That morning I woke up in a Munich hostel not having decided yet where my next stop was. I just knew that I have a few days to spare before I should head towards Amsterdam to meet up with some friends. I hurriedly packed up my backpack, camera, tripod and a huge bottle of water then headed towards the train station using the bike that I rented from the previous night. After consulting my map and train schedule, I felt that Salzburg has got to be the place to go... My first class (no other choice!) unlimited eurail pass was very convenient and it really suited my being fickle-minded and my unpredicatble itinerary. I was all alone in the first class coach. (feeling sosyal, while the rest of the "Indios" had to cram in the 2nd class coaches, hehehe). But when the waiter came in carting some yummy pastries and sandwiches for breakfast, I pretended to be full. The truth was, I just can't afford to spend 10 euros for my breakfast. (while the "indios" and the "alipin sanggigilids" are munching to their heart's content at the other coach, grrrrrr).
I pretended to be busy while I spent the two-hour trip reading up about Salzburg and figuring out where to stay and what to do there. I was overwhelmed with the must do's and must see's but I realized that it would be very expensive just to cover the entrance fees to all those sights and museums. (Haaaaay... ang hirap maging indio sa europa).
When I got off the train, I immediately headed towards the tourist helpdesk and asked where I could get cheap (reaaaly cheap) accommodations. Otherwise, I have already eyed a nice quiet corner inside the train terminal where I could sleep over during night time. I don't really mind, hehe. Nobody knows me there and besides if somebody familiar sees me I could easily say I was just waiting for my trip (to Paris or Switzerland para sosyal sounding), hehe.
And as I was about to leave the tourist kiosk, the attendant asked me if I'm not going to get a Salzburg Card. She handed me a brochure and there I realized that this was my key to seeing the most out of Salzburg in the cheapest way. I paid 24 euros (around P1,600) for the card which offers a whole array of free entrance fees to almost all of the major sights in Salzburg. Of course, I really optimized it and here's what I got:
1. free transportation within the city
2. cable car going up (and back) to the 1,850-meter summit of Mt. Unsterberg (I saved 19 euros)
3. cable railway going up the Hohensalzburg Fortress (saved 10 euros)
4. free entrance to the Fortress Museum and World of Marionettes
5. roundtrip river cruise (Salzach speedboat ride across the Salzburg river (saved 13 euros)
6. entrance to the Miracle's Wax Museum (saved 9 euros)
7. entrance to the Salzburg Zoo (saved 9 euros)
8. entrance to the Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains (saved 8 euros)
9. entrance to Mozart's Birthplace and Residence (saved 13 euros)
The total would have been more than 80 euros! So for a cheapskate like me, the Salzburg card was a real bargain. For a classical music and art lover like me, Salzburg is a city I would definitely go back to over and over. The sights, the sounds, the experience, and the thousand of shots I took all over Salzburg was really worth it.
