Elegant Vienna

We arrived in Vienna on Sunday Easter early in the morning  from Budapest via train at about 9 AM. We had decided to stop at Rathaus (Town hall  for city council in Vienna) before went to our reserved hotel. As it was Sunday, the area was pretty quiet and we saw few men dressed in period costume selling culture experience of 'Mozart' concert ticket concert. We did not get the ticket as we would be seeing one in Salzburg. Rathaus was not opened for public when we came so we did plenty of photos instead around the area.

 

For the shoppers, Sunday and public holiday were definitely not for shopping because all shops except souvenir shop will be closed. This condition applies to at least for Central Europe (and likely for Western Europe). We did not know this when we come, so to avoid disappointment, do schedule your shopping day accordingly. 

Rathaus Vienna
 

 

Men in Period Costume

Initially we just wanted to drop our luggage but ended up checking in. The good thing about hotel in Europe is that they allow an early check-in whenever possible (and am talking about 10 AM in the morning. How great is that!). I have not seen this happened for hotel in Australia or New Zealand as check-in time approx. at 2 or 3 PM.

 

We stayed in Imlaur Wien Hotel for 2 nights for AU$ 236 without breakfast, which we thought was a very good deal,  considering it was quite close to Ringstrasse (city centre) in Vienna. The room itself was clean, not facing a crowded street and had distinctive spacious bathroom (I think at least one third of the room).

 

Our Room in Hotel Imlaur Wien (1)

 


Our Room in Hotel Imlaur Wien (2)
 

I love to see culture in each city so Kunst Historiches Museum Wien was definitely in the list. We would like mainly to see its popular Baroque style interior and its art collection. Entry ticket per person was not really cheap of approx. 13 Euro (after Czech and Hungary, this felt expensive :) ). As expected, the interior was presented with an elaborated Baroque style so definitely did not disappoint. It had large art collection from pottery, paintings, gold coated wares, etc. The "ex stolen" famous Cellini salt cellar is still in place, which we managed to view :).



In front of Kunst Historiches Museum Wien and Maria-Theresien-Platz

 

 

 

Baroque Style Décor in Kunst Museum

Paintings, Gold coated antics and wares, Pottery in Museum

 

The Famous Cellini Salt Cellar

 St. Stephen Cathedral in Vienna reminds me to Matthias Church in Budapest due to its Mosaic roof tile. The Mosaic roof looks lovely complementing its Gothic style. We did went to the Crypt under the church that opened to public with a small fee. It was definitely not for the faint-hearted. Besides the mass grave, there are small chapel and artefacts stored in Crypt. In the end of the day, it was a cemetery for the priest as well as its descendant and thousand of peoples. Not sure what to write about the Crypt experience but we went there because we were curious to see a period cemetery. I think this will be a one-off experience only. Did not take a picture since it will be a bit unpleasant to keep. Based on the info that was given, many commoners buried on the crypt from natural death and black plague.

Horse-drawn carriages are common sights in Vienna even in the alleyway, which I thought is a smart way to celebrate the memory of period era. Three things I will remember about Vienna are the horse-drawn carriages, art of patisserie and definitely the classical music!  

St. Stephen Cathedral, Vienna

Interior of St. Stephen Cathedral, Vienna

  

Common Sights of Horse Drawn-Carriages in Vienna

We went to Peterskirche Vienna Austria to celebrate Easter Sunday mass. It was a good eye candy during the 1 hour mass due to its Baroque style. In the end, after so many Baroque buildings they kind of look the same :).

 

 

A good entertainment and knowledge for those with kids or interested with music is House of Music in Vienna. We had zero knowledge about classical music but since the visit we have learned a bit of other composer besides W.A Mozart :). Interior is decorated based on the composer's music legacy or popular cultures during the music era (i.e. Waltz fever during Strauss time). There is also interactive activity in which you will be a Conductor to lead an orchestra of classical music ensemble - was surely a good way to get you moving!

 

 

House of Music, Vienna

 

Conductor Practising in House of Music