Circling Vienna
Trip Start
Apr 16, 2010
1
31
128
Trip End
Aug 31, 2010
Where I stayed
Vienna was a perfect city for walking and today it was even better because it was a religious public holiday so all the shops were closed and roads practically traffic-free. Took the metro into the center of the city to St Stephen's Cathedral. The main thoroughfares are massive and lined with buildings with the most gorgeous architecture. Getting a stiff neck from looking up so much! I walked down to the Staatsopera (State Opera House) and followed the ring road the encircles the main part of the city. Vienna has a lot of parks, and the first one I went into was Burggarten. This garden is right outside the Hofburg Palace so I went and visited there. On display was the silverware collection of the Habsburgs, the Imperial Rooms and the Sisi Museum (which is dedicated to the life of Empress Elisabeth). Seeing all the silverware, it seems like such a waste that it is just sitting there not being used. I chose a few keepsakes - some great looking serviettes, an imperial crockery set and gold tableware. From there I continued my walk around the edge of the ring road that took me past the Museumsquartier, Parliament and Palais Epstein, Burgtheater (National Theatre), Vienna University and Vienna City Hall. Infront of the city hall was a big festival celebrating the long weekend. They had rides, stalls, beer gardens and a stage set up with singers performing traditional music. I spent a while watching the performers and walking through all the stalls. Then, desperate for something to eat I found the only restaurant that was open - McDonalds. I have been trying to avoid fast food at all costs, but with no supermarkets open and most cafes with exorbinant prices I had no choice. Luckily for me they have a veggie burger for a limited time which was really nice actually. I wonder if it's a promotion back at home? Hope they may have it elsewhere in Europe if I get desperate for food again. I hate getting the confused looks when I ask for a Big Mac no meat! Anyway to walk off my McDonald's I made my way to the Ankeruhr Clock which has an interesting procession of life size figures on the hour, then through to Judenplatz where there is a memorial in remeberance of the persecution of the Jews. It looked like a cement box but when I got up closer the walls were actually in the shape of books stacked together in a bookcase with the names of the death camps the Jews had died at along the bottom. I headed towards Stadtpark to see the Strauss Memorial and found that this was where most of the people were spending their public holiday - sunbaking on the grass. I had complete my full circle as I passed the Hotel Imperial, St Charles Church and Albertina back to St Stephen's Cathedral. With legs feeling like they would drop off at any second, I took the metro back to the hostel.
Comments
Happy Birthday Miss Frox!
Hope you have a wonderful day!!!
Your pics are great!! Looks like such an adventure!!! MMMWA
Love Amenah
Hey Em, How are you? HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM KELLY, ADAM, LACHLAN, BREE, RENEE, MICK, TIANA, KAI AND LITTLE MICK ( ITS LITTLE MICKS 1ST BVDAY TODAY AND KAI'S 3RD BIRTHDAY TODAY ALSO!!!!!)
HOPE U R HAVING A FABBO TIME, AS IT LOOKS LIKE, TRAVEL SAFE AND LOVE YOUR PHOTOS
KELLY XOXOXO