It started with an early walk around the edge of the old city. In addition to seeing lots of people going to work, I saw in 2.5 hours…

5 parks, the Rathaus, parliament, a giant bunny, one royal greenhouse, the outside of 6 museums, lots and lots of statues, the canal, and many churches.

Also, treats.

At 10:30, A pretty good walking tour. This was a professional guide, who taught me a lot about Vienna. 

On the tour, I met Jackie, who had a coffee with me. Interestingly enough, at the coffee place they serve something I’ve always wanted to try; schwarzwälder kirschtorte. 

It’s amazing, just so you know.

I discovered that something else I’ve always wanted to see was in Vienna…the Venus of Willendorf. It’s a small limestone carving estimated to be 25,000 years old. I’m glad to have seen it. 

Also the natural history museum where it’s displayed is a solid visit. I didn’t mean to spend 3 hours there, I promise you.

All the coffee and treats I’d had were telling me to take a long walk. I tried to get to the Danube on foot. No bueno. Although I did discover a cute neighborhood and awesome park.

So, 40 thousand steps later….I had a lovely day in the sun.

See you tomorrow 

Mary

Not much to share today. Had a relaxing bus ride in the morning, and a nice time exploring Vienna a little late in the afternoon. 

Lots of open churches here, which surprised me. 

Also the people here speak german, which is awesome.  I can almost understand what everyone is saying!

Night, all!

After a nice morning walk getting lost, I mean…exploring, I went to the last big museum in town. 

The convent of st. Agnes of Bohemia is now part of the national gallery. The convent itself isn’t operational now. It was given to the state, and in 2000, was opened permanently as a museum.

It has a fantastic and exhausting collection of religious medieval art, mostly altarpeices and statues of saints. My brain was whizzing around after 2 hours.

All my actual plans for the day completed, I walked up to the castle. The grounds are mostly free, but I really wanted to see the inside of that cathedral.

It was amazing. Lots of very fine stained glass and woodworking. The rest of the castle…..was a castle. Moving on.

Still to early to go home, I found a small tourist attraction called the Lennon wall. It’s a graffiti covered wall with a history. During the occupation, freedom fighters would write inspirational messages, secretly of course.  I’m sure getting caught meant death. Now it’s just a neat thing to see.  Lots of people committing vandalism whilst consuming ice cream and coffee drinks. 

Ok. Still early. On the way back home, walking slowly, I stumbled across a church with a cellar exhibit about WWII and an assassination of a Nazi officer. He was a bad, bad person.  Very moving story of desperation and loss. They made a movie about it called Anthropoid. I’ve not seen the movie, but it brings a lot of people in to learn more about history. So that’s good.

Finally time to get some dinner and rest.

Thank goodness, my dogs are killing me!

Tomorrow…a bus to Vienna!

Some laundromat time in the morning, then art in the afternoon, and a long walk later on.

The modern art museum here is good. I spent 4 hours in just the permanent collection. The temporary exhibits looked good, but I’d seen enough.

Lots of free podcasts and walking tours of many European cities out there. I just listened and people watched until bedtime.

Last day in Prague…probs spend it at the castle and another museum. No surprise there lol.

Mary