When I was in Salzburg, Austria early of May this year, I was able to attend a local event during spring called, the ‘Festspiele der Blasmusik’ on the Residenzplatz, in the heart of Salzburg centre.
As we all know about Austria, it is the land of music, of symphony orchestras and classical music. Salzburg is no exemption, this is the place where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born, and the city is naturally still caught up in the throes of sonatas and concertos.
Festspiele der Blasmusik on the Residenzplatz
Unfortunately, as you can see in the pictures, I was not lucky with the weather. At least it did not rain that hard, just showers, although there were on and off real light downpour. Manageable I would say. I also have a cool hat—channelling Che Guevarra in Salzburg etched with an inspired Byzantine Orthodox Cross on it =)
When you are in Austria and you see and hear classical music played on the streets, you just have to stop and appreciate, because this is what the city is all about.
Here is a piece of classical music I filmed:
An almost very expensive Grilled Chicken
On the square itself there are stalls selling food and drinks, as well as tables and benches for outdoor communal eating. The delicious smell coming from the food stalls were so luring that I finally succumbed and decided to have my late lunch in outdoor concerto fashion. Never mind the showers while I listen to beautiful cultured music, it is not going to kill me anyway.
These are the food stalls, the communal eating and concert scene on the square:
So I queued up at this grilled chicken stall behind a young American couple, they are tourists. The food stall is selling half grilled chicken paired either with bread or mashed potato.
‘How much is the chicken?’ inquired the American girl.
The lady seller from the stall, without even looking at them said, ‘20 euros. ’
The couple looked at each other, obviously shocked at the price and wondering if they should leave and seek food elsewhere.
Then the guy said, ‘Okay we’ll have two.’
I was surprised they bit to the price? Some people are just too easy, they did not even ask why it is so expensive. Now I am a concerned citizen and I just know this American couple has been unreasonably ripped off. 40 euros for a whole darn chicken?! So I wanted to confront the seller and stop the couple from buying but experience and age has taught me to hold back and not get involved in other people’s lives. I am a tourist, not a heroine, unless their lives were threatened then perhaps I will meddle, like shout for help, haha.
Still stunned at what had just happened (I cannot get the 20 euros for half a chicken out of my mind!), the lady seller turned to me and asked in Austrian German what I want, and this is what has been playing at the back of my mind—If she tries the 20 euros price on me, she’ll have a good discussion because I will not let this devious act go unnoticed. People, I was ready for a word battle!
So I ask her as I point to the ready-to-go-on-a-plate half grilled chickens, ‘How much are these?’
Her answer, ‘7 euros.’
I was, well, again stunned. Why is she giving me the half grilled chicken for 7 euros while the couple tourist before me got it for 20 euros each? Just FYI—a whole grilled chicken here in the Netherlands cost between 5 and 5.50 euros in the shops, but during events like these, I can understand that they marked up the prices, but surely not for eightfold of its normal price, right?
Anyway, I paid and left and found a high table on the side corner of the square where I can perch the chicken, have lunch whilst standing and enjoy the rest of the concert.
I do not have to know the answers for everything and I am fine with that.
More pictures below of the Residenzplatz, its side streets, the outdoor courtyard of Alte Residenz, the residential palace of the archbishops of Salzburg.
Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Salzburg (Salzburg), Austria
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)