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Ling coordinated with the Honorary Consul Peter Wagner of Salzburg regarding our trip

From Café Brandl in Ansfelden, we drove on a rainy morning (brrr, ang ginaw!) to Salzburg thru the lake district (breathtaking view of the lakes and the quaint lakeside towns and snowcapped mountains.) We did some shopping for souvenirs along the way. We stopped at a roadside joint and ate delicious smoked fish for lunch. I walked to the cows grazing in a nearby lot and was so kilig watching them graze. Tumutunog yung cowbells as they move their heads from side to side to pull out the grass!

Inantok na sa busog at puyat so many slept during part of the trip. Biglang nangabuhay when we reached Salzburg. The Consul and his wife Elizabeth were waiting for us in one building. A brief exchange with Ling, and our bus followed his car to the Von Trapp Home. Later, Ling would tell us that the Consul told her that he had prepared a surprise for the group. It was going to be a special "Sound of Music" tour.

The Consul and his wife led us to the Von Trapp Home (where the movie "The Sound of Music" was filmed). A lady dressed like Maria Von Trapp welcomed us at the entrance and led us to the garden and the lake at the back of the house. Of course we oohhed and aahhed at the beautiful garden and the serene lake setting. Kodakan galore.

We were gathered together, I think the Consul spoke words of welcome and Ling replied. Si 'Maria', tinabihan ng gitarista. Nagpasakalye. Maria sang "The hills are alive …" Tumulo ang aming mga luha! Kinukunan kami ng pictures ni Consul Wagner. Naiyak na talaga ako. Pati rin yata sila.

'Maria' invited us to sing the next song with her, "Do re mi".Reversed agad ang mood.

Afterwards, more picture-taking with the Consul and his wife and Maria's group of welcomers. We toured the house (palace) from top to bottom. It is being rented out for functions and events.

I walked with the consul's wife Elizabeth back to our bus. Told her that the movie is a special part of our youth because it was shown during the summer that we were fresh out of high school. She just saw it two years ago. (Sabi ni Ling, hindi raw keen ang Austrians about the movie, kasi nga aristokrata sila and Von Trapp married the governess!)

Next stop was the Abbey. We had to walk up to the top of the hill, escorted by Elizabeth in her cuban-heeled shoes. Nakaabot ako sa tuktok nang hindi humihingal, amazing talaga. Siguro ay walking on cloud 9 dahil sa kanta ni 'Maria.'

Andun na uli si 'Maria' sa Abbey! Nag-bisikleta. Pasakelye na naman ang gitarista. "My Favorite Things" ang kinanta. Naki-kanta rin kami. "I know you have been waiting for this," she said. And promptly sang "Edelweiss". Tulo na naman ang mga luha namin!