Days: 9 - 12
Sept 21st - 25th
Euros
Conversion rate on
our visit:
$1.349=€1.00
€.741=$1.00
Vienna
                            
       
What We Had
Highs: 69°F - 71°F
Lows: 47°F - 56°F
Great weather...too many smokers
Averages
Hi 67°F
Low 50°F
 Current Conditions
BerlinDresdenPragueCesky KrumlovVienna
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Page Index
WOW Moments
•  Ring Strasse (Ring Road)
What We Saw
•  Melk Abbey (outside)
•  Melk Abbey (inside)
•  Chris` Pics at Melk Abbey
•  Schönbrunn Palace
•  Saint Stephan`s Cathedral
•  Michaelerplatz
•  Vienna State Opera
•  Chris` pics
•  Karlsplatz
•  Naschmarkt
•  The Belvedere
Where We Ate
•  Brezl Gwolb (restaurant)
•  Palmenhaus Cafe Brasserle Bar
•  Gasthaus Reinthaler
•  Café Diglas
Where We Stayed
•  Hotel Schweizerhof

  What We Saw Melk Abbey (outside)
Sept 21, 2010
We stopped along the way to Vienna to visit the Melk Abbey.  I've put in a section below that describes/defines the abbey.  Below that are the external pictures we took at the abbey.  Pictures from the inside are in a separate section below.  Just too much for one section.

As you see below the view of the abbey from the front and the views out from the abbey at this same location are outstanding.  If a military battel had ever taken place in this area, the abbey would have been THE high ground!  Even if you don't go inside the abbey (don't you dare miss it), the outside of the abbey is worth a visit all on it's own. 

 From Wikipedia  Melk Abbey (German: Stift Melk) is a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk, Lower Austria, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river, adjoining the Wachau valley. The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria's first ruling dynasty.

History
The abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. A monastic school, a forerunner of the Stiftsgymnasium Melk, was founded in the twelfth century, and the monastic library soon became renowned for its extensive manuscript collection and production, many of them contain musical compositions. In the fifteenth century the abbey became the centre of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany.
 


Melk Abbey (outside)
Abt-Berthold-Dietmayr-Straße 1
3390 Melk, Austria
Tel: +43 2752 5550
      
 
  What We Saw Melk Abbey (inside)
Sept 21, 2010
These are the picure we took inside Melk Abbey.  The external pictures are in the section above.

Not only is the contents of the Melk Abbey a fabulous museum collection (artifacts hundreds of years old) but the building itself is a fabulous museum in it's own right.

 
  What We Saw Chris` Pics at Melk Abbey
Sept 21, 2010
A bunch of great shots Chris took in and around the Abbey. Be sure to click the More Pictures button below to see all of Chris` pics at the Abbey.

Courtyard
Chris` Pics at Melk Abbey
 
  What We Saw Schönbrunn Palace
Sept 21, 2010
The Schonbrunn Palace is magnificent. Unfortunately, we only had time to visit the grounds around the palace. Check out the website of the palace below for information on the displays inside. Outside (and behind the palace) are the wonderful grounds you can see in our pictures below. ABSOLUTELY worth a visit. Also, take the time to check out the Vienna Orchestra concerts which take place across he grounds from just outside the back of the palace to well into the gardens. 


Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47
1130 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43 1 811130
      
 
 
  Where We Ate Brezl Gwolb (restaurant)
Sept 21, 2010

Brezl Gwolb (restaurant)
Ledererhof 9
1010 Vienna
Tel: +43 / 1 / 533 88 11
   
 
  What We Saw Saint Stephan`s Cathedral
Sept 22, 2010
Our day started out with a walking tour of the area between our hotel and the Opera House.  The first place of interest is St. Stephan`s Cathedral.

 From Wikipedia  St. Stephen`s Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP. The current Romanesque and Gothic form of the cathedral, seen today in the Stephansplatz, was largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV (1339–1365) and stands on the ruins of two earlier churches, the first a parish church consecrated in 1147. The most important religious building in Vienna, St. Stephen`s Cathedral has borne witness to many important events in Habsburg and Austrian history and has, with its multi-coloured tile roof, become one of the city`s most recognizable symbols. It has 256 stairs from the top to the bottom.

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Saint Stephan`s Cathedral
Stephansplatz 3
1010 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43 1 515523530
      
 
  What We Saw Michaelerplatz
Sept 22, 2010
The plaza of St Michael is rimed by a number of famous building.  In addition St. Michael's Church (thus the name of the plaza) probably the most famous of the buildings is the Hofburg palace complex (the former home of the Habsburgs).  Also seen in the pictures below are the Palais Herberstein and even a patch of Roman ruins.

      
 
 
  Where We Ate Palmenhaus Cafe Brasserle Bar
Sept 22, 2010

A great location for lunch.  Although the food is not that memorable, the location makes it is worth the time to find.
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Palmenhaus Cafe Brasserle Bar
Burggarten 1
1010 Wien
Tel: +43 1 533 10 33
      
 
  What We Saw Vienna State Opera
Sept 22, 2010
While we didn't actually go to an opera, we did visit the Opera building in Vienna.  Not only did we take a tour of the building we were even able to walk the stage!  

As you can see from the photos we took, the interior (ouside of the main auditorium) is elaborate and ornate.  We entered the auditorium ON THE STAGE.  What a thrill!  Workmen were setting up the opera which took place later in the day.  We then moved into the main auditorium to see what it's like to attend a performance.  Best seats in the house!

Speaking of the perfromance that evening, make sure you check out the last two pictures. They are of the opera that eveing on the big screen outside the Opera building for all those who couldn't get tickets (or afford tickets) to get inside. 

 From the website 


Exterior shot from the Opera website
Picture by:
On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's »Don Giovanni« in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.

The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played.

On March 12, 1945, the opera house was devastated during a bombing, but on May 1, 1945, the State Opera in the Volksoper opened with a performance of Mozart's »Le nozze di Figaro«. On October 6, 1945, the hastily restored Theater an der Wien reopened with Beethoven's Fidelio. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt at a great expense

The Secretary of State for Public Works, Julius Raab, announced on May 24, 1945, that reconstruction of the Vienna State Opera would begin immediately. Only the main facade, the grand staircase, and the Schwind Foyer had been spared from the bombs. On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a new auditorium and modernized technology.




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Opera on the big screen

Picture by:


Opera on the big screen

Picture by:

Vienna State Opera
Opernring 2
Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz
1010 Wien
Tel: +43 1 51444-2222
         
 
 
  Where We Ate Gasthaus Reinthaler
Sept 22, 2010
Dinner here was outstanding.  The Wienerschnitzel was delicious! 
One issue, however, was patrons smoking!

We followed up the dinner with desert at the Cafe Deglis (below).
 





Picture by:

Gasthaus Reinthaler
Gluckgasse 5
1010 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43 (0)1 512 33 66
         
 
 
  Where We Ate Café Diglas
Sept 22, 2010
Any questions you may have about this cafe is answered in the picture of Jan (below). Wow...yummy!



Any other questions?

 





Café Diglas
Wollzeile 10
1010 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43 1 5125765
      
 
  What We Saw Chris` pics
Sept 21, 2010
Chris Lee took a lot of really great pictures. Here are a group for Vienna. There's only room for nine pictures here.  Be sure to click on the Pictures button at the bottom of the section to see them all.
 
  What We Saw Karlsplatz
Sept 23, 2010

 From Wikipedia  Karlsplatz (German for `Charles Square`) is a town square on the border of the first and fourth districts of Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most frequented and best connected transportation hubs in Vienna. The Karlskirche is located here.
 


 
  What We Saw Naschmarkt
Sept 23, 2010
Our second stop of the day was the Naschmarkt.  A wonderful place to buy LOTS of foods you really don't need but want.

 From Wikipedia 
The Naschmarkt is a popular fruit and vegetable market in Vienna. Located at the Wienzeile over the Wien River, it is about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) long. Originally known as Aschenmarkt, it started to be called the Naschmarket around 1820.

Nowadays, one can buy fresh fruit and vegetables from around the world, exotic herbs, cheese, baked goods such as bread, kaiser rolls, torte, meats, and seafood. There are also many small restaurants which offer e.g. sushi, kebab, seafood, traditional Viennese food such as Kaiserschmarrn or Palatschinken (rolled up crepes) and stalls which offer clothes and accessories. Since 1977, the market extends further along the Wienzeile to an adjacent area every Saturday, when a flea market takes place there.
 


Naschmarkt
In the heart of Vienna
Vienna
      
 
  What We Saw The Belvedere
Sept 23, 2010
  


The Belvedere layout
The Belvedere is a historic building complex in Vienna, Austria, consisting of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the third district of the city, on the south-eastern edge of its centre. It houses the Belvedere museum. The grounds are set on a gentle gradient and include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures, and majestic wrought iron gates. The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy.
 



The Belvedere
Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27
1030 Wien, Austria
Tel: +43 1 795570
      
 
  WOW Moments Ring Strasse (Ring Road)
Sept 23, 2010
Our final day with the R/S tour was to be a relaxing afternoon of siteseeing in Old Town, Vienna.  As you can see from the insert below a ride on the Ring Strasse covers the same ground as the former city wall of Vienna.  Rick highly recommends it as a great way to see Old Town and much of what has grown up around it.  At this point you may be wondering why we have made this a Wow Moment.  Don't misunderstand the Ring Strasse is worth doing but normally it does come under the Wow category.  

If you look at the one and only picture in this section it's not one of the normal tourist snaps of the scenery of Old Town, etc.  Instead you see a map of Vienna with two areas outlined.  The frist area (in green) surrounds the boulevard that is the Ring Strasse. The tram ride around it is what is recommended and takes under an hour. So what's the area outlined in blue you ask?  It's the route you end up taking if you get onto the WRONG tram.  At the time we were in Vienna they didn't have a special Ring Strasse tram. Instead you just rode one of the every day trams which circled the area.  But if you don't really know what you're doing (or don't pay attention to the instructions) you could end up like we did.  We exited the Ring Strasse near Parliment and headed out of Old Town.  Not realizing what had happened (hey, we'd never been to Vienna before and didn't know what to expect on the Ring ride) we continued to take in the sites and enjoy the ride. Soon, however, we did begin to suspect that something might be amiss as more and more passengers left the trim (without others gettin on) and the neighbor began to get a little sketchy.  But trusting that all would be okay we stayed the course. That was until we came to a stop at a tram terminal where the driver picked up all his things and left the tram!  WOW had we screwed up!  See we told you it's a Wow Moment. 

So what to do?  We had no idea where we were and NO IDEA how to get back from whence we came.  Off the tram and standing hopelessly in the station, we clearly looked lost and desperate.  Fortunately, a passenger waiting to take another tram realized our plight (or at least our look of desporation) and offered assistance IN ENGLISH!  Wow! we we lucky.  He pointed out the tram which took us back to our start.  But without a helping hand we would have been completely lost and only God (something to do with watching over fools...) knows how we would have gotten back to Old Town and our hotel. Yup let us say it one-more-time...Wow!  





 From the website  From BigBoyTravel.com 
The 3.2-mile-long Ringstrasse looping around Old Town Vienna traces the path of the impressive Medieval wall that once protected the city.  The Medieval wall was completed in 1257 as an expansion outward to accommodate the flourishing trade town.  This new wall was very heavily fortified with watchtowers & bastions, was surrounded by a moat, and ringed with a wide building-free meadow (glacis) separating the city from the suburbs.  This protection helped Vienna fight off the Turkish Sieges of 1529 & 1638 which may have saved the rest of Europe from being overtaken.

Vienna kept prospering over the centuries, and by 1860 the then 500,000-person town needed to grow outward again.  With the urging of controversial Mayor Karl Lueger, Emperor Franz Joseph had the Medieval wall tore down and the dry moat filled into to create a grand boulevard to help modernize the expanding city.  During the massive project, the Ringstrasse (pronounced Ring-Strassa) quickly became lined with some of Europe’s most impressive buildings and gave the needed space for Vienna’s population to explode.  By 1900, Vienna had grown to 2.5 million people and the 5th largest city in the World at the time.  You can imagine how the grand Ringstrasse became the place to see and be seen.
 

 
 
  Where We Stayed Hotel Schweizerhof



Picture by:

Hotel Schweizerhof
Bauernmarkt 22
1010 Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43 1 5331931