You know how sometimes you wake up and go, eh, where did this potbelly come from? And what’s up with the junk in my trunk? May I submit the evidence…or should I say the crumb trail leading to these self-revelations when the jeans are a bit snug…
But this girl can’t help it. Vienna is full of sweet temptations. Every café that I enter, including the fan favorite Café Central which was once a hangout for the Viennese intellectual/literary crowd in the late 1800s, begs me to order something evil:
I just can’t say no. In fact, on my final day in Vienna, as I take in the last sights of the city…
even till the last second before I get on the train back to Bratislava, I make a pit stop just meters from my platform…
to say a proper goodbye to Anker, my favorite pastry chain in Vienna:
I can’t bear to show you what that last pastry was. Just thinking about it makes me go up one jean size. But anyway, thanks for visiting Vienna with me. On to another capital tomorrow…
And no, I was not drunk in the above photo. Just on a sugar high.
Tags: Anker, Café Central, Vienna
So I hop a few trains…
and a tram…
in search of dead musicians at the Zentralfriedhof, or Central Cemetery, in Austria’s Simmering district. In section 32A, I find all my rockstars in their slumber…
including a memorial for Mozart, who was actually buried elsewhere in a mass grave:
My favorite gravesite, though, is this one with a canopy bed–that’s what I call a real resting place!
One bus stop from the Zentralfriedhof is a very cool area called Gasometer City.
Remember a few blog entries ago I showed you this picture I snapped from the train as I entered Vienna?
It turns out that these 4 gasometers, or large gas storage tanks used from 1899 to 1984, have been renovated into residential and commercial space:
Cool concept but it is a virtual ghost town inside on this gloomy, rainy afternoon. Sure wish I could buy one of these gasometers for myself just to store all my shoes and bags 
!
Tags: Austria, Central Cemetery, Gasometer City, Mozart, Simmering, Zentralfriedhof
Can anyone please kindly tell me what that means in German? I’m sure it’s not funny at all in German, but string all those words together in English and, well…let’s just say it’s one of the goofier things I spy while walking down the biggest shopping street in Austria, Mariahilferstrasse:
It is also around here that I find one of the most elegant McDonald’s franchises in the world…
as well as a tourist and local favorite joint, Maschu Maschu, touted to have the best falafel in town. And I have to agree since I eat here twice on this trip:
Fueled by chickpeas and hummus, I make my way to Karlskirche, one of the most beautiful churches I’ve ever seen anywhere…
For some reason it makes me think of the Taj Mahal. But anyway, on this day I also get in some major sightseeing around the Hofburg area, which once served as the imperial residence. Today the wings are used as museums, tourist attractions (including the famous Spanish Riding School), libraries, and conference halls:
And no, your eyes do not deceive you–that is a humongous ad on the building with George Clooney. Hollywood is never too far from anywhere…
Tags: George Clooney, Hofburg, Karlskirche, Mariahilferstrasse, Maschu Maschu, McDonald's, Taj Mahal, Vienna
In this very photogenic city of Vienna, all you really have to do is point and shoot because no matter where you go, there is wonderful architecture to enjoy, including these gorgeous museums:
In fact, you just have to look up…
and up…
at the famous, colorful tiled roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral:
The interior isn’t too shabby either:
No wonder it’s full of tourists:
Tomorrow I’ll show you another beautiful place and perhaps a little more food.
Tags: St. Stephan's Cathedral, Vienna
As I mentioned earlier, the best companion in Vienna is the multi-day transportation pass. Because with it, you can pop up in a zillion places via subway, train, bus, or tram relatively efficiently (and I love how varied each stop is)…
and save lots of transit time and energy so that you could do the real walking upon reaching your destination. Today, our destination is Schönbrunn (which means beautiful spring if I’m not mistaken) Palace, a former summer residence for the Habsburgs. It is an understatement to say that the palace grounds are enormous.
The next set of photos marks the order in which I tour the grounds, which is in no particular order because it is impossible to follow any guide map when there are so many lovely gardens, fountains, mazes (and even a zoo!) and buildings to see:
Did I just lose you in all those photos? Anyway, one of the best stops is here, on top of this hill, at the Gloriette…
which now houses a café and provides one of the best panoramic views to the city below:
Here’s another shot of the Gloriette from the opposite end of the grounds:
Remember when I said this place is enormous? It’s actually colossal. You can tell how big everything is just from the perspective of this photo taken at one of its fabulous fountains. I want to say Vegas the whole time I’m here, but wow, there’s no casino in sight and this was not built in a year by someone named Steve Wynn!
Speaking of fountains, one of the most beloved tourist spots is right here, behind the fountain where you can get a fantastic framed shot with water running down from the fall:
Yes, it takes a while to jockey for position with so many tourists angling for their own shots, but keep waiting for your moment because this is your reward:
Anyway, it’s a good long walk to cover most of the grounds, and I have to confess I really, really wish I had been able to do it on horseback. The sloping landscape and endless stretches of shaded trees make me yearn for a leisurely ride…
But the only horses I see today are those chained to the plethora of carriages all around the palace…
Here they are again at the front gate as I make my exit…sure am glad I’m not still in line waiting to get in. It’s a mile long under a bright sunny sky. I think this is the very day I finally get my tan.
Tags: Habsburg, Schönbrunn Palace, Steve Wynn, Vegas, Vienna
