I had heard plenty of stories of Vienna...good ones. My Dad began his love affair with the city just 1 year ago when he visited the city for the first time. So from the moment the plane touched down, I had high expectations of this city.
First Stop: Arrival at Hotel Bristol, Vienna. (A lavish and stylistically classic hotel!)
I began my Vienna journey with my usual tour around the Hotel's surrounding area before deciding what I'd like to go and see. I decided there was again too much so narrowed my choices down to.
- Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
- Schonbrunn Palace (again...16 years later)
- Museum Quarter
- Hofburg Palace
- Stephansdom
- Mozarthaus Museum
Vienna Day 1
Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
Exterior of the Museum
Vienna's Museum of Fine Arts. Amazing collection. Egyptian Antiquity. European Paintings. Greek & Roman Antiquities. Italian. Dutch. French. Spanish. German. Ephesus Museum.
Interior of the Museum 
Below: The picture is a bit dark, but I really loved this painting. Loved the concept of a painting within a painting!
Cosmopolitan city. Historical. Modern. Diverse. Cultural centre. Musical.
Vienna Day 2
Schonbrunn Palace.
Schonbrunn Palace.
Just as beautiful as it was 16 years ago. Loved this place. I was so lucky to have perfect weather too to get my postcard perfect photos!! I took a guided tour of the palace - my guide was fantastic. Passionate and knowledgeable. Spent hours here even after my tour of the palace. I loved walking around the gardens. It may not be the grand boulevards of Paris, but there is still something so romantic about it...Viennese perfection at its best!
Palace entrance
Walking the gardens...romantic aint it?
Picture Pefect Schonbrunn Palace
I walked all the way to the top of the Gazette to get this stunning photo!
Mozarthaus Museum
A bit of a tourist trap I thought. Basically, it's a conversion of one of the only surviving 'Mozart' apartments into a Mozart museum. This apartment is from the era of his life when he was doing well. When he had money to spend. Hence this large apartment. A lot of the artefacts are actually replica's. Overall it was a decent experience. Particularly on the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth year. I have always admired Mozart from even when I first began my music studies. I've adored his amazing ability to just compose with what appears to be such ease and perfection. I did learn something new at this museum though - that Mozart was probably the one to revolutionise the "pop star" concept. Of course not in the modern sense of the word...but in those days, for a composer to make a living, they usually held a post with the church or the court. Whilst Mozart did attempt holding posts, they were mostly for the short term, his creativity I suppose did not allow him to stay with the court/church. Mozart was probably the first to be 'paid' for his works as an 'independent' musician so to speak.
A bit of a tourist trap I thought. Basically, it's a conversion of one of the only surviving 'Mozart' apartments into a Mozart museum. This apartment is from the era of his life when he was doing well. When he had money to spend. Hence this large apartment. A lot of the artefacts are actually replica's. Overall it was a decent experience. Particularly on the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth year. I have always admired Mozart from even when I first began my music studies. I've adored his amazing ability to just compose with what appears to be such ease and perfection. I did learn something new at this museum though - that Mozart was probably the one to revolutionise the "pop star" concept. Of course not in the modern sense of the word...but in those days, for a composer to make a living, they usually held a post with the church or the court. Whilst Mozart did attempt holding posts, they were mostly for the short term, his creativity I suppose did not allow him to stay with the court/church. Mozart was probably the first to be 'paid' for his works as an 'independent' musician so to speak.
Entrance to Mozart's former apartment - now a museum
2006 Spirit of Mozart - there's no shortage of Mozart anywhere in Austria!
How can a Viennese experience be complete without a night out watching a Classical concert? Watched the Weiner Symphoniker perform Mozart's Symphony in D Minor K385 & Martin's something a rather...I was impressed with the Mozart piece...not a fan of Martin. Mainly cuz it was 20th Century music and as much as I love 20th Century art...I don't get it with music. Even when I DID study it in music. It's too bizarre for me. Nevertheless...great concert. Great to see the concert halls so packed with people...and they didn't look like tourists either. The tourists usually go watch the Mozart Orchestra where people dress up in costumes. We chose something local (well I chose it...)
Opera House by Night...pic was taken after eating an excellent Japanese meal not far from the hotel. (The Opera House was right opposite Hotel Bristol...)
No comments:
Post a Comment