An orange bus, the sound of music, and acting like celebrities

Yesterday, the staff told us that today's trip to Austria would be optional. Apparently, it's the last day of some German holiday, and so our 2 hour bus ride would most likely be a 4 hour bus ride. We decided to go anyways because we have all heard such awesome things about Austria and how pretty Salzburg is.
The ride there only took 3 hours, 2 of which I was sleep so I didn't complain. Our guide came with us from Bad Kohlgrub, so the entire way there she was telling us random stories and facts about Germany and Austria. The hour I heard was interesting. We began our tour where they filmed the Do-Re-Me song (where they end, not begin) in Sound of Music. We then passed Mozart's house and the bridge covered in locks that lovers have locked there and thrown the key into the river. Our guide took us through the marketplace and showed us how we could get up to the castle, but other than that it was basically a self-guided tour since she talked all the way there.
When the tour was over, our group of 14 headed back to the marketplace to grab some lunch. 14 is an important number because we needed more than 10 to get a discount on the train ride up the mountain to the castle. The last 5 were the boys, and it was because of them we were getting lunch before. We didn't want them wandering off so we decided we should just eat too. The majority of us got this sausage that came either stuffed with cheese or not, and the choice between spicy or sweet mustard. It tasted good at the time, but on our way home we all started feeling a little sick. Oops. There was also this place selling ginormous pretzels. Some of them were more dessert like, and Erin and I split an apple one. It was gone in 2 minutes. As we were walking to the train that takes you up to the castle, we found out you also have to pay to enter the grounds. We only had an hour and a half before we had to be back at the bus, so we opted to not go. It was disappointing because this castle was built in the second century and looked amazing, but spending 9 euro for only an hour seemed like a waste. So instead we went shopping, and on a photo shoot in the garden area where we began the tour.
Shelley and Linda surprised us on the ride back by showing Sound of Music on the TV screens in the bus. It worked perfectly because the movie ended right as we were pulling up to the hotel. It's funny how you can watch a movie a thousand times and still, every time you watch it, catch some line that you finally get. We noticed they mention Saint Ignatius once as well as talking about some of the things we had learned about on the bus ride to Austria.

Tonight was another low key night. After we got back we hung out in Allie’s room going through pictures from the day. After spending a week constantly surrounded by people, I decided tonight was going to be an alone night. I don’t need a lot, but every once in a while I like to be by myself and quiet. Tomorrow is our last day in Germany; we leave for Italy Wednesday morning. I’m not ready for classes to start yet…

Monday, September 12th