Austria, Vienna in particular, makes you feel, no matter your economic or social standing, like an oaf. A lumbering, uncoordinated, unsophisticated oaf.
Undeniable refinement pervades the city and extends to the rest of this landlocked country. It makes you wonder though. Why so much fanciness? Could it be because Austria is surrounded by the European big boys: Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south. It’s like the middle child that needs attention and will do just about anything to get it.
The streets are clean. Unlike it’s neighboring country capitals, the buildings are mostly devoid of graffiti.
The parks are beautifully manicured. The garden at the Schonbrunn Palace, which roughly translates (if google is correct) to “beautiful spring/well”, was the summer residence of the Hapsburg royals. The interior of the Palace is even more stunning (picture-taking not allowed); the epitome of opulence.
At the end of the floral promenade stands the grand Schonbrunn Gloriette and garden fountain. This is how to really impress! Imagine. After a long morning of listening to foreign dignitaries or constituents from the far-flung regions of your empire or even just your irascible mother-in-law, you are able to get away from it all. A leisurely stroll through the garden and then up to the Gloriette, where a servant brings you delicious water from the “beautiful spring” (no, not from the fountain!).
I dare you to find a homeless person anywhere in the city. I’m not sure if it’s urban legend but I heard you might be able to find some in the underground subway terminals!
Whoops. Where was I? Oh yes.
Most striking are the structures; they have a delicate fragility about them.
The front of the Schonbrunn Palace.
The intricate striations and spire of the Stephansdom Cathedral. In the foreground, a McDonalds in the alstadt (“old town”) part of Vienna.
The interior of the Stephansdom Cathedral.
A patinaed Art Nouveau clock (“Ankeruhr”) in the town center. Throngs of people eagerly awaiting the automaton spectacle at noon.
A ride on the Ringstrasse (“ring street”) tram, that circles the old town, was a fun but brief way to see other sights since we only had half a day. Don’t let the abundance of pictures fool you!
One of the highlights of the tram ride was the statute of the incomparable child prodigy. No, not the one in the red pants!
This refinement extends even to both things living and long passed.
The famously elegant Lipizzano horses.
The monument to memorialize those fellow countrymen (and women) who perished during the Black Plague.
On to less somber things. What does every ruler who owns a beautiful summer residence need? Well an equally beautiful winter residence of course! And to have it built just on the other side of town. It is inconceivable to have only 1,441 rooms at the Schonbrunn. What if your 4th cousin’s barber’s dogwalker’s nephew’s middle child, who is deathly allergic to flowers of all kinds, decides to stop by for a late dinner? What is a ruler to do!
Enter the Hofburg Palace.
Yet despite the immense grandeur of the Austrian capital city, Vienna never forgets it’s roots.
