The sights and sounds of Vienna

Vienna State Opera House

This is the Vienna State Opera House.  Truly a magnificent building.  I left Salzburg after our adventure to the Ice Cave and took the afternoon train to Vienna on October 18th.  Made it back to Laurie and Hannes's place just in time to shower and go into the Vienna city center to see my first Opera "Aida".  What an amazing Opera to see as my first.  Laurie and I truly enjoyed the evening.  Inside the opera house are beautiful paintings and sculptures as well.  During the opera - I discovered that a few of the songs were actually ones I knew from childhood.  On all our family roadtrips - we would listen to the Fischer Choir - a classical group - one of my dad's favorites - Thanks Dad.  Was great to hear the songs in the context of what they meant in the Opera.  Aida is a very old opera - the premiere was in Cairo in 1871.  It tells the story of an Ethiopian Princess (Aida), who is a slave to the Egyptian Princess and the love story between Aida and the Egyptian Army Commander and the battles between the two lands.  Very moving.  A perfect finish to a wonderful day.


October 19th started out with a wonderful breakfast with Laurie and Hannes.  Fresh baked buns, a variety of meats, cheeses, artichokes, olives, goat cheese, nut bread, jam and a lovely cappuchino from their home espresso machine.

Vienna is a beautiful city full of museums, art galleries, palaces, churches and markets. 

 These pictures were taken at a local market near Karlplatz - really great selection of whatever you wanted to shop for - fine foods, flowers, clothes, and a few coffee/breakfast cafes along the way. 

mmmmmm Cheese

 After walking by the State Opera House and through the Market I wandered over to the Museum Quartier.  Many museums to see - but not enough time in one day to see them all.  The architecture of the buildings was great. 

I then walked along the street known as the Ring in Vienna - it circles the downtown and includes many of the tourist attractions.  These horse drawn carriages were going around the ring as well.  I boarded the Ring Tram which gives details about the different buildings as you pass them with an audio guide.  We passed the Parliament buildings,which is one of the few buildings I remember from 1988 when I was here with my parents and my brother.  After completing most of the Ring I walked to Belvedere Palace - to see the art on display there and the gardens.  

Parliament Vienna

Grounds of Belvedere Palace

Belvedere Palace

Inside the Belvedere Palace was a great art collection.  Unfortunately no pictures allowed inside the gallery. Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" was one of many on display there - which has always been one of my favorites.  Klimt was one of the few artists that came from Vienna.  Other great artists - including Monet and Van Gogh - had masterpieces there as well.  Really enjoyed the artwork there.

The gardens surrounding the Palace

 were great as well - excellent 

opportunity to take some great fall 

 photos.

A beautiful fall day

Glorietta and Neptune's Fountain at Schonnbrunn Palace

Schonnbrunn Palace

After leaving Belvedere, I headed to Schonnbrunn Palace.  The grounds were amazing to see along with the state rooms inside the palace.  Again no photos were allowed inside the palace.  The Glorietta in the picture opposite was high on the hill facing the palace.  It was a gorgeous sunny day.  Large sculptures of King Neptune and his subjects sat above the large fountain in the middle of the grounds. 

Neptune's Fountain

After walking around for many hours, I finally took a well deserved break at the Residenz Cafe at Schonnbrunn Palace.  Sacher Torte is a local specialty cake which I enjoyed with a Latte. 

An Impromptu Concert on the streets of Vienna

Stephansdom (St. Stephans Cathedral)

Heading back from Karlsplatz to Stephansplatz I came upon this lady giving an amazing piano performance on the street.  She was truly gifted in her playing.  She played a very fast paced Chopin allegria - which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Inside St. Stephens Cathedral

A visit to St. Stephan's Cathedral finished off this wonderful day in Vienna. 




























Sunday October 20th - I spent the day with Laurie and Hannes - relaxing, catching up on my journalling, and eating some great food.  We went out for a traditional Austrian lunch at the Napoleon Restaurant.  I had wildboar with potato dumplings in a gravy with cranberries, pumpkin soup - which had roasted pumpkin seeds, sauerkraut with bits of bacon - which were all very delicious.  I also tried a bite of walnut crepes with chocolate sauce and fried apple rings with vanilla sauce from Laurie and Hannes' desserts.  An excellent meal.  Later that day Laurie and I joined her friends - for a birthday celebration - at Cafe Landtmann - one of the nicest cafe's in Vienna.  I had a Mozart Kaffee - which had a chocolate cream in it, and a Waldbeeren Fleck - a delicious cake filled with whip cream and topped with wildberries.  A delicious combination. 


On monday October 21 I left Vienna and said goodbye to Laurie and Hannes and Olivia.  I had a wonderful time in Austria.