The Hills Are Alive!

Can you believe it's the 45th anniversary of the Sound of Music? The Today Show hosted the Von Trapp Children and Fräulein Maria last week to celebrate the anniversary of this magical movie. I always loved this movie, and I actually have a personal connection to the film.

Five years ago, I backpacked around Europe for a month with two of my girlfriends. One of our many stops among our travels was Salzburg, Austria, where this historic film was made! We decided since we loved the movie so much, we just had to take the Sound of Music tour, which is a 4-hour long excursion all over (highly recommended). You and your guide drive through those very hills from the song (listening and singing along to the soundtrack all the way - mind you!). We stopped at many iconic destinations from the movie; including the VonTrapp house by the lake, the church where Maria and Capt. Von Trapp were married, and many more...including the gazebo.

In case you don't remember, the gazebo was home to the famous song by Liesel and Rolf "I Am Sixteen, Going on Seventeen," (my favorite from the movie). Well when we arrived at this famous site, and encountered a crowd. Puzzled, we crept closer, and discovered the character Liesel from the movie was there filming the 40th reunion slot!!! It was such a random coincidence that she was there. We were thrilled!! The best part was, the 20 or so of us joined hands, and actually got to sing this wonderful song along with Liesel. It was a magical moment I'll never forget. Here's a picture of us and Liesel!
And the clip of the entire cast singing together!

8 comments

Vivian said...

That is wonderful!!!! I cannot believe you met Liesel!!

The Sound of Music was my favourite movie growing up, I knew all the songs and watched it over and over. You're so lucky you got to take the tour, I'd definitely do that if I went to Salzberg!

I watched the Oprah reunion they had, too. Wonderful!!

Diana Mieczan said...

OMG that is fantastic..how cool that you met her! Sound of Music is one of my favourite movies ever and I watch it each year:)...Happy Tuesday my dear

Mekkan said...

What a great story. I'm glad to find the image of Maria on my blog friends list showing that you've updated your blog. So I hurried to you here to see what's all about. Thanks for sharing such an exciting story. "Sound Music" is very popular here in Japan, too. You've certainly brought me back my precious memory that my mother took me to "Sound of Music" in the film theater when I was 3rd grade of the elementary. My English teacher at a junior high told me that Julie Andrew's English is very beautiful and we learned many songs of hers in the films. I can sing most of them even now.

Brittany said...

I'm not a big Oprah fan, but i taped the episode a few weeks ago where she reunited the cast for the first time. they showed fun behind-the-scenes clips and shared their experiences making the movie. they also had some von trapp kids sing. it was so fun! how amazing that you got to meet liesl! that tour sounds amazing, too!

heather{land} said...

I pretty sure this is sacreligious, but I don't think I have every seen it completely start to finish! I am putting it on my list :) I think Liesel and of course, Julie Andrews look especially amazing.

Evie said...

This is my very favorite movie of all time, I always watched it with my mom as a little girl and wanted to be Liesel so bad!

wir 2 here and there... said...

...just wanted to let you know that you have a BIG fan sitting in the city of Salzburg ;)

Unknown said...

I love that movie too. I also went on the that tour when I was 17. I remember thinking the catherdral was much BIGGER in the movies! What a blast it must have been to meet her. How special.