburg

The Sound of Music is one of my all-time top movies and my favorite musicals. So when my sister, a fellow fan, told me she had a conference for work in Germany in July I asked if she’d considering adding on vacation days and do a Sound of Music tour of Salzburg with me. And I am so glad we did because Salzburg is easily my new favorite smaller city I’ve visited in Europe. Plus we had way too much fun recreating scenes from the movie around Salzburg on our Sound of Music Bicycle Tour!

Salzburg

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While there are big bus, mini bus and self-guided tour options for the Sound of Music, we opted to choose  Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tour after reading wonderful reviews online. The three and a half hour tour starts and ends at Schloss Mirabell . I highly recommend the tour for several reasons  It’s easier to find the stops following a guide than on your own (though not impossible) It’s fun to hear stories and facts about the filming and stops. I loved the photo guide attached to the bicycle that showed what each location was used for in the film….and these are a few of my favorite stops from our Sound of Music bicycle tour!

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Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tour

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One of the most iconic filming sites from the movie is the square Residenzplatz and the Residenzbrunnen where Maria sings “I Have Confidence” and splashes in the horse fountain.

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St. Peter’s Cemetery provided the inspiration for the abbey’s cemetery in the movie but most of that scene was actually filmed on a set in Hollywood.

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Nonnberg Abbey, where Maria was actually a nun in real life, was used in the movie to film for the exterior of the abbey. The abbey itself is beautiful and the views of Salzburg on the way up hill is stunning!

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After the stop at the abbey, we coasted downhill away from the city and into the outskirts where our fantastic guide Elise played songs from Sound of Musical for us! It was pretty magical to ride through Salzburg while listening to soundtrack. And as much as we wanted to sing a long, we were booking it on the bikes at this point so mostly hummed and sang along on the inside!

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Our first stop was Schloss Leopoldskron, which was the filming location for the exterior of the Von Trapp family home. The terraces from the movie are only accessible to guests of the now boutique hotel but this epic view is pretty spectacular to see!

 

The next stop is the “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “Something Good.” Our guide took a few group shots of us throughout the tour which were posted on their Facebook page and this one was one of the best. Wheeee!

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We actually did this stop independently the next day since we didn’t stop on the tour but rode on by to get back to our starting point! It’s the Mozart Bridge that Maria and the children cross on their big day out!

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The tour ends back at Mirabell where you’ll make a final stop at the famous Do Re Mi steps Maria and the children sing on with the beautiful gardens and fortress in the background.

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The tours happen rain or shine so do bring a rain jacket! Show Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tour love on Instagram and Twitter and book with them if you find yourself in Salzburg in season!

[This is not a sponsored post. We had such a fun time on our Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tour we wanted to share it for our readers who are planning a trip to Austria from April to October!]

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Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

The Best Printable Europe Packing List – Two Weeks in a Carry-On

Heading to Europe? Here’s our printable two weeks in Europe packing list!

Europe Packing List - AFriendAfar.com

I always aim to pack in only a carry-on if at all possible no matter how long my trip is going to be. I find it much easier to tote around a carry-on suitcase rather than a checked-size bag. Plus, if you pack right, you can mix and match pieces to re-wear and make different outfits. And there’s always the option of doing laundry (Airbnb is amazing for that) or hand-washing in the hotel sink. Here’s a printable Europe packing list of what I brought on my latest two week trip to Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia. My goal was to strike a balance between being  comfortable and stylish.

Some of the items I am so glad made it into my luggage include a pair of New Balance for J.Crew sneakers (I have these navy ones while Meagan has them in white and gold), laundry detergent packets, a rain jacket, sandals, Downey Wrinkle Releaser, and a scarf! I used my trusty Travelpro Rollaboard as my carry-on piece and my Lo & Sons OMG bag as my personal item on the plane. And of course I used an Everlane Tote as a day bag while exploring!

One last tip: if you’re packing for two weeks in a carry-on, you’re going to need packing cubes!

Is there anything you always pack for a summer trip to Europe? Let us know in the comments!

Printable Summer in Europe Packing List - A Friend Afar

 

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Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

Guest Post: The Stunning Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland

Our good friend Audrey and her new husband spent a wonderful, two-week honeymoon in Ireland and Northern Ireland last June.  Neither had ever been before, and they quickly fell in love with the lush scenery, the friendly people, and the surprisingly tasty food.  Their goal was to get to see the sights, but also to enjoy down time embracing Irish culture.  They spent their fair share of time off the main roads in tea shops and pubs enjoying one type of brew or another. Enjoy Audrey’s guest post on her visit to the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland!

Audrey and Josh

 

Belfast

We kicked off the honeymoon in Belfast in Northern Ireland.  We had round trip Dublin flights, but caught a bus up to Belfast for about $30 a person when we arrived.  We then took a taxi out to our amazing hotel, The Culloden, which was situated about 10 minutes north of the city.
The Culloden

Seriously, I got sleep here! Normally I would get a place closer to the sights, but who on earth would pass up staying in this beauty?!?  They even had a train station just off property so you could get into Belfast with ease. Continue reading

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

Top Travel Experiences of 2015

We tried so hard to narrow down our top travel experiences of 2015 to a Top 10 list, but it was just too hard! So many wonderfully exciting things happened! We eventually narrowed it down to our Top 15, our #Top15of2015, and we’ve been sharing them on Instagram for the past few days. These are, of course, in no particular order – how could we decide?!

Our Top 15 Travel Experiences of 2015

Meagan couldn’t believe her luck when she visited the most picturesque lavender fields in Provence. Every stop along the drive was like a photo from a book! All of the flowers were blooming brightly!

In January, Stephanie traveled with her husband to Thailand to show him where she studied abroad.

Meagan had the most amazing experiences in France, and cycling through Burgundy with Beaune as a home base blew her away! She wants to go back again right now! It probably isn’t on your travel list yet, but is should be! Continue reading

Meagan grew up in the North Georgia Mountains and spent her first trip abroad in Italy. She’s been traveling all over the world ever since, learning Spanish, Japanese, and Thai. She travels for the food, the culture, and the history.

Bazaars of Istanbul

One of the main draws of Istanbul for many people is the shopping in the bazaars! Just like a visit to any major market anywhere, it can be overwhelming and chaotic, but also an amazing cultural experience. One of my favorite things about the Grand Bazaar was how colorful it was. Between the ceiling, lanterns, textiles, and sweet treats, it truly is a feast for the eyes! It definitely made my list of top 5 sights to see in this magical city!

22580858688_6f6e775cdb_oOn my list of what to buy was hammam towels, scarves, tiles, Turkish delight and apple tea (since I became addicted during my stay)! Of course, Istanbul and Turkey in general are famous for their carpets and textiles, but it wasn’t in my budget this time to purchase one. Something to keep in mind is that bargaining is expected, so make sure you’re in the mood to negotiate. Be patient and don’t get too attached- it’s easier that way to walk away and perhaps end up with a good deal.

Spice Bazaar- Bazaars of Istanbul- www.afriendafar.com #istanbul #spicebazaar

The Egyptian or Spice Bazaar near the New Mosque and close to the Galata Bridge is another great market to explore if you’re shopping for food. Besides spices of course, there’s dried fruit, nuts sweets, tea, coffee and more. If you’re buying Turkish delight or baklava, you can buy it fresh (not boxed) and have the shop vacuum seal it! We happened to stumble upon a Turkish coffee roaster just outside the market with a very long line. I bought some Turkish coffee for gifts with the logic that if locals are standing in line to purchase it must be pretty good!

Hammam Towels- Bazaars of Istanbul- www.afriendafar.com #bazaars #istanbul

If you’re looking for a more structured visit to the Grand Bazaar, consider joining a tour such as the Grand Bazaar Walk from Istanbul Walks. If you’re a photography buff, there’s a photography walk from Alternative City Walks. I researched this as a possibility if I went alone, but I ended up going with colleagues so opted not to take the tour. No matter how you visit the bazaars, the experience is bound to be a memorable one!

Have you visited the bazaars in Istanbul? Do you want to ? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

Lacock Abbey- www.afriendafar.com #england #lacockabbey #harrypotter

Film Inspired Travel in England

Inspiration for travel can come in so many different shapes and forms. Hearing stories from fellow travelers, photos of beautiful places, learning the history of faraway places, and looking through magazines. One way I’m inspired is by books I’ve read and TV series and movies I’ve watched. Visiting England and specifically the countryside had been on my list for a while- in large part because of my love of Jane Austen books and films. When planning the trip, my sister and I mapped out our must see houses and sights to visit. Here are a few to keep in mind if you’re visiting Europe soon and are interested in film inspired travel in England:

Film Inspired Travel in England- www.afriendafar.com #england #UK #Britain

Jane Austen Sights

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The first Jane Austen sight we visited was the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton. It’s open every day from 10:30am to 4:30pm and is the only house Jane lived in that is open to the public. It’s where she spent the last 8 years of her life – during the time period when Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma were published. In nearby Winchester, visit the beautiful Gothic cathedral founded in 1079 to see where she is buried.

Bath's Circus- www.afriendafar.com #bath #england #circus

Bath is a fantastic city to visit if you’re a Jane Austen fan since the author lived there, and two of her novels, Northanger Abbey (my favorite) and Persuasion, were set in this historic city. Go on a self-guided walking tour of the city to see the streets and buildings Jane writes about and be sure not to miss the Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths, the Circus (pictured here), and the Assembly Rooms. We actually skipped the Jane Austen Centre except for poking around the gift shop since we’d already visited the House Museum and wanted more time for our walk.

Great Houses of Pride & Prejudice

Chatsworth House- www.afriendafar.com #chatsworthhouse #janeausten #england

Next we started our tour of the great houses of England, including the Chatsworth House, used in film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. The Chatsworth House is located in Derbyshire in the Peak District and was used as Pemberley in the 2005 movie. It is thought that Jane Austen based her idea of Pemberley on the Chatsworth House while writing the novel. Interestingly enough, the house is mentioned by name in the book as one of the estates Elizabeth Bennet visits before arriving at Pemberley.

princess bride house

Next we went to Haddon Hall in Peak District National Park. It was used in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice as the Inn at Lambton, in the 2011 version of Jane Eyre and Prince Humperdinck’s castle in The Princess Bride. The outside of the medieval manor house is stunning, but it was also fun to stroll through the interior and the gorgeous Elizabethan gardens set next to a picturesque river.

Lyme Park- www.afriendafar.com- #lymepark #janeausten #england

Our final Jane Austen film site was Lyme Park in the Peak District. It was used in the 1995 BBC film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and has amazing grounds to wander around. There’s a beautiful rose garden, and you can see the reflecting lake where Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy met Elizabeth Bennett. If you’re super fans like we are, you can also go for walk in the field to see the pond Darcy emerged from. When we were there it happened to be the 200th anniversary of the book’s publication, therefore to celebrate there was a giant Darcy in the lake!

Downton Abbey

Highclere Castle- www.afriendafar.com #england #highclerecastle #downtonabbey

We visited England at the height of the Downton Abbey series craze, so of course we had to make a stop at Highclere Castle. We arrived too late to tour the inside of the house, but walking around the grounds and gardens admiring the house was perfect. It was also lovely that we went to the little shop to buy a cup of tea to sip while admiring the beauty of the house! [Photo: Laura Brown]

Harry Potter

Harry Potter Platform- www.afriendafar.com #london england #harrypotter

No visit to England would be complete without seeing a couple of Harry Potter filming sites. King’s Cross Station in London is an easy place to pop over to while you’re out and about in the city for a nice photo op at Platform 9 and 3/4.

Lacock Abbey- www.afriendafar.com #england #lacockabbey #harrypotter

En route to Bath, you can also make a nice stop at the picturesque village of Castle Combe to visit National Trust property Lacock Abbey, used as a filming site in the first two and sixth Harry Potter films as Hogwarts. The Abbey’s side rooms and cloisters were used as classrooms and halls of the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was also used as filming sites for movies and TV shows including the 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice, Cranford, and Downtown Abbey.

Do you have any other sites to add in England or elsewhere? How have books, movies and TV shows inspired your travel? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

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Amazing Ancient Sites in Greece

Amazing Ancient Greece- www.afriendafar.com

We’re heading back to Greece on the blog today after a long break! Once we visited the beautiful Greek Isles of Santorini & Hydra, we returned to Athens ready to see some of the amazing  Greece. Our first stop was the Acropolis, of course! It worked out well for us to go later in the day, and even though there were still plenty of fellow travelers around, it can get much worse since it’s the main site folks cruising try to hit on their day trip from the port. While we’re on practicalities, definitely wear good walking shoes with traction so you don’t slip on the stone paths in Athens. Also, be prepared to climb up to the Acropolis; it’s named “high city” for a reason!

Amazing Ancient Greece- www.afriendafar.com #athens #greece

I’d highly recommend either investing in a tour guide or downloading an audio tour (thanks, Rick Steves) ahead of time so you learn about the history of the birthplace of Western civilization. A few of my favorite stops in the Acropolis were the amphitheater, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the giant Greek flag at the overlook with great views of the city below, and the Erechteion. I am always in awe to be able to see places like the Parthenon in person and marvel at what a feat of engineering it is. I’m also amazed it’s survived until now since it “has been rocked by earthquakes, set on fire, shattered by exploding gunpowder, looted for its stunning sculptures, and defaced by misguided preservation efforts” (read more in this fascinating Smithsonian article). Because of pollution & the effects of acid rain today, the Parthenon is pretty much in a continuous state of restoration.

 

Perhaps because of all the scaffolding at the Parthenon, I really loved the Erechteion, especially the Porch of the Caryatids. The six majestic statues are replicas of the originals, five of which you can see at the stunning Acropolis Museum. The sixth one is in the British Museum in London since it was taken by the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Lord Elgin and is yet to returned. I loved that after visiting the Acropolis you can see it pretty much everywhere else in the city, high on the hill. If you’re out at night, it’s quite a stunner!

Ancient Agora- A Few Ancient Ruins in Greece- Erechtheion Caryatids- www.afriendafar.com #greece #acropolis #ancientagora

Your 12 euro Acropolis ticket also includes admission to the Ancient Agora, where you can see the market place and center of government where daily life was lived out in ancient Greece. There’s a lot to explore here including the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos which houses the Agora Museum, the lovely little Church of the Holy Apostles, many a ruin, and the well preserved Temple of Hephaistos. The temple was very impressive to me, especially the beautiful friezes depicting various scenes from Greek mythology.

 

On our final day in Greece, we enjoyed a leisurely morning in Athens before setting off for Delphi where pilgrims would travel to visit the oracle of Apollo. I’d researched various one day tours to take but in the end we decided to do it ourselves as a day trip. So we rented a little Fiat and drove the few hours to Delphi. The drive was gorgeous since it was spring, and yellow wildflowers were in bloom along the roadside! By the time we had a late lunch in the cute little town and got out to the site, we virtually had the place to ourselves, which I love!

A few highlights of the Delphi’s Sanctuary of Apollo were walking the Sacred Way, seeing the omphalos (navel) which ancients believed was the center of the world, the beautiful Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo which would’ve housed the oracle, the theater, and the stadium where the Pythian Games were held. The view above the theater with Mt. Parnassos in the background was spectacular. We also stopped by the Sanctuary of Athena, whose circular tholos with three standing Doric columns was one of the famous Delphi photos I’d seen before visiting. Pilgrims who traveled to Delphi also worshiped Athena in addition to Apollo. I’d highly recommend finding time to visit Delphi if you can fit it into your Greek itinerary!

If you’ve been to Greece, do you have any to add to this list? Which one do you most want to visit?

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

Casa Battlo- A Fond Foodie Memory in Barcelona- www.afriendafar.com #barcelona #gaudi #casabatllo

A Fond Foodie Memory in Barcelona, Spain!

Barcelona, Spain TAPAS Memory

Foodie Memory Barcelona- www.afriendafar.com #barcelona #spain #tapas

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, one of the food items I craved the most was cheese. Laughing Cow is only an acceptable substitute for so long. The drink item I missed the most was red wine that didn’t come from a box. So you can imagine how a trip to Spain when I lived in Ghana was the best possible place for me to go! We ate at many delicious restaurants, but the one that I still remember by name was recommended to us by our hotel and is called Ciudad Condal. We went for lunch, and even though we had to wait a while, it was worth it. All the tapas we ordered were delicious, but my favorite was the Queso Camembert Crujiente. It’s a baked camembert covered with crushed almonds on a stick served with a raspberry sauce! With a nice glass of house wine to go with it, I was one very satisfied foodie!

What’s your favorite food story from your travels?

One Happy Traveler

One Happy Traveler

A Few Practicalities

Closest Metro Station: Passeig de Gràcia

Nearest Gaudí Site: Casa Batlló

What Else is Nearby: The area is known for its high-end shopping!

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

The Pastry Experience You Can’t Miss in Paris: Baking Macarons

Bon Appetit!

“I think this is my favorite thing we’ve done this entire trip. Yes! This is the best thing ever!” 

Baking Macarons in Paris - www.AFriendAfar.com

My husband and I treated my mother to a trip to France last month. We had the most amazing food and wine experiences, from meals that we raved about so much that our neighboring diners had to order the same thing, to biking through vineyards and tasting all the wines Burgundy had to offer. In Paris, we had a few specific opportunities for Mother-Daughter “foodie” time. We spent one afternoon in the Mariage Frères tea room, enjoying pastries and tea, after a morning in the Louvre. Our favorite experience, however, was when we took a macaron baking class from La Cuisine Paris. Even if you only have a few days in Paris, you have time for a cooking or baking class!

The Pastry Experience You Can't Miss! Baking Macarons in Paris - www.AFriendAfar.com

La Cuisine Paris is located in the 4th arrondissement, just a block from the Hotel de Ville, and a short walk from the Notre Dame. When you step inside their darling shop, you’re greeted by their friendly, English-speaking staff in a simple, but chic room with branded aprons and classic baking supplies. After greeting the other students in our small, intimate group, we headed downstairs to the kitchen. Much like the wine caves we had spent the previous days exploring, the cellar we’d be baking in also had a rounded, cavernous roof. That’s where we met our wonderful pastry chef and teacher for the day!

Let it be known that I am by no means an experienced baker. I tend to bake things that start in a box and only require a few extra additions. So when your teacher started explaining all of the steps in our macaron recipe, I might have panicked a little. Thank goodness my mom was there! She’s the baker in the family!

Not to worry though, La Cuisine Paris has even the most inexperienced bakers covered. All of our ingredients were pre-measured, and our wonderful teacher walked us through each step very slowly. We all took very detailed notes on our recipes, and she provided great explanations for each step we took. She was right when she said that licking your fingers is an occupational hazard. Just look at that meringue! I could have eaten the entire bowl!

Our class was split into two different filling flavors – white chocolate with espelette pepper and praline. Both were delicious, and we might have kept licking our fingers when  we were filling the cookies, too. By the time we filled our boxes full of overflowing macarons, we had already eaten “the slightly broken ones” until we were full.

Baking Macarons in Paris - www.AFriendAfar.com

All in all, it was an absolutely amazing experience, and I can’t recommend it enough! We only had a few full days in Paris, and we are so glad that we squeezed this wonderful two-hour experience in. Just make a reservation online and head over toward the Île de la Cité for a quick class before visiting the Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. They have other classes as well, from making the perfect french baguette to cooking entire meals with ingredients from the market!

This post is part of a collection of our guides to France. Click here to read other great stories from France.

Meagan grew up in the North Georgia Mountains and spent her first trip abroad in Italy. She’s been traveling all over the world ever since, learning Spanish, Japanese, and Thai. She travels for the food, the culture, and the history.

Shot of the Week

northern ireland

This is just one of the many beautiful views our friends Audrey & Josh had while hiking to the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge in Northern Ireland. Every 100 feet or so the view shifted just enough to make it yet another stunning panorama!

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.