Entry No. 5 From Sophomore Katie Milberger -- Our exploration of Austria began with an early morning Austrian breakfast and ended with Gelato. Now let me tell you about the in-between.

After a breakfast filled with yogurt, granola, breads, cheeses, meats, and of course hazelnut spread we were off to the Mirabel Palace and Gardens. It is as beautiful and regal as it sounds. Our guide informed us that this pristine Palace has a surprisingly tainted past. It was built to house the mistress of the Arch Bishop of Salzburg and their 10 children (yes, I did type that number correctly). This garden was unlike any I have ever been to. Coming from a girl who's parents could barely get her to pick weeds out of the front yard, I can only imagine how much daily care and attention this garden of overarching trees, statue circled fountains, and vibrant flowers requires. This Palace was also home to the famous scene in the Sound of Music where Julie Andrews and the children hopped up and down the stairs singing Do Re Mi.

Our guide led our massive party across a bridge glittering with love locks to the main town area of Salzburg. We were immediately engulfed in its rich history. There we got to see the birthplace of the famous Mozart, St. Peter's Abbey, Romamesque Hall, a beautifully preserved cemetery, and the Hohensalzburg Fortress (which I got to explore later).

Once our walking tour came to an end, the small army of Baylor Soccer dispersed in all directions on a quest to explore every inch of Salzburg. My regiment consisted of myself, Precious A., Lauren P., Hannah P., and Marissa K. We decided we would first storm the Hohensalzburg Fortress by foot. I don't think our regiment of five would have intimidated the soldiers that once protected the fortress because the mountain it was sitting on had us winded and sweating before we even reached its gates. However, our efforts were were rewarded with amazing architecture and the best view of the city.

With hundreds of pictures of Salzburg on our phones, our group made it back down to the heart of the city. There, we rummaged through the market and snagged a quick bite to eat. We went off the main shopping street and found a great shop to full of treasures to take home with us. But of course the best prize I got disappeared shortly after its purchase. Don't worry though, I'm only talking about chocolate. Not just any chocolate. It was amaaaazing. I know I've been very descriptive but I really can't begin to describe how good this one small dark chocolate truffle was. I just know I'll be dreaming of it for weeks.

With tired legs and satisfied taste buds, everyone regrouped and we headed off to the RedBull Salzburg soccer stadium. There we split up into two groups and were guided through VIP sections, locker rooms, and the field. My favorite part was when we went to the field because we all got to run through the players tunnel to blaring music and flashing lights. I also love how this stadium is family oriented. Kids had their own area where parents could drop them off for the game and players would come sign autographs. They even specialized snacks for the kids by making most meals miniature.

Inspired by the stadium, we departed for our last major event -- practice. We were able to train at University Olympic Field. This was the most beautiful place I have ever been privileged to play the sport I love. Before we got there, however, rumors had been going around that this was going to be a very difficult training making many of us anxious. But then we saw that the massive Alp mountains with their tops dipped in snow, covered with trees that cascaded to the base, and met the tall grassed rolling hills would be the backdrop to our training session. After that our anxiety subsided and we realized how blessed we are to be together and play in a place where God's work is so easily visible.

We capped the night in a cozy restaurant with great conversation, company, and classic Austrian cuisine.

Katie