For as long as I can remember, one of my greatest passions has been traveling around the world. Some of my earliest memories have been places other than home, places filled with joyous memories of adventure, learning, culture, and experience. Traveling is something that I have always known is a part of my family and a part of my identity. 

I’m not entirely sure where this blog will go or how much a kindness aspect I tie into it. However, I believe each week I will pick one of my favorite places I have been and what this place means to me along some of my favorite things aspects of the trip. To start it off, I want to take you to Austria.  

Austria may be my favorite country that I have ever visited. Landlocked by other beautiful European countries, Austria (in my eyes) is a crown jewel. Austria is the home of Mozart and other famous musicians, Sigmund Freud, the world’s second International Sex School, chocolate, roaring hills and mountains, Red Bull, Fortress Hohensalzburg, and so much more. This country is not only filled with beautiful sights, but also with kindly beautiful people.  

While in Austria, I traveled from Vienna, the capital, to Salzburg, and ended in Hallstatt. Along the way, we stopped in many dainty villages, each filled with their own character. 

Vienna is a bit of a blur. We landed in Vienna, flying from the United States, and I was incredibly jet-lagged and exhausted from the lack of sleep and excessive movie watching. Despite falling asleep in what must have been an outstanding opera in the Vienna State Opera, I do recall possibly one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world; St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Towering into the sky, decorated with the most magnificent stain glass windows, St. Stephen’s Cathedral took my breath away. Vienna was great, but let’s talk about Salzburg. 

On the top of my “Place’s I’d Love to Live” list is Salzburg itself. Now I may be slightly biased for my favorite movie of all time was filmed there, that is The Sound of Music. Might I say the hills are truly alive with the sound of music there. Luckily for me, on the local television, a channel plays the movie 24/7 for tourists. But that’s not all. Salzburg is hugged by Salzach river is overlooked by the handsome Hogensalzbugh Fortress. Rich in history from Motzart’s birthplace to Saint Peter’s Abbey and the oldest known restaurant in Europe, Stiftskeller St. Peter, Salzburg is the place to go. One of the most vivid memories was having dinner Austria’s largest beer garden, Augustiner Brau – Kolster Mulln. Tucked away under the shade of chestnut trees, everyone there made you feel like family. Not only was the battered food and live entertainment amazing, but the atmosphere there, the atmosphere that captures Austria as a whole, was kind and warm. 

Someday soon I hope to return to experience even more of what this historical and charming country has to over.