castle day

Today we visited helbrunn castle and hohensalzburg castle. Woke at 8 and had a combination of our breakfasts  plus the minimal youth hostel breakfast.  Bini had fallen in love with the butter from the hostel. "I mean it's good butter" bini 2k18. Left at 10:30 and went to the train station to get information about how to get to helbrunn castle and also to buy some bannans and pastries. As it was a Sunday this was the only place that was still open. At the station we also bought Salzburg cards which get us into most tourist attractions and on all public transport. 

Caught the number 25 bus to helbrunn castle and arrived at 11:30. Claimed our tickets using our Salzburg card and waited around for the 12 o'clock tour around the trick fountains. I'd done this tour 13 years ago and nothing had changed. We saw a table where some people, but not us, got wet. Next we saw a heap of fantastic rooms with shells and and other ornate things like mirror and such. I almost got bini wet by standing her underneath a few dear heads which had plumbing connected to them. Next we saw the lovely water organ which was just as cool and last time. Then we saw a crown which was suspended by water and walked out underneath a water arch. At the end of the arch we waited for other to come through and I stood bini right in the firing line of some surprise fountains. She wasnt complaining as it was a hot day. 

That was the end of the tour and we went and had some interesting ham and cheese baguette next a huge pond with large fish. "Highlight was the very stale bread" quote bini. We fed the fish some of lunch. They enjoyed it more than we did. 

Next up we saw the inside of the palace which was interesting and nice and brief. Took the bus back to the centre of town and arrived about 3:30. Got lost by looking for the chairlift with the wrong name. Once we worked out what the right name was we found out via Google maps that it would be the the same distance to walk to the cable car as it would be to walk to the castle. So we walked to rhe castle. Sadly for bini good maps doesnt consider stairs..... 

Well we made it, hot, sweaty and complaining. On pains of my life we went and found an ice cream before bini killed me or someone else. Touristed around the castle for a bit and then went on a tour. All this was included on our Salzburg cards. The tour was good. We had a nice chat to the receptionist and an older Australia couple before we started. Anyway on the tour we saw the different progressions of the castle an also went up to the top tower and had a great veiw over Salzburg. Took funicular (cable car) down as it was again included in the card. 

Then the search for dinner began. Naturally we had to go out for dinner as the youth hostel didn't have a kitchen. Our plan was to go to a cheap curry place and get food from there. However, what we didn't allow for is that that it is Sunday. Oh the joys of Sunday, the curry place was shut and so was every other place we had been recommended to go to. In the end we were forced to go to a burger place which decent. Not as good as fancy burger but better than Maccas. 

Once we finish dinner we went home the hostel and began planning  our day around old town tomorrow.....