Day 21 – Vienna – My Travels in Pictures

This post is part of a series called Main & Danube Rivers

My last day in Vienna and I woke to beautiful sunny skies. I had nothing to do and all day to do it. I headed off to the subway to find Belvedere Palace, solely because I’d seen some nice pictures of it.

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The pond was frozen so I couldn’t get a nice reflection photo, but I’m glad I went anyway.

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Using the Google Maps app on my phone, I made my way to the Naschmarkt, the largest urban market in Vienna. A market has been operating on that site since at least the 1780’s when it was a dairy farmer’s market. When Vienna’s 2nd river was roofed over 100 years ago, the long wide plaza that was created became the site of today’s market. It’s over half a km long and has 100 permanent stalls, ranging from restaurants to butchers and fruit and vegetable vendors.

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Then I hopped back on the subway (the U4 this time) and headed to Schonbrunn Palace, another one of the summer palaces of the Habsburg dynasty. The grounds are especially beautiful, I can only imagine how nice this must be in the summer.

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The way the trees were cut against the blue sky gives this photo a strange effect…

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A gloriette is a building in a garden that is elevated; the one at Schonbrunn was the last building erected in the garden there and sits majestically on the hill behind. From it you have a beautiful view of the palace, it’s gardens and Vienna below.

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Looking back to the gardens and gloriette from the palace

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Tired from all the picture taking (and the hike up the hill) I headed back to the city.

The entrance to the subway station

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The famous Sacher Torte at the Hotel Sacher. I wasn’t prepare to pay 13 Euro for a cake or to wait in line for a seat at the Cafe, so I passed. Maybe next time…

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Swarovski crystal anyone? I swear they have a store on almost every corner! Being a bull in a china shop, I thought it wise to stay outside.

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After dinner and a quick nap, I headed across the street to the Opera House for The Barber of Seville. I’m glad I didn’t waste my time (or money) on a tour of the Opera House, after the one in Budapest it just seemed, well, plain.

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