August 6 – Vienna, Austria


Today was a "sight see until we drop day.  This morning we took a bus ride through Vienna to see the main sights.
Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0522

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0526

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0544
Statue of  Empress Marie Theresa Hapsburg 

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0550

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0560

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0634

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0637

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0711
Building with painted design

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0715
Another building with painted designs

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0727

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062061
Statue of Mozart

Bus-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062064

Then were dropped off for a walking tour.  
Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0568




Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0598

One of the sights was the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the principal palace of the Habsburg dynasty and now the residence of the President of Austria. 
Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062075

Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062087+Stitch

Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0573

Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062092

Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0575

Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0590

And of course we eyed the display window at a Vienna pastry shop...but didn't buy.
Walking-Tour-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062117

The main highlight of the walking tour was the St. Stephen’s Cathedral.  
St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0600

The interior was beautiful although we weren't allowed into the nave of the church as it was restricted to worshipers.  However, we could see into it as well as other portions of the church.
St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0607

St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0626

St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062105

St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062106

St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062107

St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062112

St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062114

We took the elevator to the top rather try to walk up.  There were great views from the top...of the city and the rooftop of the church.
St-Stephens-Cathedral-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062103

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0610

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0612

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0613

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0616

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0619

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0623

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062098

Views-from-St.-Stephens-Cathedral--Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062099

After lunch we took the tour to Schӧnbrunn Palace, imperial summer home of the Habsburg dynasty.  We toured the 25 most important state rooms (likely just the 25 that could be toured on a single circuit through that portion of the palace).  The palace actually has over 1,440 rooms.  Unfortunately no photos were allowed inside.
Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0650

Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062181

Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062184
A "statue" on the plaza of the palace (a real person in incredible make-up and costume, hoping for tips).
Then we did a quick tour of the carriage house to see the incredible collection of carriages...

Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062132

Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062133

Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062134

Imperial-Carriage-Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0661+Stitch

Imperial-Carriage-Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0667

Imperial-Carriage-Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062140

Imperial-Carriage-Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062148

plus a sleigh.
Racing-Sleigh-Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062144

This carriage was painted black to be used for funerals.
State-Coach-Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062141


There was also the silk train from the wedding dress of Queen Sisi (Elizabeth), wife of King Franz-Joseph of Hungary and Bavaria.  It had incredible gold embroidery.  
Carriage-House-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062131

Then it was on to the massive gardens.  Unfortunately there wasn’t nearly enough time to tour them thoroughly but the views were great from the palace and the areas around it.
Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0675

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0677+Stitch

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0685+Stitch

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--DSC_0688+Stitch

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062153

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062155

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062159

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062164

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062166

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062169

Gardens-Schonnbrunn-Palace-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--P8062174

This evening we then went to a great concert.  
Concert-Vienna-Austria-Danube-Cruise-2018--IMG_5852

There were 11 musicians, two singers and two ballet dancers.  It was in a small, intimate venue and the quality of the music was exceptional.  However, this should be expected as Vienna is the City of Music and was at various times the home of Mozart and Strauss (all of them),

No comments: