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| PRAGUE &
VIENNA - DEC 2008 |
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December 2008, Nick & I took a trip to Prague & Vienna. Despite my usual
stomach problems flaring up on the plane over, resulting in me spending the
first 2 days in Prague's E-bloc hospital, we both had a really good trip. I
didn't see much of Prague this time, but we had a fantastic view from the
apartment... |
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From Prague we took a picturesque train ride, via Brno to Vienna, where we
were kindly hosted by Michael & Adam, 1st things 1st - a ride on
Vienna's
Riesenrad (big wheel!)... |
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| Following lunch of Wiener
Schnitzel with a slice of lemon & fries, we went to St Stephen's Dom, the
city's gothic cathedral with 450ft tower... |
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| St Stephens is situated
near the 'posher' of Vienna's shopping districts. We also found the church
of St Michael here... |
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That evening we joined Michael & Adam for dinner of MORE Wiener Schnitzel,
and a stroll around 1 of Vienna's 'Christkindlemarkts', this was the main
one, although we found several large Christmas markets, this one being at
the Rathausplatz, or Town Hall... |
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| The next day we started
off at the Votivkirche, a twin-towered gothic church with vaulted ceilings &
very colourful stained glass... |
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From there, we went onto Schloss Schonebrunn, birthplace of Marie Antionette.
Camera's were not permitted inside, but it was very similar to Versailles in
Paris, which we later learned was the model for this building. Decor inside
was very ornate, and among the rooms toured is the music room, were a young
Mozart made his 1st performance to an audience of Marie Therese at the age
of 6!... |
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The Gloriette at the top of the gardens is now a cafe, where we had lunch
before strolling by the palm house & maze... |
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The Gloriette also offers superb views across Vienna... |
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At sunset another of Vienna's Christmas markets lit up the front facade of
the palace... |
 
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The next day saw us exploring more of Vienna, which is served by a great
transport system of tramways, & an underground, the 'U - Bahn'... |
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Our final day started at Karlsplatz, where we visited the Karlskirche, 1 of
Vienna's most ornate churches. Initially disappointed having to pay to enter
(the others were free!), THEN to find the ceiling covered with scaffolding!!
However, the scaffold was open to the public - you took a glass lift to the
150ft point, and climbed the rest by stairs, gaining close up access to the
stunning fresco's above... |
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No visit to Austria would be complete without sampling some of the Kondiorei
(these are confectionery cafe's, specialising in cakes & hot chocolate!).
Adam & Michael prepared us some Austrian dumplings with bacon sauerkraut, also
pictured, a Weiner scnitzel... |
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Our last night in Vienna, we had tickets to the televised 'Christmas in
Vienna' concert, which included the Vienna Boys Choir, orchestra, and other
classical singers, performing Christmas favourites. O Come all ye Faithful,
Ave Maria, Handel's Messiah chorus, and Stille Nacht (Silent Night) were included in a
magical programme... |
   
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From the concert we ate 'roo burgers in Vienna's Australian bar! As a snack
until we went to the Donauturm (Danube Tower), where we had a reservation
for a table at the revolving restaurant at the top (850ft)... |
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Superb views of Vienna by night from the restaurant... |
 
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| And all that remains is
for me to thank Nick, Michael & Adam for their company & hospitality, and
wish you a Happy Christmas from Vienna, cheers... |
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| MORE PICS
OF PRAGUE |
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