To Vienna, We Go

                 On Monday of my parent’s visit we set out for Vienna to spend the day. We got our coffee, our pastries, GPS (thankfully) and hit the road by 8am. After an hour and half drive, we arrived at our first stop, Schonbrunn Palace. 

Another brief history lesson- This estate dates back to the 13^th century belonging to the Klosterneuburg Monastery, which used the area primarily for wine growing. In 1569, during the Holy Roman Empire, Emperor Maximilian II purchased the land and mansion, previously called “Katterburg.” He stocked it with animals to create a recreational hunting ground. Later, in the 1640’s Elenore Gonzaga and her husband Ferdinand II occupied the mansion. After Ferdinand’s death, Elenore had the palace added to the Katterburg mansion, and renamed it as “Schonbrunn,” which means “beautiful spring.” Throughout the following centuries the palace was occupied by prominent historical figures and Hapsburg monarchs like: Emperor Leopold I, Empress Maria Theresa, Napolean, Emperor Franz Josef and wife Elisabeth, Karl I, and more. In 1918, at the end of the monarchy, the Austrian Republic took possession of Schonbrunn Palace.

Other interesting facts and uses for Schonbrunn Palace-

- Mozart played his first concert here (at only six years old) for Marie Therese in the Mirror Room.

- The Palace was used as a ballroom by the Russians, British and Austrian sovereigns during the Congress of Vienna in 1815, while dividing up the spoils of the Napoleonic Empire.

- During WWII a bomb fell through the ceiling in to the main gallery, but surprisingly did not explode.  (However, secondary bomb damage required restorations not completed till 1955).

- The Soviet army used Schonbrunn Palace as their HQ in 1945, before the Allied Command seized it from 1945-1948.

- The palace was used as meeting place for John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev in 1961

- In 1996, UNESCO added the palace and gardens to their World Heritage List, stating that the site is of, "outstanding universal value being an especially well preserved example of the Baroque princely residential ensemble, which constitutes an outstanding example of a Gesamtkunstwerk."

We spent the rest of the day exploring downtown Vienna. First we visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Actually, first we got authentic Wiener Schnitzel for lunch (can’t leave that out)…then, we went to the cathedral. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, known in German as the “Stephansdom,” is considered the heart of Vienna. The church dates back into the 1100’s. It was initially consecrated in 1147, although the construction was not fully completed until 1511. It was and still is Austria’s most significant religious building. If you’d like more information on the cathedral and/or it’s history click here. 

After a look inside, Reid and I thought it would be a good idea to climb to the top! We realized about 15 stairs up the narrow spiraled staircase that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. It was a little disappointing at the top…a small crowded room with only four barred in windows that you had to battle for to check out the view, which I clearly did.... 

We spent the remainder of the afternoon walking, touring and treating ourselves to a traditional Viennese horse and buggy ride through the downtown area. 

As usual, we ended the evening on a sweet note…at Eissalon Tuchlauben, which boasts the best ice cream in all of Austria...music to my ears. (Researched and found by my friend Jess as soon as she found out we'd be living in Austria).

And I have to say…it lived up to it's reputation.

The Urfahraner Market

The Urfahraner Autumn Market is the oldest and largest festival in Austria…and only 4 blocks from our apartment! So luckily for me, I got a whole week to dip into all that the festival had to offer. There was something for everyone- rides, games, restaurants, beer tents, food stands of almost any culinary creation, live music, shops, and more. It was like Linz’s mini version of Oktoberfest. 

On opening night, Reid and I walked among the chaotic crowd, including- families, overly energetic children, hoodlum teenagers, couples, elderly and everyone in between. We got some beer and watched the fireworks premier. It was a great show…but I have to say, it didn’t nearly match up to the 4^th of July fireworks we have back home;)

I went back the next day with my friend Brandi, for some lunch, while sitting outside relishing in one of my favorite hobbies…people watching. If I thought the dirndls and lederhosen threw us back in time, the Urfahraner market at least brought up into the 80’s. I have never seen so many mullets, mohawks, leather jackets, and downright outrageous outfits so customarily worn in my whole life, and in broad daylight nonetheless.  I expected the lederhosen…but this??

Later that week a group of us met in one of the tents to enjoy the band and lively atmosphere.  I stayed in the tent while Reid was lured into those impossible carnival games. 

He did manage to come back with a gigantic panda bear and about 8 fake watches, so I guess that can be considered triumphant..

Something has to be said about the thrill rides here. You'd think mild carnival rides, like bumper cars, carousels, etc. Well apparently not at the Urfahraner, where "thrill" is no exaggeration. They spent over a month setting up these rides. I’d watch it slowly coming together each morning as I run passed along the Danube. A lot of hard work lies behind this event. Still, I’m not so sure I’d trust some of the rides that throw human bodies around like Nerf balls. 

The last night of the festival, (and the first night of my parent's visit) we took one last stab at the Urfahraner Market. We were feeling daring so we decided take our chances….on the Ferris wheel. Hey, it goes pretty fast!!





Overall the market presented another entertaining Austrian experience. And with it only open for 8 days, it’s no surprise that the festival draws over 600,000 guests each year!