Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Wien

 I was looking forward to being in Vienna the most for two days.  We were there a year ago and although we packed a lot in, it wasn’t nearly enough time. I tried to research ahead of time Viennese art and architecture and what I wanted to see. Last time Steve just wanted to see Beethoven ‘s grave and it was up to me to figure that out

What I didn’t pay attention to and should have are what days what is open so I missed seeing Klimt at the Secession and seeing the inside of the Otto Wagner Steinhof church.

We had in our budget an extra cruise sponsored excursion: Schonnbrunnen Palace or a Mozart /Strauss concert at night with a trip to see all the Ringstrasse lights. We chose the concert although Austria is much harder hit than Germany from dependence on Russian oil so the lights were dim. Still I think the concert was the highlight of our trip

On the first day, a Sunday so most of the stores were closed, we took the excursion touring the Ringstrasse and then walking through the heart of the city. it was foggy and cold and we both were sick. So in the afternoon instead of packing in lots of sightseeing like I should have, I slept as we wouldn’t get back from the concert to very late at night. They even arranged for an early dinner for us, about a quarter of the ship.  I at least was feeling better but Steve was in the uncontrollable coughing stage of his illness so we had to be close to the exit for a hasty retreat 

Where our concert was Maybe it sat 300? still fancy
The Christmas lights were up but thanks to Putin would not be lit
A few of the Christmas markets were open

Inside our concert venue 
Tea light seller
The main shopping street but all closed on Sunday 
Inside St Peters
Our group got there first to the concert place.  We had to sit in back due to Steve’s cough but still the acoustics were good

Not much lit up after the concert. When we got back the ship provided us with hot goulash as they assumed we could not go without eating for 5 hours though we had champagne at the intermission 
Modern building in city center that was featured in the Viennese architecture book I was reading. Should have gone inside
Almost all towns have plague statues
Ah no
Very old Ferris wheel that takes 20 minutes to revolve. They have dinners and even sleepovers you can arrange as the cars are quite big
Inside the baroque church
Outside the Baroque church 
Part of the Hofburg courtyard. The current prime minister or president lives here now and regularly takes walks with his dog
Also in my architecture book
This is supposed to be the biggest Christmas market but not open
Portal os St Stephens 
My dinner. Supposed to be spare ribs but pretty skimpy. Entrees really varied in size


Well at least my mango cake was good sized

The Dom st Stephens 
Boring other side of the river from our boat 
The musicians. There were singers and dancers for some numbers 
The concert hall



St Stephens and it’s Christmas market
Hofburg palace
Opera house 
Concert hall detail
Each street had its own decorations. Usually everything is lit up by now but they have to conserve energy 
One of the stalls selling large deep fried pancakes with various toppings 


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