Vienna, Austria

October 8, 2016

Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. It is the 7th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was the largest German-speaking city in the world, and before the splitting of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I, the city had 2 million inhabitants. In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Apart from being regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy, Vienna is also said to be "The City of Dreams" because it was home to the world's first psycho-analyst – Sigmund Freud. The city's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city, and then the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is well known for having played an essential role as a leading European music centre, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century. The historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural ensembles, including Baroque castles and gardens, and the late-19th-century Ringstraße lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.

River cruises are such big business.  In Vienna they had a really nice port and here was the sign indicating all the different river cruise companies who docked here. 

We did a tour of the city, which is as beautiful as I imagined.  We saw the coffee shop where Sigmund Freud used to sit and watch people.  We saw the state Opera House and somehow it seemed magical - after all, it is Vienna.  And then there was the floating swimming pool - a swimming pool in a barge on the canal.

Floating swimming pool

The following pictures are examples of architecture as we did a bus tour of the city.

There was a small carnival being held in front of the parliament building

One of the few remaining Starbucks in the city.  Apparently they have closed most of them (according to our guide) because there are already so many coffee shops in Vienna and the "real thing" is preferred by the Viennese over Starbucks.

After a bus tour of the city, we got off and walked to the winter palace.  It was just beautiful inside and on the upper level was a lovely display of art work both historic and contemporary.  Some I really enjoyed, and some I just wonder how they can call it art - like the mobile that included an empty Budweiser case (cardboard box).  I suppose Bud would like it but we all just shook our heads.  A quick stop in the gift shop, then we had a little time to wander around before returning to the ship.

Entrance to the winter palace.

Entrance to the winter palace - kind of like a "foyer"

 The following are examples of the artwork in the winter palace.  No flash allowed but at least they let us take pictures.  Even though the pictures are nice, they just don't do the artwork justice.

This entire room was done with bold leaf.  If you have ever seen gold leaf, it is very thin and very fragile.  Imagine the time it took to apply to this entire room.

Another view of the room with the beautiful chandeliers and more gold leaf.  And of course some contemporary artwork. 

Budweiser, really?  It is an empty Bud box as part of of mobile representing contemporary art.  Wonder how may Buds they had before making this.

Examples of some of the artwork around the Palace.

The following are more pictures from inside the winter palace.  The ornate designs continued through out including more gold leaf.  The paintings on the walls and ceilings were just amazing.  Again, even though the pictures are beautiful, they don't do the paintings and murals justice.

We finished with some time to walk around town.  I spent my time shopping, mostly in a chocolate shop - they were having a sale!  This is the exterior of the abbey in the center of town.  I never tire of looking at the ornate design on the buildings.  They joke about "ABC" - "Another Bloody Castle" or "Another Bloody Church" but I have never tired of looking at them.  Since our time was limited I did not go inside (did I mention sale!).  But the city is beautiful.  We boarded our bus and headed back to the boat.

A model of the entire churce

Today is a special day because we have a private concert of Mozart and Strauss music.  At first I thought it was just music then I thought I heard Agnes (our cruise manager) mention opera.

The concert was presented at the Klosterneuburg Monastery and the evening started with a tour of the building.  We wandered through long halls, up and down narrow stair cases and saw artwork that ranged from "primitive" to very ornate.

We started in the church.  There was a concert going on so we couldn't "tour" the church but it did not inhibit all of us who wanted to take pictures.  Again, beautiful and ornate with amazing artwork through out.

Altar

Altar

Ceiling artwork in the "dome"

Paintings on the wall

Looking up at the pipe organ

Pipes of the organ

Artwork in the churc

Statue in the church

Leaving the church and entering the halls of the abbey

Ceilings in the abbey

 

One of the amazing displays was squares that together depicted history before Christ’s birth, during Christ’s life and after His death.  The work was exquisite and our guide said the artist died taking the technique he used to the grave with him.  She said it has not been replicated since.

We also walked down a hall under which monks were buried.  You could see the slabs with their dates of death – like 746 AD.  Amazing to think we are walking on stones engraved and laid over 1,200 years ago.  I find it so amazing to look at things like this, to imagine who did this, what was involved in creating these "head stones" and that they have survived all this time.  I always wonder if generations after me will get to enjoy the same things I have seen.

This is a "headstone" of a monk in the floor.  Some were in the floor, some were in the wall above where the monk is buried.  Check out the date of death - 747 AD.  

These are statues of the 12 apostles.  Although they were showing some wear and damage due to age, the detail is really quite amazing.  They were all made of wood and again, just amazing to imagine who made these and how over 1,000 years ago.

What is left of the statues of the 12 aposotles 

Artwork portraying different times in Christ's life.  There were four panels with artwork on both sides so 8 portraits in total.

 
We finished our tour and climed up to the concert hall.  It was a seven piece ensemble – 2 violins, flute, clarinet, bass, cello, and piano.  It was amazing how they created such rich music that filled the hall with just those 7 people.  They did Strauss Waltzes and pieces from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (instrumental) and the Magic Flute (singers) and other pieces from Mozart.  There were two singers, a bass and a soprano.  The concert lasted about 1 ½ hours and it was just magnificent and the room was just large enough for the passengers from our boat, so just about 100.  It was the perfect way to end our stay in Vienna.

We finished with a bus tour of Vienna after dark.  Even though their parliament and city center are beautiful when lit up, they paled in comparison to the buildings in Budapest.