Day 3 Kunsthistorisches Museum – Stunning Architecture, Artwork and Morning Tea
When in Vienna one has to “do at least one museum” or maybe more!! There are so many to choose from, but this one, the Kunsthistorisches was the one for us. In the Inner Stadt, the Kunsthistorisches stands out splendidly with all the other beautiful buildings, but it’s when you go inside that the impact is massive!! The marble walls, staircases, columns, sculptures all leading you up to the ceiling and the cafe for Coffee und Apfel Strudel!!
And then the exhibitions themselves, but first lets get in and find kaffee und kuchen!!
It’s hard to imagine a better cafe, with this quality of cuisine in this sort of building anywhere in the world – but what do i know!!! Really good strudel, tea and coffee and surroundings that blow the mind. But wait what about the artworks on display?
Living where we do in New Zealand, we do have art galleries, but the chances to see paintings “face to face”by the “Old Masters”, are a rarity. Whilst we come on to more modern works a little later, here was my chance to see Vermeer, Brueghel, Rembrandt and much more.
The Kunsthistorisches had a number of other exhibitions on, one of which was a dazzling display of gold bejewelled artefacts, just beyond belief. At this stage in the day I was beginning to flag, so found a comfortable seat whilst Sue charged around marvelling at all the items on display. But here is the one photo I took :-
Food
Thus far we have shared “Apfel strudel” pics, and each we sampled ranged from unbelievable to pretty good!! We had one Viennese meal out at a local restaurant, 8 mins walk from our apartment, that had been recommended by our first GYG Guide. It was a corner place with a private tree shaded courtyard where we sat and had supper. There was an English menu, the Austrians and Germans like their meat and don’t seem to do much in the traditional vegetables that we would back home NZ, Australia of the Uk. Nonetheless the schnitzel and lamb meatball casserole that Sue and I shared between us were great, and both big portions. I tried local beer and red wine as recommended by the waiter, all very nice.
Separately just by our nearest UBahn station was a Greek Restaurant, owned by a Greek gentleman from Skopelos and his sidekick was from Alonisos. Both islands are close to Sue’s and mine hearts as we owned a holiday home on the latter for many years. So we had a great memory filled evening there. If you get a chance, chips with rosemary dipped in tzatziki – “ mmmmmmmm”!!! In fact anything, souvlaki, pork chop dipped in tzatziki – the best. Below are a few pics from just wandering Vienna, mainly local to where we stayed:-
Day 4 Upper Belvedere Palace now Gallery
With views looking down upon the City of Vienna, and magnificent open space gardens, front and back this was certainly the nobility looking down and across all that they owned. Impressively located, beautifully preserved and maintained, today the Art Gallery in the Upper Belvedere, has art treasures beyond ones wildest dreams. Amazingly it was fairly busy but not rammed at all, the staggered – pick your entry window- facilitated that. The only point of contention was that I was preparing to take a photo of a Klimt and two young females wanting poses with famous pictures just pushed in front of me!! And then proceeded to pose and photograph. I did the only thing possible, and interposed myself between them and the art work, took my time to get my shot, and then departed with a “ merci mademoiselles”!!
If Music be the Food of Life – Vivaldi Four Seasons in the St Stephen’s Cathedral
Vienna, with its famous Classical Music Composers almost requires one to indulge in a little musical experience. There are heaps on offer, and a great fund raising opportunity for all the churches in particular. The one we chose not only was lovely music but also allowed us to view the full interior of St Stephen’s Kirche, and the combination, superb. We bought our tickets direct with the Church, thus maximising their revenue!! The Church only sustained damage by fire to the roof during WW2, but its under a cleaning and restoration process, beautiful at any stage.
Day 5 and it must be Hundertwasser
We first came across Hundertwasser in the early 1990s, when visiting Russell in the Bay of Islands NZ, and calling in to the Public Conveniences in Kawakawa, nearby. Created by Hundertwasser when he visited NZ – wow thats cool we thought at the time and subsequently when going up to that stunning part of NZ.
But Hundertwasser was Austrian, and an extraordinary talent, which is recognised in Vienna
Hundertwasser was a renegade in art, design and form. For him, floors should not be flat and straight, but undulating and in the museum to him and his work, they are! There is so much on him but a few things stand out, colour, form and his love of NZ. The model boat shown in the pic was owned and sailed by him across the Pacific to the Bay of Islands where he lived near Kawakawa and is buried there today.
And so Vienna, and Austria, with this Kiwi connection to you, we say auf wiedersein, it’s been amazing activity packed 5 days, and left me with a hunger for more knowledge of your social history, which I will explore. But we will return, your mountains, valleys and lakes beckon. Thank you, we had an amazing time in your capital, Wein.
Travels with My Wife 
Amazing pictures, again Pete, especially the museum artworks’ Masters’ colour, light, proportion, even the subjects (the selfies are fascinating) – makes one wish camera’s weren’t invented!
You sure thrash the particular environment you’re in, eg the city of Vienna, seeing so much.
I’m not surprised to see your attention to, er food actually! The food images do sort of raise a bloke’s appetite.
I’m not sure how to reply to your email – I note all your photos appear in my reply in great size, simply cannot remove them!
Not much new here, really exciting footy game on Saturday night, not a top game, too many referee call backs, warranted but showing up the current AB, in fact many current NZ players, curse of simple errors that breach the rules, may as well be massive mistakes, same result. The next game Saturday 12th will be a cracker.
Moving on as they say, take care, Best BT
LikeLike