Good news! I just got back from an electronics store here in Vienna and got the proper cord I need to start uploading more photos! Thing is, the computers here at our hostel do not have any usable USB ports so I’ll have to wait until I can find a computer that does. Hang tight!
We’re in Vienna at the moment, and have been for the past few days. Tonight is our last night before we make our way to Munich for Oktoberfest. Vienna is a very interesting city, and if you enjoy museums, this is the place to go. There is an area of the town called the Museumquartier which, according to a local we met last night, is the area with the most museums in all of Europe! They have museums for everything; the big ones like the Museum of Natural History or The Museum of Sound, to more obscure ones like the MUseum of Crime, Museum of Abortion and Contraception, Globe Museum (yes, a museum of globes), and even the Clock Museum. Whether you’re passion is music, history, or even clocks and globes, you’re bound to find a museum or two that caters to you tastes.
The Schönbrunn Palace was the first place we visited. It was the home of the Habsburg dynasty until it was bought out by the Republic of Austria in 1918 at the end of the monarchy. It is enormous, beautiful, and most definitely pompous. And while the inside of the palace was home to many beautiful paintings and furniture, it was the gardens that truly made this palace magnificent. The gardens stretched several hundred meters behind the palace before ending at the foot of an enormous fountain. Following that, the property continues up a perfectly green hill with zig-zaging paths until it reaches another monument and lookout point, providing a great view of the city. The gardens were also home to a hedge-maze and several labryniths (which we had way too much fun with) as well as a small zoo. It was truly beautiful, despite the rainy weather we experienced. This is definitely one place you cannot miss when visiting Vienna.
When it comes to the language barrier, we’ve found so far that some places are much more difficult than others. Despite not knowing any Czech, we had little trouble in Prague when it came to the language; most every sign had both Czech and English written on it, and most restuarants had a Czech menu and an English menu. Here in Vienna, I’ve found that not nearly as many people speak English. In fact, Carson and I both were surprised when a waiter, who knew very little English, brought out what we expected to be chicken wings but instead was a platter of deep-friend zucchini. We all had a good laugh though!
It is hard to say how long one would need to see Vienna to it’s full extent. If you really enjoy museums than four nights might not be enough. If you prefer to see more cultural sights or simply browse the quaint shops and restaurants streets, four days might be just perfect. Vienna definitely caters to some people more than others, but despite this, is a beautiful city that deserves a visit!
As I mentioned above, we’re heading to Munich tomorrow for Oktoberfest, and, frankly, I am not sure if I’ll get a chance to sit at a computer to update the blog. We’re staying at a hostel called The Tent and I do know they have internet access, but with it being Oktoberfest and most definitely very busy there, I am not sure if I’ll be able to write a blog entry, not to mention upload pictures. But, I will do my best! We’ve been itching to put up more photos for you.
Anyways, keep checking back!
