A city still waking up from dawn, Vienna offered a perfect timing for us to roam about its streets and get acquainted with one of Europe's former richest and most powerful country. Schonbrunn Palace highlighted our first and last morning in the once Imperial City, after a Mcdonald's junk fest breakfast of course. And slowly, tourists in hats, glasses and cameras followed suit, trickling the shops and streets; driving our itching feet to hurriedly walk to the palace in hopes of beating the crowd.
And success! We got in in no time. The palace showcased the Habsburg family's opulent living conditions, a personal indoor gym inside the queen's bedroom for example, and the family's acquired wealth, with a thousand crucifixes, centerpieces and eating utensils in silver, bronze and gold. But few of the most fascinating pieces of artifact included a unicorn's horn and the king's golden crown embellished with pearls and colorful jewels.
And success! We got in in no time. The palace showcased the Habsburg family's opulent living conditions, a personal indoor gym inside the queen's bedroom for example, and the family's acquired wealth, with a thousand crucifixes, centerpieces and eating utensils in silver, bronze and gold. But few of the most fascinating pieces of artifact included a unicorn's horn and the king's golden crown embellished with pearls and colorful jewels.
For lunch, we scoured the city for a Rick Steve's recommended family-owned Greek restaurant serving a delish plate of Gyros made with thin slices of lamb, pork and beef served over a steaming heap of garlic rice and fresh salad topped with creamy, homemade hummus. Indulge! Then it was back to the heart of the city where St. Stephen's cathedral proudly stand. And we did what we enjoy best - climb the winding 343 steps up the tower for a beautiful view of the city of Vienna.
With just a few hours left to spare, we headed to the Schonbrunn Palace, the thousand room summer house of the Habsburg family. Since we came around Easter time, it was a delight to see a Viennese Easter Market on the palace grounds with green wooden stalls lined up and filled with beautiful decor, pottery, handmade crafts and chocolate-covered gingerbread! Oh my...!
Skipping the tour inside the palace, we instead, explored its breathtaking garden. The garden, with so much to see, boasts of the Great Parterre, the symmetrical beds behind the palace; the Neptune fountain comparable to Rome's Trevi Fountain, a playground, the Maze/Labyrinth a-la Alice in Wonderland and the Gloriette, a stunning structure of columns requiring a short hike up a hill.
To cap the night off, we ate at a relaxing wine garden and joined the rest of the crowd watching the live broadcast of an orchestra at the outdoor cinema of the Opera House. Will definitely go back to Vienna just for these...
Skipping the tour inside the palace, we instead, explored its breathtaking garden. The garden, with so much to see, boasts of the Great Parterre, the symmetrical beds behind the palace; the Neptune fountain comparable to Rome's Trevi Fountain, a playground, the Maze/Labyrinth a-la Alice in Wonderland and the Gloriette, a stunning structure of columns requiring a short hike up a hill.
To cap the night off, we ate at a relaxing wine garden and joined the rest of the crowd watching the live broadcast of an orchestra at the outdoor cinema of the Opera House. Will definitely go back to Vienna just for these...
RSS Feed
