The Chattanooga Girls Choir

Day 10
Sunday, June 15, 2003

After one last buffet breakfast, we said goodbye to the friendly staff at the Hotel Ibis in Linz and headed for Salzburg. It was interesting to watch the scenery change from the green rolling hills of eastern Austria to the more mountainous terrain of central Austria. By the time we reached Salzburg, the girls were excitedly pointing to mountain peaks that obviously still had snow on them. Hard to imagine, considering the heat of the past week!

In Salzburg we were met by two new guides who would each take half of our group on a walking tour of the AltStadt, or 'Old City.' We began in Mirabell Gardens, famous not just because of its intricate flower patterns but also because it was used in 'The Sound of Music' during the scenes for the song 'Do-Re-Mi.' We walked to the Residenzplatz, the town square next to the Residenz, a Baroque palace that was the home for Satzburg's prince-archbishops. The Residenzplatz was also used in the movie, but aside from its distinctive horse fountain, it was barely recognizable because the Platz was covered with booths and stages and huge blow-up climbing playgrounds, thanks to the Platzlsingen festival going on. We continued through the old streets as our guide pointed out beautiful old buildings and explained the history of Salzburg, all the while accompanied by classical music from street musicians and the occasional deep gongs of cathedral bells. The tour ended at the building where Mozart himself was born, after which some groups went into the building to see more about Mozart, while others left to get lunch and shop a little before the choir's scheduled singing time.

At 1:00, all the chaperoned groups met at the Residenzplatz, and after the singing group before us finally finished, the choir hurried (through straw-covered muddy sod!) to take the stage. With the noise everywhere, the unbalanced microphone system, and the electric piano hard to hear behind them, the girls did not give a stellar performance, but they seemed to be appreciated by the crowd anyway. Immediately after they finished, they left to sing at another location several blocks away, this time a capella (without accompaniment). This went a little better, though we had two girls who had to leave the performance because they were too dizzy. Last night's big concert really drained the girls, and it showed in many ways. This was the final performance of the tour, and everyone seemed a bit relieved to finally be done. Now all that was left was a little time to relax and maybe shop for some final souvenirs, followed by a nice dinner at a restaurant in the Residenzplatz area, and then off to the bus for the trip to Munich.

We arrived at our hotel near the Munich airport after 10:00 p.m., and since the wake-up call is scheduled to be at 4:30 a.m., the girls were told to go straight to their rooms and go to sleep. This is a really nice hotel with large comfortable beds and air conditioning in every room, so sleep should not be a problem!

To the fathers of our girls and our adults: we really miss being with our dads on this day, so please know we're thinking of you. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

This was the view out the bus window on the way to Salzburg!

These were the three tour guides who helped us today.
Our regular guide Helga is the one in the middle.

This statue-framed gateway to Mirabell Gardens was used in 'The Sound of Music.'

The choir performed as part of a series of musical groups in a day of festivities.

The choir sang again soon after they finished in the other location.
(Notice the women in traditional Austrian clothing.)

Erica, Cari, Sally, and Cecilia Wigal look pretty spiffy in their new hats!

Departing senior Alyson and rising senior Katie are enjoying their last Girls Choir trip abroad.

Tarbell Patten models the special gift the Grace Moore Singers
gave him -- a pair of boxer shorts with music symbols on it!

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