From Salzburg to Schwaig

We come to our last full day of the pilgrimage.
We left Salzburg and made several stops to see where the movie "The Sound of Music" was filmed.

We then went to Traunstein, the village where Pope Benedict XVI was baptised and grew up. We had two hours to walk the town, sample the wursts, and then we celebrated Mass in the parish church -- and in honor of Easter and the church's heritage, we were all blessed with Easter water by Father Ralph, the Elder.

After the Traunstein visit, we traveled aimlessly as we attempted to find our hotel, which had been changed by the tour company at the last minute. We finally arrived in the village of Schwaig and after carrying all our luggage to our rooms (we needed the excercise), we had a lovely last dinner complete with multi-lingual songs, some blessings and of course, many Alleluias!

                        
                       
                                                                                           
                                                             
       
       
                                                             
The lake where the Sound of Music was filmed.          
       
 
Read about the Sound of Music tour here.
 
              And yes, the hills WERE alive with the sound of music -- mostly Alleluias!  
                           
   
                             
Captain Von Trapp wasn't at home.                      
            A statue of a bishop in Traunstein -- but not Bishop Ratzinger.                          
                                     
                                     
                       
                       
      The baptistry where Pope Benedict was baptized -- most likely not in this "modern" font, but in this church.                  
                                                   
                                 
                                     
                                            The front of the altar was set with this large agate stone.          
                                 
     
           
                     
                                         
                                                                                           
                                                 
         
So it is fitting that this statue of Lot's wife-turnin-into-a-pillar-of-salt stands outside of St. Ruperts.
The "other" church in town, St. Rupert's. This was the church built by the salt miners
 
           
           
  We were in town while a wedding was taking place.          
Lots to like in Traunstein!
   
   
    Our hotel in Schwaig              
       
   

Father Ralph blesses Cleofe on her birthday

           Flor and Linda get a blessing as they head for 50 years of wedded bliss! And of course everyone and the food was blessed too!
             
                   
                   
Scenes from around Schwaig
       
           
           
             
The bus leaves for the airport. Stay in touch.