2018 Tastes, Triumphs and Tribulations - East EU : Dinner at Salzburg Fortress and Mozart Concert

I had been looking forward to this night out since booking it months ago. With the Fortress being an ever present and awe inspiring structure throughout our time in Salzburg it was wonderful to finally visit it. We arrived in good time to get the funicular to the fortress and were given a window seat for our included meal. The view was amazing and we both immediately thought how magical it would look covered in snow. Perhaps another visit is warranted, though apparently they rarely get a white Christmas.
The meal was good, wine okay and we decided to end the meal with something like a Kahlua. Our waiter said he knew just the thing, "a lady's drink" and presented delicate glasses smelling just like Frangelico, so we were hopeful. Alas the drink would be a favourite of no "ladies" we know! Crikey - rocket fuel. It was toned down ever so slightly with the addition of ice and we struggled womanfully on, earning amused glances from some fellow diners. The more interesting reaction though was when Sam was getting set to take a photo of me, said "look natural" and I adopted the now classic Sue pose.

Linda looking natural

view from outside the window

Being up close to the fortress walls was amazing, as was the view of Salzburg below. Excellent choice of fortress positioning, team.

I made it up the 180 steps with no trouble - all that practice with the lift out of order in Prague paid off.

The setting for the concert was very intimate and we were in front row. Four violins, one viola, double bass, cello and piano for a few items provided the exquisite music. The setting was amazing, the ceiling studded with 3,000 guilded bosses to resemble the night sky. The portals and columns are fashioned from red Salzburg marble. One of the massive columns shows damage inflicted by a cannonball during a peasants' seige in 1525. Infernal peasants!