Salzburg, Austria: Experiencing the Unexpected on VisionQUEST

Some of the most thrilling things in life are done on impulse.
― Syrie James

While planning where I would travel for my VisionQUEST trips before I left the Unites States, the idea of going to Salzburg never even crossed my mind. However, through a series of fortunate circumstances, I ended up on a bus with my friend Emily, traveling from Munich to Salzburg. And I am so glad I did.

There are no words to describe the beauty of the small town of Salzburg. Nestled between two mountains in the Alps, this old town, which use to be an independent country famous for exporting salt, is full of so much history and gorgeous Baroque buildings. Walking through the old town felt like walking through a story book.

On a trip through the Alps on the Sound of Music tour, I was blessed to see some of the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen. Sitting by a lake, surrounded by enormous mountains, and eating a strudel is something I will never forget for as long as I live.

During our stay in Salzburg, I was also able to visit the home of Mozart, one of my favorite composers of all time and see where he grew up and lived. I have always admired Mozart and loved his music, and being able to actually see the environment in which he grew up and learn about how that environment influenced his work was amazing to me.

While I learned a lot about the history of Salzburg and Mozart during my VisionQUEST, the most important lesson I learned from this trip to Austria was to not be afraid of traveling to new and unexpected places.

Sitting at home this summer, I never planned on going to Salzburg or even Austria in general. However, when I decided to do the unexpected and accept Emily’s invitation to go on this trip, I ended up experiencing and seeing things I never thought I would ever be able to see, do, or experience. I never would have seen where Mozart was born, I never would have taken the wonderful Sound of Music tour, and I never would have walked around this lovely city and experienced the amazing culture of Austria.

So when traveling, never be afraid to take a chance and visit a town you never expected to visit, you might just be surprised!