Friday, May 29, 2009

Vienna!

After our time in Hungary (see previous post), we sped off to Vienna, Austria!

One of our first stops was to Hotel and Cafe Sacher,



Home of the famous Sacher Torte!



Lest you think this is all we ate, I assure you, we brought plenty of snacks. We needed the energy to help with our planning/map reading!



Close by, was the famous Opera House



where apparently you are not allowed to camp!




We then journeyed to Albertina Platz which houses the original quarters of Duke Albert and his wife.




On one corner of this square is an exhibition about the dangers of power. However, we discovered it was being remodeled.




The Kaisergruft Church was our next stop. The crypt of this church is the final resting place for at least 138 members of the Habsburg family. The tombs vary from the very elaborate




to the more simplistic coffin of Franz Josef.




We then moved on to the gigantic Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral).




Initially constructed in the Middle Ages, it has been considered a spiritual focus of the Viennese people and is considered a symbol of endurance. It has undergone many periods of reconstruction due to damage by the Turks, the Napoleonic French and the Allies.

Inside was an incredible display of Gothic and baroque works!




No visit to Vienna would be complete without a trip to the Hofburg which was the Imperial Palace of the Habsburg dynasty (sorry about the dark picture!).




We toured portions of the Palace, saw the crowns of the Holy Roman Emporers and learned much about the life of Sisi (Emperess Elizabeth). Apparently Sisi did not like the confines of being an Emperess!

After a long day, we relaxed at the Prader Amusement Park! We took a trip on the Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel) and enjoyed the sites.




The next morning, we woke bright and early to see the famous Lipizzaner Horses (famous white horses).




Needless to say, Jennie was very happy!

Before we left Vienna, we needed to stop by Parliament,




the Rathaus,




and Wien (Vienna) University where we determined Jackie should go to school. (Good luck footing the bill Mr and Mrs Cain!)




After a whilrwind day and a half tour, we boarded the train and were off to Prague (next)!



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