Friday, July 26, 2019

DAYS IN VIENNA

I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing some of the trip as I have had sharing it. If you ever get the chance go!!!! It is quite beautiful and it can not be put in words if you ask me. This will be the last post for the trip, otherwise we will be here another week!!!

The entrance to our hotel. The best morning coffee I have ever had in the morning. Since we were on the Orient Express for some many days, by time we got a Vienna, we were ready to tour and mingle. I knew we wanted to see certain things, but most days just got up and wandered and see where the day took us. Here some things of interests we saw on other days, you know, in between patronizing some lovely little bars and lounges. 

Since I enjoy classical music I wanted to see the Strauss Monument, which was designed by Edmund Hellmer'. The golden Strauss Monument is the most popular photographic subject in Vienna. The gilded bronze monument of Johann Strauss II was unveiled to the public on 26 June 1921 and is framed by a marble relief made by Edmund Hellmer. On this occasion the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra played the Blue Danube Waltz, composed by Strauss.
The Imperial Crypt, is a burial chamber beneath the Capuchin Church and monastery in Vienna, Austria.

It was founded in 1618 and dedicated in 1632, and located on the Neuer Markt square of the Innere Stadt, near the Hofburg Palace. Since 1633, the Imperial Crypt serves as the principal place of entombment for the members of the House of Habsburg. The bones of 145 Habsburg royalty, plus urns containing the hearts or cremated remains of four others, are here, including 12 emperors and 18 empresses. While the crypt did have an eerie feel, there is no denying the workmanship of the actual crypts.The free-standing tombs are usually variations of either a flat-topped storage chest, or a tub with sloping sides and a convex lid of tapered decks. Ornamentation ranges from simple to elaborate. Until far in the 18th century, the most common material for a sarcophagus here was a bronze-like alloy of tin, coated with shellac. The splendid tombs of the baroque and rococo eras are made of true bronze, a nobler and therefore more expensive material. On the tour they said the sarcophagus of Empress Maria Thresa and her husband alone weighed 4,800lbs.
The nerds in us wanted to see the elegant library. This wasn't your run of the mill library either.

The Austrian National Library is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg in center of Vienna. Since 2005, some of the collections have been relocated within the baroque structure of the Palais Mollard-Clary. Founded by the Habsburgs, the library was originally called the Imperial Court Library; the change to the current name occurred in 1920. The library complex includes four museums, as well as multiple special collections and archives. The State Hall – built in the 18th century as part of the former Court Library – is a breathtaking 262 feet long and  70 feet high. An intricately decorated dome and numerous frescos provide an imperial flair.
While in Vienna, if your like me and love chocolate, one must simply have to visit a chocolatier! It was fine. They greased chubs on the way home from eating so many earthly delights.
The Belvedere Museum in Vienna is one of the most important art museums in Austria and is all housed in a stunning baroque palace from which it takes it's name.

The Baroque complex The Belvedere palace is actually an ensemble of various buildings and gardens in central Vienna, originally commissioned between the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century by the Prince Eugene of Savoy as a Summer residence. The complex is composed of two main buildings located at the opposite ends of a large French-style garden: the Upper Belvedere, and the Lower Belvedere, both designed by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt; the Lower Belvedere also includes the Orangery, a smaller building recently converted into a temporary exhibition space. Unanimously considered one of Vienna’s architectural jewels, It is quite evident that the building complex was designed with the Palace of Versailles in mind.The Belvedere showcases a permanent collection primarily dedicated to Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present; yet, also artworks from other European countries complete the collection. The collection is presented in the Upper Belvedere and includes an impressive array of sculptures and paintings by Austrian masters such as Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller , Heinrich Füger, Gustav Klimt, including the famous “The Kiss”

 Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. International artist represented include Jean Louis David, Edvard Munch, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Max Beckmann, among others.
I have no idea if I'll ever again make it back to Vienna, but it was certainly a stunning and picturesque city, and yet again proved to me that our European friends know how to live better and slow down and take the time to enjoy life, by far better, then we. Their not all about work home work home work home. Warbucks tried yet again to try and get me to vacate the US,but as long as I have family still here, I wouldn't make the move. Yet. While I did enjoy the city, the Orient Express was by far the highlight that showcased this trip and a once in a lifetime treat. And I can across off yet another thing I wanted to try, having hot sex on a train. I kept it very understated, of course, I mean it was the Orient Express after all.

36 comments:

  1. JFC maddie gurl, THIS is your best post from your trip! you would have to roll my fat ass outta that chocolate shop! you would adapt quite well to the european lifestyle.

    THANK YOU for letting me vacation to one of my ancestor's countries thru your eyes.

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    1. The whole trip I thought you told me once your ancestors were from Vienna. It is certainly a wonderful city and country to have had family from. So much culture. And chocolate!

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    2. my maternal grandmother's family, the bronkovics. in that chocolate shop pix, I saw some marzipan; my grandmom LOVED that candy and so do I!

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  2. I don’t tire of these!
    Gosh everything is so beautiful! I imagine one would need at least a week to scratch the surface. Chocolates and The Kiss? Please sign me up!
    Thus trip really was memorable.

    XoXo

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    1. Your right Sixpense. When you travel abroad, I didn't say travel with a broad, one need I feel two straight weeks to really see anything, and relax too.

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  3. So much exceptional art and architecture, but oh that monument to Strauss! Brilliant!

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  4. What a magnificent experience. And fortunately the entire train was rocking, so your “little” romp wasn’t as noticeable 😉

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    1. Nope your right, although our poor steward thought we were out of the room at one point, and got an eye full I believe one day, we were napping in the afternoon nude on the bed and woke up to find fresh towels!!!!!

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  5. Fab! And fit for a queen. In my wee-gay days, back in the 80s, I visited Vienna during a summer student travel excursion. What fun! What art! And all those castles. Fit for a queen! My fondest memory: staggering back to the hotel after midnight, fashionably tipsy, and stopping by a sausage stand for a late night snack (wait for it). Biting into the Vienna wiener, and experiencing an explosion of wet, juicy, creamy cheese in my mouth. Sublime! Reminds me of...well, I can't think of anything at the moment. But I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I giggled all the way back to my room while everyone wondered what was so funny.

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    1. Oh Walter.....I too am very fond of a Vienna sausage. Well. Any sausage really. A sausage aficionado if you will.

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    2. you've never met a sausage you DIDN'T like!

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    3. You say that like it's a bad thing?

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  6. Travel broadens one’s horizons, like that chocolate shop broadens one’s behind. Looks wonderful, is on the list of places to go.

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    1. I have the feeling you two would love it...the broadening and otherwise.

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  7. A great travel report and gorgeous pictures. Youngest went to Barcelona (for business) and didn't take a single picture!
    Notable for me the Imperial Crypt (for the Halloween freak in me) and the Library (for the book nerd).
    Oh! And the chocolates looked good too :-) xoxoxoxo

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    1. Barcelona?!?!?! And no pictures?!?!?! Blasphemy!!!!!!

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  8. I imagine an Ikea store would be a bit out of place in Vienna.

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  9. The birthplace of the Waltz, right?
    The crypt photos are very cool, and That library is awesome! Thanks for the travelogue!

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  10. You certainly made the most of your time there! Wonderful photos.

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  11. Absolutely fabulous, darling!
    We can't afford the orient express(yet) so we have booked a river cruise for next year, starting in Vienna and cruising down the Danube through bohemia.
    It all looks so wonderful, doesn't it. Did you get to see the lippizaner horses? That's something I really want to see.
    Thank you for such a beautiful post. X

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    1. Friends did the river cruise and said it was fabulous. Almost like the orient express, but on water. I myself would sooner do a river cruise before those huge liners...much more intimate.

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  12. This is going to sound stupid after seeing that chandelier, but did you happen to see any Vienna Sausages? I understand they're really tasty.

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  13. I NEVER get tired of indulging in the breathtaking beauty of your Vienna photos. The city is steeped in culture, history, and class. Music, art,...delectable cuisine...

    I am vicariously in heaven.

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    1. Upon the comments , maybe I'll do a random post here and there yet to come. I mean I only took about 600 some pictures.

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  14. The State Hall of the Austrian National Library is like something out of fantasy! Absolutely incredible!

    And then there're those cakes and chocolates... I'dbe a VERY happy witch there!

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    1. My ass is still thanking me for for the rich sweets.

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  15. The one thing I noticed about all your post were Austrians sure do love there gargantuan chandeliers.!!!!!! I so need inside that Belvedere Museum.

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  16. Wow! Stunning post and pictures Mistress! You have brought back some wonderful memories of my own trip. I too was enthralled by the National Library. Could you believe that building and the resources?

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  17. No.... we want more pictures. Even thought I know I'll hear more stories on vacation and see pictures, but I too enjoy this forum. I too had no idea just how pretty and stunning architecture their was. But did you run into any vampires?

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  18. I too agree. If you have more to share we want to see it! When you post your going ons and trips or your bird posts...they always make my day. Bring them on. Such an interesting old city...your hotel looks very fitting for your stay too. I also agree with Calliope about the chandeliers….they do like them don't they? All your locations in this post are just mind blowing. And William would be hard pressed to get me out of those chocolate shops!!!!!

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  19. I see Mr Devine has nabbed all the chocolate.
    But, wow!! Vienna is so ornate!! Now that damn Ultravox tune has filled my head...
    Sx

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  20. Great pictures!!! I remember when we went with the symphony on our tour there to Vienna. I group of us went to the Strauss monument and played. It was a great moment. I wished I'd known about the crypt...that would have been cool to see.

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  21. Cap Chasen7/27/2019

    Another beautiful installment. To be sure, the Orient Express would have been the highlight for sure. I have been back to look at that post several times. I have enjoyed seeing your trip as I have never been. I'm curious, did you get to see any of London when you were there?

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  22. Wow! I really need to travel more...so much to see. You also have a great eye for picture taking. Most people try to take a overview and then leave it at that. I like how you frame certain aspects in the picture. I love your Instagram btw.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!