My Viennese Vacation

Vienna arrival was smooth from Prague. I caught a bus and it was an easy four hour ride. I got turned around getting off the metro trying to find my hostel, but a lovely older Austrian stopped and asked me if I needed help then pointed me the right way. I checked in, got some food, and passed out. Not a lot of sightseeing the first night but I was tired from Prague.

My second day started at the Stephensdome in the center of town with a visit to the inside if the cathedral and the catacombs. I wandered around the center for a while before grabbing some lunch and heading to the Leopold museum. It took me about 2 hours to wander through all five levels, but it was well worth the visit. I saw some Gustave Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, and the worlds largest collection of works by Egon Scheile. I also went and saw the Rathaus building and walked around to get my bearings better.

The next day I woke up a little earlier and went to Schönnbrunn palace. It was gorgeous and huge. It would have taken me ages to go through every single room. I opted for a shorter visit but still got to see a wonderful amount. After the palace I went to Charles Church and scaled the sketchiest staircase/ scaffolding to reach the very top of the churches dome and look out point. I was scared to death the entire time but it was very cool once I was up there. 

After lunch I went to an organ concert at a St Peters church in the center of town. It was a different expletive from anything else I've done, but I really enjoyed it. The inside of he church is wonderfully decorated and one that hadn't been destroyed recently, so the paintings and sculptors were well preserved. The concert was different.. Beyonce wasn't on the set list, even though I requested it. But it was still cool to hear the whole church fill up with the vibrations of the organ. 

That same evening I went to the Museum if Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna, or MUMOK for a visit. I was able to see some very cool pieces by Indiana, Export, Motherwell, Rauschenberg, Ray, Bacon, Warhol, and the most exciting, Duchamp!

The next day in Vienna I spent running around again, first to the Belvedere to see some Klimt. Then to to Prater Ferris wheel for a slightly scary and cloudy view of the city. After a quick lunch I headed back into the center of the city for some souvenir pick ups and to do some window shopping and warm up a bit. I made my way towards the Rathaus and opera house for a evening view, and go stuck trying to go home because there was a university protest going on so they had shut down multiple streets and underground metro stops and wouldn't let you leave. So that made getting home a little tricky, but I managed.

My last day Vienna consisted of hiking up this hill right behind Schönnbrunn to the Gloriette. It's a magnificent little villa on the top of the hill with a great view of Vienna. I was lucky with the mostly clear day. Although the wind and freezing temperatures made the visit a short one. I spent the resting the day wandering around and just trying to soak up as much Vienna and sun as possible before we went our separate ways. 

I really enjoyed the culture and homeliness about Vienna. Unlike Prague, there was a warmth about the people and a way of life that was attractive. Overall, I ha a great stay in Vienna! I'd love to go back to Austria and do Salzburg as well. One day!