Imperial Vienna! (AUS)

I believe in my last posting I left you at a flower shop near Stephansdom...that is, if you have been paying attention!  The grandeur of the former Hapsburg empire is very evident throughout Vienna.  The emperors spared no expense in making the city a lavish world capital.  Lest I continue with my praise of Vienna, here are some photos in a random order.  I took them as I was roaming the streets, mostly around the area of Hofburg Quarter, which is where the Imperial Palace is located. 

Stephansdom

Stairs leading to the pulpit of the cathedral.

Franziskirche [for non-German speakers, a "kirche" is a "church," so this is the church of St. Francis).

The pulpit of the church.

Pestsaule - a memorial column of thanksgiving after the plague of 1679.  Interesting to note is that it was designed by Jesuits.

Interior of dome of Peterskirche,  (for non-German speakers, a "kirche" is a "church")  a church near the Pestaule.  

Now that's a pulpit!

Horse drawn carriages are a common sight in the area of the Hofburg Palace.

Don't give me that usual look when I inform you that the hour is late, the WiFi is slow, and it is now my bedtime. And tomorrow, I have an early morning train to Munich.  More photos of Vienna to come, and I promise there will be fewer photos of churches!

His identity will be revealed in the next posting.

Budapest and a little of Vienna (AUS)

Who knew Officer Krupke moved to Budapest from the Bronx!  [You will have to Google the reference!]

It is now 10:30 PM in Vienna.  I spent the entire day sightseeing and have many photos to prove it.  I started the day by going to a performance of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.  It was thrilling to finally see the world famous Lipizzaner white stallions and their riders perform.  No photos were allowed to be taken during the performance, but I have a few of the ring in which they perform.  The building itself and the riding area is like a palace!  Before I get to my photos of Vienna, I want to finish with the photos of Budapest.

I am attaching some photos I took on my second full day sightseeing, which was Sunday.  On Monday, I treated myself to an afternoon of luxuriating in one of the thermal baths for which Budapest is famous.  They are basically public Turkish baths.  The one I was in (Rudas) was constructed by the Turks in the 15th century.  It is located on the Buda side of the Danube at the foot of the hill of the Citadel.  It was a real treat.  No photos of that mini-adventure, but I took a few at the end of the day.  I had a late lunch at the New York Cafe, which when it was built it was described as the most beautiful cafe in the world.  It was recently refurbished and brought back to its original condition.  It really is a beautiful dining room.  You will see something of the majestic beauty of the room in a few photos.  And so, here are the final photos from Budapest.  [I still need to catch up with the photos of my trip to Greece!!]

Basilica of St. Stephen

Main door of the basilica with bronze plaques of the Apostles.

St. Stephen himself is keeping watch over the front door of the basilica.

Photo of a poster at the front of the basilica advertising a concert at the basilica.

Can you imagine?  This tree is a make-shift memorial for Michael Jackson, with photos of him, flowers, and votive candles at the base of the tree!!

The subway stop near the hotel I was at.

And here is the hotel...

Musicians performing for guests in one of the lobbies of the hotel.  Yes, they were playing Hungarian melodies!

One of the buddhas guarding the entrance to the hotel's Thai restaurant.

One of the dining areas of the New York Cafe.

An area of the ceiling of the New York Cafe.

Floral display in the lobby of the very elegant Italian owned hotel where the New York Cafe is located.

And now for a taste of what is to come, here are a few photos I took when I first arrived in Vienna yesterday afternoon.

The steeple of Stephansdom (Cathedral of St. Stephen).

A flower shop near Stephansdom.

Now that's a rose!

Vienna can be compared to the simple elegance of a rose.  It is both delicate and majestic at the same time.  I have many more photos of Vienna which I will post in my next installment.  And now it is time for me to go to bed...Gute Nacht!