<p>Christmas week in Salzburg! We’ve done it. The markets in Old Town are delightful. (though Munich and Vienna markets are much larger) After a Mozart dinner show at St. Peter Stiftskeller you and your family are wandering Old Town with gigantic snowflakes landing on your lashes and you feel the need for some hot mulled wine so you stumble upon a restaurant/bar with and outdoor stand up table. Your family breathes in the magic while being warmed by the spiced wine and the propane heaters! The next day is Christmas Eve. Almost everything shuts down around 2. At about 4 you start seeing people everywhere carrying 12-18 inch pine boughs heading over to Grandma’s house. Maybe around 7 or 8 the night air is filled with ringing church bells echoing off the narrow alleyways and families strolling arm and arm to the Christmas Eve church services. If you opt to go to the service at the Cathedral (very long service) you will be in for a treat. At the very end of the service all the lights go off and up in the balcony is one tiny candle and one man playing Silent Night as it was first played on a guitar. For those not Christian, it is still a beautiful experience. (google history of Silent Night church in Oberndorf outside Salzburg)</p>
<p>We ended up using Christmas Day as a travel day as nothing was open.</p>
<p>(Munich and Salzburg could certainly be a separate trip)</p>