Berlin and Salzburg

This blog is about Austria, obviously. Of course, I’m very excited to be in Austria, and in my time here I’m trying not to dwell on Germany and Berlin where I have been many times. After traveling to Salzburg this weekend with some other American TAs, I realized something. 

The other TAs that I traveled with all studied abroad for a year in Salzburg. Whenever they mention Salzburg, it’s with a sigh. They have a lot of memories and experiences from their time in Salzburg. Salzburg is definitely a nostalgic place for them and they feel sad when leaving the city. They can wander for hours around the city without a plan in sight. 

When I go to Salzburg, I just feel like “eh.” Don’t get me wrong, Salzburg is very beautiful, but I don’t feel anything particularly special when visiting it. I also need a plan when I visit, otherwise I find wandering around the city a little dull. I think if I were living in Salzburg and not a little alpine village, I might feel a little differently about it. I think that when I go back home to the US, the place I will feel nostalgic for in Austria is my little alpine village, Bischofshofen. 

Berlin is definitely my nostalgic/special place in Europe. While I haven’t spent a lot of time there, in my many visits, I have made a lot of memories and, of course, friends in Berlin. I also could wander around Berlin for hours with no plans. I probably talk too much about Berlin and also probably end those sentences with a sigh. Sigh.

Sorry Salzburg! While you are probably more breathtakingly beautiful than Berlin, you can’t compete with all my memories of Berlin. Berlin, you will always hold a special place in my heart.