Coffee and the promise of food are hard to escape in Vienna.
So, as we took our walking tour we were mindful of the places we’d come back
to. I know I’m not alone; after my blog last week, I’ve had several suggestions
of delectable places we missed. |
| H&M Elevator |
Our tour bus dropped us at the Hofburg Palace, for centuries
the seat of power of the Hapsburg family; now the official residence and office
of the Austrian President. Its statuary alone is worth the stop, and frankly,
all we had time for. We trotted over to the Spanish Riding School but no tours
on a Monday (the day we were there) – we waved to the famed Lipizzaner
stallions, though. Our guide told us that the horses know they are superstars;
maybe that’s why they didn’t wave back...
We made our way from the Palace, through small streets and
narrow arcades, on our way to St Stephan’s Cathedral (Steffl). Then, we headed
to a café across from the Giant’s door and stopped for a leisurely coffee and
kuchen; it was delicious. We strolled across the square to the H&M store,
although not to buy a T-Shirt. Our guide had told us that the locals held their
breath when H&M took over this building – they feared that the historic Art
Deco interior would be gutted. They needn’t have worried; it has been
incorporated into the store, making it a stylish place to browse.
A stroll down the pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse, draped with
florists, chocolatiers, clothing stores and gift shops revealed remarkable
decorative building facades. We dodged the heat and humidity popping in and out
of air-conditioned stores. I noticed that Europeans use A/C differently than in
North America, though – we try to replicate room temperature, whereas in
Europe, they cool it just enough to make it bearable.
We walked beyond the State Opera House and found a place for
lunch, sitting on a patio in the shade – we order schnitzel and a glass of
cool, white wine. I can only say ‘mmmmm.’
Later, as I attempted the Karlskirche stairs, Carol relaxed
in a park at the Heumarkt. Beyond the fountain this park has a large
Soviet-style memorial. The Soviets went to great lengths as World War II came
to a close to capture Vienna, as part of their expansion or as a bargaining
chip, with their other Allies (USA, UK and France). They raised this monument
to honour their dead in that offensive. The Allies controlled Vienna and
Austria from 1945 to 1955 and Vienna was divided into zones similar to Berlin.
The beauty of the historical Viennese architecture is all the more remarkable
when you consider that most of the city was razed to the ground during WWII, so
it’s all been painstakingly restored.
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| Coffe & Strudel |
Seeking shade, we walked down into Stadtpark (City Park) and
into a café in the trees – it was time for coffee and strudel, and a picture
with Johann Strauss! But our time had run out; it was back to the ship to dress
for a sparkling night out. As we grabbed our bus we glimpsed the Riesenrad (Giant
Ferris Wheel), featured in the Orson Welles’ movie, The Third Man. This symbol
has dominated the skyline for 125 years.
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| The Vienna Riesenrad |
I wonder if the London Eye will last as long as the Riesenrad?
ReplyDeleteI guess neither of us will ever know, Vicky (unless it gets torn down soon!). :-)
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