My first bal experience and the day at the ski world cup

Sunday, January 22th

Hello,

I didn't write any articles since maybe two weeks but I have some very good reasons:

- I went skiing a lot with my host family: we were in a lot of different places and it was a lot a fun!

I also saw the skiing world cup: that's really impressionant because they go really fast (about 100km) and I think you that they have to be very strong (their legs were so sinewy!!).

That 's really cool because in Austria, there is a lot of sun almost every days so when we go skiing, it's really pleasant!!

- I went to a bal in Salzbourg. It was the first time of my life that I went to a bal!
It was organized from a dancing school (they do this every years).
We all had to wear a very elegant tenue and the men were not allow to go in without any tie!!
That was a beautiful place with a discotheque for the young people!

I saw my host sister with her partner and a lot of pupils from the school where I am where here ! The dances where beautiful but there was a lot of people because they were almost five hundred on the dance floor!! I was nearly the entire evening at the discotheque with my host sister and some friends, that was really a very good moment, with a lot of fun! I will always remember this moment.

- I am doing my project in a very intense way because I will do my presentation on wednesday (the next week) so in three days!! I am a bit stressed but I am sure I will be fine!!

In one week, I will go back to Bordeaux!
That's funny to think about it because the time passed soooo fast!! I am very happy to see my family and friends! And I am very exited to show Bordeaux, my family, my friends, my school and a lot of others things at Alina who will come to Bordeaux five month. So, this exchange is really not finish  and I am happy about it!!

XOXO (always wanted to say it)

The Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg

Thursday, January 3rd,

When you think about Salzburg, the fisrt thing that you think about is his castel. The castle in Salzburg is an unmistakable landmark providing the city’s world famous silhouette, up on a little mountain which gives a lot of charm at the city. 

I therefore inquired about it for explaining what is this castel and his history. 

"The Hohensalburg Fortress" (it's called like this) is probably Salzburg’s most famous landmark. 

A lot of tourist come there to visit it and to admire the beautiful view of the city from the top of the hill. Hohensalzburg Fortress can be visited the whole year round. 

It can be easily reached on foot using the path up the mountain, and since 1892 a convenient railway service has been provided by the Salzburg Fortress Funicular in Festungsgasse. 

Besides the medieval rooms the romantic courtyard and the bastions regularly serve as scenery for events like the "Fortress Concerts".

The construction of the fortress began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein. 

This original design was just a basic bailey with a wooden wall. In the Holy Romain Empire, the archbishops of Salzburg were already powerful political figures and they expanded the castle to protect their interests. Gebhard's conflict with Emperor Henry IV during the Investiture Controversy influenced the expansion of the castle, with the Archbishop taking the side of Pope Gregory VII and the German anti-king Rudolf of Rheinfelden. The castle was gradually expanded during the following centuries. The ring walls and towers were built in 1462 under Prince-Archbishop Burkhard II von Weißpriach.

Hohensalzburg castle was refurbished from the late 19th century onwards and became a major tourist attraction  leading up from the town to the Hasengrabenbastei. 

It stands today as one of the best preserved castles in Europe.

During the early 20th century it was used as a prison, holding Italian prisoners of war during World War I and Nazi activists (before the Anschluss with Germany) in the 1930s.

Today’s exterior was designed by Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach. 

Of particular interest are the fortress museum and the medieval stately chambers. The interior of the fortress was furnished to impress with magnificent gothic carvings, ornamental paintings and frescos, and decorative gold leaf – all of which attests to the wealth of the prince bishops.