Ben and Jerry's and Von Trapp Family

October 17th-We started our day with a historical tour of the Von Trapp Family Lodge.  It was extremely interesting and educational. We loved our tour guide, Kristina, who is the granddaughter of Maria Von Trapp.  She was very engaging and articulate.  We loved hearing how the movie deviated from the truth; ie. Captain was a very warm, engaging person that loved taking off camping with his family for months, Maria was the one who was more structured and affectionately reserved, the oldest child was a son not a daughter.  Some other interesting bits were:
l. In Austria, the Von Trapp's would rent out there home and travel extensively.
2. Maria only made $9000 for the rights of her story so the family gets minimal royalties from the Sound of Music.
3.  The Sound of Music Musical is opening in Austria in a few weeks for the first time.
4.  Maria and the Captain had three children together.  The youngest Johannes, currently runs the Lodge.
5.  Their mother died not in childbirth but in nursing to health her children with scarlet fever.
6.   There was a priest who was their arranger and big reason for their success.
7.  The cast of the Sound of Music, get together once in awhile with the Trapp's. In 2008, they sent a plaque and apple tree in honor of the death of the second son.  They affectionately call themselves the Non-Trapp's
8.  They walked nonchalantly to the train to leave Austria
9.  Hitler was very upset when they wouldn't sing for his birthday party.
10.  Their true engagement story is hilarious.
11.  We enjoyed meeting the Scottish Highland cattle
12.  Most impressed with the resourcefulness and fortitude of the family
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Ben and Jerry's Tour-Interesting and great samples.  Fun tour and loved the fact that two best friends could split the $5  cost for an ice cream making correspondence course and through creativity, fortitude and hard work make the kind of business they did.    Most impressed by the social consiouness they instilled as a company (closing down for community service projects and employees encouraged to do this as well on  own time).

With Kristina Trapp

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