We're off to Austria for a two-week skiing holiday next month but plan to stop in Salzburg to surprise our seven-year-old daughter with a tour of the places and historical buildings that feature in the film TheSound of Music. Can you suggest a few must-visit sites, and recommend a tour company?
If you want to venture out on Salzburg's Sound of Music trail on your own, start by walking through Kapitelplatz Square and climbing the steep Nonnbergasse Two to the historic Nonnberg Nunnery, one of the oldest convents in the world and where the song "Maria" was filmed. Then explore the nearby 18th-century Mirabell Castle and its gardens, immortalised by the film cast singing "Do-Re-Mi", and Hellbrunn Palace, which houses the pretty pavilion where Liesl sings "Sixteen Going on Seventeen". A short walk away is Frohnburg Castle, which provided the famous facade for the von Trapp home. Don't forget to visit the majestic Mondsee Cathedral on Lake Mondsee, about 24km east of Salzburg, where the fictional Maria and the baron were married. Once a monastery, it was founded in 748. End your tour at Felsenreitschule and the Festival Halls in Salzburg, where the von Trapp family sing "Edelweiss" before making their escape.
The Salzburg-based company Panorama Tours (www.panoramatours.com) offers a four-hour "Original Sound of Music tour" at 9.30am and 4pm every day, starting from Mirabellplatz in front of St Andra Church.
The tour begins at Mirabell Castle and takes in St Peter's District, the oldest quarter of Salzburg; Mozartsteg, the bridge over Salzach River, which connects Rudolfskai to Imbergstrasse; the now privately owned Leopoldskron Palace (Maria and the baron danced on the terrace here), which is a short walk from the old town; the 17th-century Frohnburg Castle (now home to students from the Mozarteum Music Academy); Hellbrunn Palace; the Untersberg, Salzburg's most famous Alpine peak offering sweeping panoramas of the city, as seen in the opening "hills are alive" scene; a tour of Nonnberg Abbey; a visit to the scenic town of St Gilgen and the beautiful Lake Wolfgang, about 30km from Salzburg; and Mondsee Cathedral.
Tour prices start at €110 (Dh541) for two adults and two children between four and 12 years of age. The company can arrange hotel pick-up and drop-off for an extra fee.
Do you have travel questions or queries? E-mail them to us at travel@thenational.ae
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Barbie
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
