As we pulled into Vienna, all Angie and I could think about was how much we loved visiting Salzburg the last time we were in Austria. What would we find in Vienna? Would it be too big of a city, lacking the charms of the Austrian chalets and beautiful countryside? Or would it be all of that and more? Having that quaint image in our head, our first reaction was one of disappointment. How could we not leave enough time to go back to Salzburg? But after a little time to warm up to the big city we started to come around. Vienna is visually very impressive with one building fancier than the next, as it wasn’t that long ago that the Hapsburgs were ruling from these royal palaces. For over 600 years this was the capital of the Hapsburg Empire, a kingdom that ruled over 60 million people. It wasn’t until 1918, and the loss of World War I, that it all came crumbling down.
Our first morning in town fell on a Sunday, so what better way to start our Vienna stay than with a church service that features the Vienna Boys Choir. The small Hapsburg Cathedral was only about 20 seats wide, but soared three stories with the choir on a second story balcony, and an orchestra on the third. Not visible during the mass, the boys came down to the front of the church afterward for an encore performance. (see clip below)
After lunch we meandered through the central district. Like many other European cities, it’s filled with pedestrian only streets, which we love. In the main square we took time to climb the giant spire of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where 343 tightly wound steps take you to the top. The kids did fine, but Angie needed a stop here and there to stop from getting dizzy. After that we hopped on a tram for a trip around the “Ringstrasse”. In the 1860’s, the city’s medieval wall was torn down to create a grand boulevard around the city. Many of the top sights in town sit along the road, so for the price of a tram ticket, you get quite the little tour.
Day two started with a little homework at the apartment. After we got that out of the way, it was time for a stroll down the bustling outdoor Naschmarkt. Full of numerous food stands and delicious little restaurants, it’s a dangerous place to go if you’re hungry. From there we took the metro out of town to Schonbrunn Palace. Often compared to Versailles in France, this was the summer residence of the Hapsburgs. It’s just a bit over-the-top, with 1,440 rooms in the palace and 500 acres of decorated grounds.
Vienna packs quite a punch, if you’re after the lavish lifestyles, with lots to see and do. That being said, however, we still miss Salzburg.
"The new", with a reflection of "the old".
Like every other European city, Vienna's streets are full of numerous old (and naked) statues. Ella finally had enough this afternoon and asked, “Why do all the statues have to be naked? It’s so disgusting!” Everyone got a good chuckle.
A little taste of the Vienna Boys Choir.
