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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 8:29:02 GMT
Well, ladies, I decided we needed to celebrate our first birthday in style, and not forgetting that we are entering The Sound of Music's 50th year, I thought long and hard to think of something that would make everyone happy. Eventually, I concluded the only thing that would fit the bill would be a Tour of the Villa von Trapp! I also wanted to give a big Thank You to Augiesannie as our Founder Member, and to Robert Wise and everyone involved in TSOM for creating something really special...  So, I have arranged things as I thought you would all like to see something of the interior design and architecture of the house, and would appreciate understanding the layout a little better, along with the plan of the gardens. Therefore, I have included a floor plan with an indication of where the tour goes to help you (the upstairs is superimposed on the downstairs for ease, downstairs tour in red, upstairs and exit in blue ). All I ask is that you don't post until you see the words 'The End', as this will take quite a while to upload due to multiple posts and a dodgy internet connection here. So be patient, and may I suggest you look beyond the characters to the backdrop of the house and grounds, using as much of your imagination as you can muster for full enjoyment! (Please click on images to enlarge them).  note from admin: some of the images had to be deleted to keep the size manageable, but the whole magical tour can be viewed by clicking on this link |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 8:52:45 GMT
So a while ago, I screwed up my courage and wrote to Captain von Trapp to ask if we could look round the villa. To my delight, he responded, saying we could come today at 11.30. He said he had guests staying, and that they would be involved in some rehearsals at the house, but that he and his family would do their best to show us round.  So here we are in Traunstrasse, in Aigen on the edge of Salzburg, known as the Hellbrun Alley. It's a lovely morning, but the bus which brought us from town took a circuitous route, and now we are a little late...so come on, girls, best foot forward! Eyes out for the Villa von Trapp! It's number 34 -  Hey, this looks familiar...  Yes, this is number 34: here we are girls! |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:09:54 GMT
Now let's head to the front door... Attachment DeletedBut there is a noise behind us - oh, there is a young woman coming!  "Hallo!" she says -"You must be the ladies coming for the tour of the house; I am the governess, and oh, dear, I am so late back from Mass..."  |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:16:46 GMT
"Let me let you in", she says, "people are arriving for the rehearsals, but I will introduce you to the Captain".  So we go in...  And meet the Captain...mmm, nice!  |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:23:28 GMT
Attachment DeletedWe are introduced to the Captain.  "Good.After.Noon", he says, emphasising our lateness. "May I introduce my children?"  My, what charming children!
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:28:43 GMT
 "Now, as our rehearsals should have started ten minutes ago, you will forgive us if we start; you are welcome to look around the house, and we will guide you when we have time, but we would like to make a start here in the hall", he says, walking past the sitting room.  "Maybe the ladies would like to see the ball room, Captain?", asks the Governess. "There doesn't seem to be anyone in there..." Attachments:
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:35:14 GMT
 "Oh, dear, the door seems to be locked..." Attachment Deleted "Here, I have the key", says the Captain gruffly,"You can go in..." Attachment Deleted ...and then he stalks off down to his study. What a funny man! |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:42:33 GMT
Attachment Deleted Meanwhile, the Governess shows us in to a most magnificent room. "Yes, I was quite taken with it when I first came here", she says. We wonder at the loveliness of the space, imagining all the parties that have happened in there. And then we start at look at the paintings on the walls,and get quite absorbed.
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:45:53 GMT
Soon, Augiesannie notices something through the French doors: Attachment Deleted   Hmm: looks to me that there's more going on there than just a dance... |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 9:58:03 GMT
But soon they appear to be held in a clinch, so we decide it is time to stop prying, and return to the paintings on the wall of the ballroom...but Charleybec starts giggling, because some of the ladies in the paintings appear to have forgotten to put on their underwear today. But suddenly, there is a bang! Attachment Deleted "If you would follow me, I will show you the terrace and lake; it's rather nice outside now." Attachment Deleted So he turns around, and walks to the right, through the hall to the loggia doors. |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:03:25 GMT
Attachment Deleted ...and on to the terrace.  He spies some friends at the table and introduces us to them. Attachment Deleted "May I introduce you to the Baroness Schraeder, and Herr Max Detweiler, here at the table?"
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:11:01 GMT
Attachment DeletedBut when he sits down, the look on his face suggests the liquid aperient that Frau Schmidt whipped up for him last night has found its way into the glass jug. Now the problem is to know whether he should say something...now? Or it looks like it is too late... So Tantekj says,"There are rather a lot of us and gardens look lovely, can we show ourselves around?" Bright girl. Attachment Deleted It certainly looks lovely. Attachment Deleted
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:15:23 GMT
 But someone is coming -  It's Liesl: "I am waiting for my rehearsal partner to arrive; can I show you around the gardens in the meantime?" Attachment Deleted Why, yes - that would be lovely. It seems the Governess is already there, enjoying the parterres and formal gardens. |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:22:21 GMT
 Yes, it is truly beautiful here. Attachment Deleted But along come the Captain and the Baroness. "Do go and see the gazebo, ladies", says the Baroness, "it's just so romantic", she says. The Captain just wears an inscrutable smile. (Oh, all right, girls, AND a suit and tie...CALM DOWN, Paula!)  Yes, it's is really very pretty. But here is Liesl's dancing partner now -let's stay a while!" |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:25:47 GMT
 Let's peek in the door...  How lovely -  But some of us want to explore the gardens more (they are really quite extensive), so we set off to the far boundaries... |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:30:54 GMT
 We walk by the lakeside and through the grounds, but then get hopelessly lost.  Gone for some time, we eventually work our way back to the side of the house, near where we entered the courtyard. Now we must get back to the Pegasus Landing... Attachment Deleted Phew! Here we are again! Then we hear a someone clearing their throat behind us: |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:35:27 GMT
 It is the Captain again. "I thought you had gone without saying goodbye", he says. "It is nearly lunchtime; we are waiting for you in the sitting room. Follow me."  So we follow him in through the loggia doors, Attachment Deleted gasping as we enter the stunning hall again. |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:40:38 GMT
Attachment Deleted He turns right towards the sitting room door:"Oh,no, please don't say...", we hear him whisper. Attachment Deleted "Father", say the children, "We had to ask the Baroness to stop playing her harmonica as it was ruining our song". The Captain is lost for words, as he can't stand the sound, either. It seems Max is the only one who likes that old hillbilly sound.  But where is the Governess? Ah, here she is, looking out for someone...who could it be?
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:44:57 GMT
 Oh, it's Liesl, entering the hall from the terrace; she has clearly been exploring nether regions in the gardens as well....  Back in the sitting room, the Governess takes her firmly by the hand, and leads her past the dining room.  With a man like the Captain for a father, the governess knows it is up to her to tell Liesl about The Trouble With Boys... |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:48:49 GMT
 Meanwhile, the Captain seats his family in the dining room, and waits...and waits.  Eventually the Governess and Liesl enter the room, and are seated.  "Ah," breathes Liesl,"so THAT'S what boys are for!" |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:54:02 GMT
Attachment DeletedThe Captain is not amused; he has to ask the question: "Err, had a nice little chat, did you?"  "Yes, I thought it was about time Liesl learnt a thing or two about the birds and the bees"
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 10:57:04 GMT
 "Can you tell me about the birds and the bees, Father?", asks little Gretl.  Attachment Deleted All the children have to hide their laughter, as Friedrich told them all about that stuff YEARS ago! |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:00:23 GMT
 Poor Gretl shuffles off in a huff.  Oh, dear - someone's in trouble; who is it?!  Uh -oh, it's the Governess... |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:08:41 GMT
 From what we can hear, both the Captain and the Governess intended to show their guests the view of the lake from the balcony above the loggia after lunch, but there is insufficient room for everyone. So the Captain says he will entertain the children and his guests in the sitting room while the Governess takes us up to the balcony and the view. Attachment Deleted But, after some time the Captain was unable to thing of anything other than old Navy songs quite unsuitable for the kids. Then the Baroness stood up: "I know, I can play my h...." "NO!" roar the kids... |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:15:41 GMT
Attachment Deleted Meanwhile, the Governess takes us right, through the hall and upstairs. Attachment Deleted But just as the housekeeper, Frau Schmidt, is coming downstairs with the Baroness' handbag, the Governess lets out a little yelp. "Oh! I have lost my purse!", she cries. "I put it in my pocket when I went to Mass this morning." "Could you perhaps have left it in your room?", asks the housekeeper.  "Maybe. Could you ladies come and help me look for it?", asks the Governess. Of course we could - and a useful opportunity to see her bedroom!
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:19:07 GMT
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:22:58 GMT
 "Now, dear", says Frau Schmidt. "Where do you think you left your purse?" Attachment Deleted "I don't know...I can't find it anywhere", says the Governess. Attachment Deleted "Maybe I could make a new purse out of these old curtains!", she cries. |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:28:27 GMT
 "Do you think you might have left it at Mass?", asks the housekeeper.  "Oh, dear, I have a horrible feeling I left it at the Confession Box when I had to pay off the priest today".....  "Yes, that's it," she says, pulling on a jacket, "I had to take rather a lot of money..." |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:35:03 GMT
 ...and she dashes out of the door and down the corridor, with a worried look on her face. "I do hope no-one finds out," she mutters as she goes. Attachment Deleted So we are left to explore the house alone, and return back down the corridor and turn right towards the balcony at the end of the hall. It seems a lot more people have arrived for the rehearsals...  So we let ourselves through the double doors at the end, and enter the anteroom before the balcony above the loggia. But we have been so long in the Governess' room, the Captain has already arrived. |
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Post by indigoblue on Jul 1, 2014 11:40:49 GMT
 We move forward to get a glimpse of the lake, but suddenly realise the Baroness is here too; they seem to be having a little tete-a-tete, so maybe we should retrace our steps. Attachment Deleted We return to the hall -more people arriving: perhaps it is time for us to go. Attachment Deleted We turn right along the gallery, stopping only to go down the corridor to the kids' bedrooms. And Lemacd, I saw you peeking into the Captain's bedroom there! |
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So, I have arranged things as I thought you would all like to see something of the interior design and architecture of the house, and would appreciate understanding the layout a little better, along with the plan of the gardens. Therefore, I have included a floor plan with an indication of where the tour goes to help you (the upstairs is superimposed on the downstairs for ease, downstairs tour in red, upstairs and exit in blue ). 
