MAY 2014 : EASTERN EUROPE : Vienna

Three days in Vienna

                       

A 5 hour train trip from Prague and we arrived in Vienna on a rainy, cold afternoon. We were rescued by a friendly taxi driver, who drove us out to our suburban B&B. As luck would have it, we had purchased an unlimited transport card at the station, which was a godsend for our time there.

Parliament Building

Hapsburg Palace

The.     

                               

The opulence of the table settings of the Hapsburgs in the Sisi Palace, Vienna.

 

Stalls selling local produce in the main square

Vienna held high expectations with his rich and extravagant history. Initially, it was difficult to get an idea of the layout but we did a hop on hop off bus tour and a free walking tour which was perfect for getting our bearings and making inroads into the delights of the city. We were sold seniors' tickets automatically - it's official - grey hair rules!

Hayden's home

Beautiful garden and courtyard of Hayden's home

One of the practice organs in a chapel situated in the Organ and Sacred Music Department of Vienna University 

Opera House tour. A different production every niight

Our nephew, David, is studying organ and sacred music at Vienna University, so we enjoyed a day visiting Hayden's home, an Opera House tour (different production every night for 10 months a year), his practice rooms at the university with the variety of pipe organs,delicious Italian lunch and an organ recital at St Michael's church.

Cafés with lovely ambience...

We were saturated with Austrian art at the Belevedere Palace, the Albertini museum and relished the contrast of the Hundertwasser Haus and housing complex. Hundertwasser, died in 2000, and was a colourful and unorthodox designer, similar ( but not as prolific ) as Barcelona's Gaudi.

Belevedere Palace with fabulous art collection

Direr exhibition at the Albertina Palace

Hundertwasser Haus

Organic and vegetarian restaurant at Hundertwasser Haus

Hundertwasser Community Housing Complex

Our B&BS in suburban Vienna - bus, train and metro into hype city - seamless process with a bit of practice

Again, we felt Vienna had a lot to offer. We probably only scratched the surface but we succeeded in experiencing something of the history, architecture, music and culture of the city.

M&M

30/5/2014