The sense of being on a film or stage set was reinforced in Salzburg as many locals were wearing dirndls and lederhosen. I wouldn't have been surprised to see them suddenly break into song.

"Dirndls went out of favour for a while after the (Second World) War, but they've become fashionable again since the 1970s," our guide, Michela, said while taking my husband and I on a walking tour, dressed in, yes, a dirndl. She denied it had anything to do with nationalist sentiment.

After a day, my cynicism at these fairytale surrounds began to melt and Salzburg seduced me with its charms. For a start, the baroque architecture of the Altstadt (Old City heritage-listed in 1997) was visually captivating.

The medieval Hohensalzburg Castle dominates the skyline and the cobbled streets below are filled with ancient buildings.

It is one minute’s walk from the new trendy Hamra street restaurants, cafes and shopping area; 2 minutes away from the Lebanese American University, LAU; 4 minutes from the American University of Beirut (AUB), The American University Hospital , Clemenceau Medical Centre; 10 minutes from Solidere, downtown Beirut and 15-20 minutes from Beirut International airport.