Vienna Noir

 

We arrived in Vienna on Sunday after a chaotic start in Budapest train station where we struggled to find seats in the train. We set at separate seats at the start of the trip but eventually found several seats where we all sat together in a new caboose added later in the trip. We bought chicken nuggets in the train station and enjoyed our lunch together as the train approached Vienna. The countryside was wonderful under a dreary sky but eventually a day emerged as the train arrived in Vienna at around 1 pm.

The hotel did not have the correct reservation for our friends, so we had to find another hotel nearby; across from the central train station where we arrived. After settling in, I bought tickets for the Hop on and Hop off bus tour that circled the city through specific routes. The bus had an audio tour where we connected our earphones and listened to lectures of the historic building we passed along the way. We left the bus at the train station near the center where I had Sushi and bear.

Afterwards, we walked along the busy Sunday streets to the St. Stephens Cathedral and St. Peters Basilica where was mass was going on. The church was magnificent with the high Gothic architecture of St. Stephens in contrast to the Baroque architecture of St. Peters Basilica. The interiors were magnificent with high ceilings, frescos and intricate design. I lit a candle, said some prayers and dipped my hand in the holy water as we left the church. The streets were filled with people enjoying the festive night with Christmas markets and the elegant stores lining the streets.

Yesterday, we again rode the Hop on and Hop off bus at the central train station after breakfast of salmon and cheese sandwich, Bavarian donuts and hot chocolate. I also bought Red Bull which I drank later in the day. We toured the city of Vienna listening to the audio tour and got off at Schonbrun Palace were we walked the gardens for about an hour until the designated hour to enter the palace.

The Schonbrun tour was informative with good displays and as we walked through the magnificent rooms, enjoying the visual and audio tours. I was always interested in the Hapsburg and the Astro – Hungarian empire and to finally visit these places where the Hapsburg lived and understand the city of Vienna that existed in my mind and to finally reconcile reality with the mental images of my youth.

We had dinner at the central train station where I had boiled pork in soy sauce with rice and vegetables and Austrian beer. We explored the train stations and the various shops, checked the train schedules and the terminal for the train to the airport as our friend were leaving Vienna to go back home. We will stay for 2 more days and plan to visit the art museums. I watched several You Tube Videos on Vienna and Hapsburg.