The train to Vienna from Venice was a sleeper again, but this time everything went very well. Vicki & I got a private car and the ride was much nicer than that from Paris to Rome. We both actually slept well. Here’s Vicki setting on one of the lower bunks we both took:
As we arrived in Vienna our worst fears were confirmed – the rain we encountered in Venice had followed us to Vienna. So after putting our bags in a storage locker at the Westbahnhof (West Train Station), we decided to take a bus tour of the city. It took us all over and we got a pretty good orientation but none of the pictures I tried to take out the windows of the bus turned out very well. Also, Vicki is having a hard time tuning her ears to the Austrian accent when they speak English so I have to interpret much of what our guide said.
Even in the rain though, the city is beautiful. The succession of Baroque, followed by Ricocco, then modern architectures we saw along the RingStrasse (Ring Street) that encircles Vienna was amazing.
We did however stop for a guided tour of the Schonbrunn Palace – the summer residence of the ruling dynasty of Austria, the Habsburgs – that was modeled on Versailles and lies about 10K outside of the city center. To my eye though, it was much more beautiful than Versailles. We weren’t allowed to take any pictures inside but here are a few views from around the building:
Here’s Vicki at the front gate
Even in the rain though, the city is beautiful. The succession of Baroque, followed by Ricocco, then modern architectures we saw along the RingStrasse (Ring Street) that encircles Vienna was amazing.
We did however stop for a guided tour of the Schonbrunn Palace – the summer residence of the ruling dynasty of Austria, the Habsburgs – that was modeled on Versailles and lies about 10K outside of the city center. To my eye though, it was much more beautiful than Versailles. We weren’t allowed to take any pictures inside but here are a few views from around the building:
Here’s Vicki at the front gate
Here we are in front of the palace.
One of the fountains in the front courtyard
The side garden.
The back garden:
Just for fun I thought I’d stand in one of the guardhouses outside the palace:
After the palace tour, we returned to the city center and had lunch at a cafeteria style restaurant called Rosenberger’s where I got a Schnitzel mit Kartafel (breaded & fried veal cutlet with home fried potatoes) and Vicki got Goulash with potato dumplings. I thought it was pretty good but Vicki didn’t really care for it. Ah well, maybe better luck next time!
When we were done eating the rain had stopped so we picked up a brochure from the city info office and started walking. Here’s Vicki in front of the Vienna Opera House where Mozart performed all his works:
When we were done eating the rain had stopped so we picked up a brochure from the city info office and started walking. Here’s Vicki in front of the Vienna Opera House where Mozart performed all his works:
Then on to St. Steven’s Cathedral. This gothic structure, based on Notre Dame, was so large that I had to take two separate pictures to be able to show you the whole thing:
Much of this church was destroyed during WWII and was rebuilt by donations of the people of Vienna. Here you see the roof decorated in tile commemorating it’s completion in 1950.
By this time it was getting late so we walked back to the train station, picked up our bags and hopped onto Streetcar 9 to go to our hotel. Vienna was one of the harder public transport systems to understand but we eventually got it straight and got to our room around 8PM. By the time we got checked in, put our stuff down and walked out, all the regular restaurants were closed. We finally found an all night Schnitzel house though and had Schnitzels and Pom Frites (French Fries) before calling it a night.
Well, tomorrow it’s off to the Spanish Riding School to see the Lipizzaner Stallions and then to the Blue Danube, but it’s now 1:30 AM so I guess I’ll say Guten Naben and Auf Wiedersein!
Much of this church was destroyed during WWII and was rebuilt by donations of the people of Vienna. Here you see the roof decorated in tile commemorating it’s completion in 1950.
Inside, because the stained glass was replaced with newer more modern glass during the post-war reconstruction, it’s much lighter than most gothic cathedrals. Here’s a few views for you to enjoy:
This was the church where Mozart was married, both his children were baptized and he often performed. Here’s a display of the sheet music he used when he performed in the cathedral.
In addition, we toured the catacombs under the building that were used as a cemetery until the 1700s. Then, as our guide said, the smell of decaying bodies was so bad that nobody wanted to go to church any more! Again, we were unable to take pictures during this tour but it was interesting.
As we walked around the city we saw several more interesting sights. Here I am in front of the Imperial Palace, the regular seat of power and the headquarters of the empire.
While wandering, we came across this excavation site displaying the remains of buildings going back as far as the ruins of a Roman fortification dating to 2-4 BC.
Finally, here I am in the main city park with my bud Mozart! :-)
By this time it was getting late so we walked back to the train station, picked up our bags and hopped onto Streetcar 9 to go to our hotel. Vienna was one of the harder public transport systems to understand but we eventually got it straight and got to our room around 8PM. By the time we got checked in, put our stuff down and walked out, all the regular restaurants were closed. We finally found an all night Schnitzel house though and had Schnitzels and Pom Frites (French Fries) before calling it a night.Well, tomorrow it’s off to the Spanish Riding School to see the Lipizzaner Stallions and then to the Blue Danube, but it’s now 1:30 AM so I guess I’ll say Guten Naben and Auf Wiedersein!
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