When I went to the Schonbrunn Palace.   John took in another aspect of the Red Vienna exhibit.

I was in need of a rest so laid on the grass for a 10 minute shut eye and awoke to this fellow, not 2 feet from my face, just staring at me.

The rose gardens were exquisite and the smelled heavenly. Such a treat for a Yukoner.

 

The back yard so to speak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hofburg Palace.

 

 

Entrance.

Ceiling above where the carriages drove in.

Status all around the inside sure to impress the guests.

as well as the outside.

This is the home of the Lippizaner Stallions which we got to watch doing their daily exercises,  but the shows were sold out.

These horse actually preformed at the Jim Light Memorial arena in Whitehorse. I took  Miscal she was a baby.

I got a few photos in before they said no photos allowed.

John is not a horse lover so did not stay the entire time.  I was rewarded with seeing them practice these moves when back feet actually come off the ground.

 

 

 

 

The light on the buildings is striking.

 

Leaving the castle area.

Remnant of the old city wall.

 

Back to the opera house.

A much needed rest.

A sign in a toilet on the way back, couldn’t resist a photo.

This is not the Easter Bunny but an advertisement for the art gallery that features the drawing by Durer.  Apparently the most expensive they own.

 

 

We did a walk through the old town on route to the Hofburg Palace.

This church was so plain on the outside but had such wonderful contrast between the light and dark on the inside. It made it easier to appreciate the incredible detail.

Could there be some relationship ?

St. Stephen’s Basilica.

 

Mozart lived behind the basilica. All his window views are today as they were when he lived there.

 

 

Close by the basilica in the square there is another monument dedicated to thankfulness that the Black Death had ended. Similar, though much larger, than the one we saw with Terry Burns in Prague.

and got to hear this wonderful voice as we waited.

 

The detail in the church was stunning.

Heading toward the castle, with all the other tourists, on the most expensive shopping street in Vienna.

Interesting window displays.

Wonderful store fronts.

This is where you buy the original Sachertorte in Vienna. It is a chocolate layer cake that dates back to 1832.  It was a 28 minute wait for a seat.

Lovely street music.

 

Hofburg Palace.

 

 

 

 

 

John visited the Vienna Museum.  The central exhibition was “Red Vienna”, a look at the city between the end of  World War 1 and 1934, when the Austrian Nazis started their ascendency.  This was a time of great social upheaval and an attempt to develop a city based on Social Democrat principles.

We attended a Mozart Concert here at the Vienna Musik Verein.

The senses definitely got a feast.

 

The musicians were all in period costumes. The performance was incredible. I did notice that the couple beside us did not clap once and certainly wondered why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I went on a Vienna Opera House tour while John took in the Museum of Red Vienna.

Busts of all the famous composers are featured on the walls in the entrance.

 

The stairwell was where the nobility came to be seen in their finery by those in the balconies above.

Only ballet and opera are preformed here.

Every inch of every space including the ceilings are adorned.

The back rooms depict mosaic scenes of the workings of the theatre. 1000 people are employed. Although they boast 99% sales of all performances, that revenue, plus patron generosity, and tours constitutes only 48% of the cost.  The government supplies the remainder.

The workings of the stage are very complex and interesting.                         .

The theatre sustained severe damage during the war.  The outside was restored to its original splendour.  Not so for the damaged interior.

Seats in the theatre vary in price with the best being over £300.

However standing is always an option at a more affordable price.

Then there is the outside .

A few more clips if you like opera. This one, Die Frau ohne Schatten,  by Richard Strauss,  was 4 hours long. It was fun to sit outside and watch.

 

 

On my birthday we headed to the city centre where we enjoyed the outdoor market. The sauerkraut was good, though not excellent like we had in Slovenia a few years ago.

 

The variety and ages of the balsamic vinegars was amazing.

Next stop was the Hop on Hop off bus for a city tour.

The  Hofburg Palace.

Poor lighting made it impossible to get this gigantic monument from the front.

 

The Belvedre Castle.

 

Interesting modern art for the city, would you not say?

The Vienna Opera House.

If you can’t get tickets for the opera inside, you can watch it on a screen outside on weekend evenings.

Fantastic sashimi birthday dinner.

Then off to the Operetta Die Fledermaus, light, comical and very enjoyable. (no photos allowed of course)

 

 

What an amazing city!  Definitely on our list to return.  We rode the train from Budapest a 2 1/2 trip. We arrived May 30 and managed to get tickets for the Operetta Die Fliedermaus ‘The Bat” for my birthday the next day.

Our Airbnb host Benjamin, a Master’s student in Special Effects, hopes to move to Vancouver for work when he finishes.  A walk from his place, our first day, was a visual feast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karlskirche.

 

Church of St. Elizabeth.