 By Curtis M. Wong
Admit that you love “The Sound of Music” while travelling in Central Europe, and you’ll be met with one of two responses: ambivalence (many natives are unaware of the film’s existence) or out-and-out derision -- that is, unless you’re about to attend your second grader’s PTA meeting.
However, few films carry such emotional resonance for the avid musical lover, who memorised every lyric upon repeated viewings and taught himself the choreography in his bedroom when he thought no one was watching.
For those who savour Technicolor vistas, kitschy song-and-dance numbers and the pipes of British diva Julie Andrews, no European adventure is complete without stopping in Salzburg, Austria. Although the six-hour train ride costs roughly 45 Euro, you won’t need a Von Trapp’s resources to enjoy this historic city once you’re there. The city offers “Sound of Music” bus tours for a staggering 30 Euro. Avoid the karaoke session, as the sights are easily accessible by foot or city bus. The first stop should be Mirabell Palace gardens, where a fan can skip under the ivy-covered archways and twirl around the rim of the Pegasus fountain as in the “Do-Re-Mi” scene. Next up is the W.A. Mozart footbridge, spanning the Salzach River and featured in the “My Favorite Things” montage.  One of two locations used as the family villa, Leopoldskron Palace is accessible by a southbound city bus (1.80 Euro). Many will recall the scene in which Maria and the Von Trapp children tumble into the neighbouring lake wearing clothes made from flowered drapes. The gazebo used in “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” is located at nearby Hellbrunn Palace . Girls (and boys) who’ve dreamed of imitating Liesl’s high-kicking ballroom blitz will be disappointed; the gates are locked due to a clumsy fan breaking a hip in a failed attempt.
Upon tiring of striking poses made famous by fastidious nuns, indulge in the city’s other allures, which include the chocolate-marzipan Mozartkuglen (“Mozart Balls”), a local confectionery delight. A combination of baroque splendor, alpine settings and musical nostalgia, you’ll soon add Salzburg to your list of “favorite things.”
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