Fantastical Flying Squirrel

Dear Readers-

When we left off, Jayna and I were tearing our way across Vienna. I forgot to mention that we met some LOVELY Californian gentlemen, Kevin and Bob. They had been traveling the world and were getting ready to head to Greece. In this saga, we visited the Schonbrunn Palace, Drank on the Danube, and met up with Kevin and Bob for the World’s smallest glass of wine while watching a Janacek Opera, Jenufa, on a large screen on the side of the Weiner Opera House.

May 9^th, 2011, Bank of the Danube

Ok, it is official. I love Strauss. I am currently on a date with a date and some Riesling (Karl Brunthaler)… The date in question just happens to be stuffed with Prosciutto! YUM! Prosciutto stuffed dates are quickly becoming my new favorite food form the Naschtmarkt. Right now, we are relaxing on the Donauinsel, an island in the Danube, relaxing in a lounge chair watching ducks. Tonight, we will catch an Opera by Janacek on Operplatz. The Opera broadcasts the operas on the side of the Opera House for the masses on a large screen. Chairs are provided, viewing is free…just bring a picnic! (But more about all that jazz later) This will be my fifth straight night of Classical Music. Batting 5 for 5! Chances are, I will be able to find something in Salzburg to keep me entertained.

Aaaaannnddd….the shoes are coming off.

The Schloss Schonbrunn was amazing. We didn’t go in, but we explored the grounds and gardens and hiked up to the Gloriette, which was the retreat of the Empress Maria Theresa. The Gloriette was built on a hill behind the palace by Juhann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg in 1775. The hike was pretty easy…and resulted in Glorious (har har) views…and ICE CREAM!!! I also had a Hollandspritzer, some sort of alcoholic yum. It was absolutely Devine. Our server was very helpful, and gave us some great tips on where else in Vienna to get quality food.

This Just In: We have moved on from Prosciutto stuffed dates to Feta wrapped IN Prosciutto. This just keeps getting better. Om nom nom. I mean, litereally, there is a STICK of FETA wrapped in Prosciutto. There is NOTHING wrong with that sentence. It is made of YUM!

While I enjoy my snack, I treat you to some pictures of the Schloss Schonbrunn:

Fun Thought… It is Monday. I should be at work. But I am not. Alas, the hotel will have to do without. I am, instead, sitting in the sun, drinking wine, eating food too good to actually exist, and soaking up Vienna while gazing at the Danube, humming a waltz or three. On a less pleasant note, people still rollerblade here…NAKED. And no, I will not be providing pictures.

On an absolutely Cool note, our server gave us a bottle of wine to take with us! Like, gave. Gratis. It is a 2010 Jungling Chardonnay from the Neusiedler See in Osterreich. He lays granite for the vintner, and the vintner pays him in cash and cases of wine. I can’t wait to try it! So…the damage for two wines, one beer, free toilets (hey, that is a big deal here), a Danube View and a bottle of wine… 7 Euro. That’s it.

Speechless.

A LITTLE BIT LATER…8:00 PM…Waiting for the Opera

Here we sit with

our Californian Posse, getting ready to watch the Janacek. Our picnic has just started, and Bob treated us with a great Austrian red wine. Aichinger Zweigelt Bernthal, a 2008 from Neider Osterreich. We are drinking out of the most adorable communion sized cups. I got grease form salami on my pants & wine on my journal, jacket and pants. Typical. It matches the paint on my boots from Munich!!!

I mean, seriously, these are the smallest wine cups ever. At least they can be refilled multiple times!

They keep showing ads for Slovakia...Bratislava looks amazing! Mountains, castles, huge waterfalls, beaches...I can't imagine anywhere being more stunning than Vienna...but I have a whole lot of trip left. Tomorrow? Salzburg! For now, though, I leave you with a few more random Vienna Shots. Enjoy!

I gotta Eagle. No Big Deal..See the Schonbrunn??

When I first heard Strauss's "Beautiful Blue Danube" and "Tales from the Vienna Woods," I loved them. I believe it was at the age of 7, in the background of a Fairly Racist Porky Pig/ Elmer Fudd/Buggs Bunny Cartoon VHS tape. I also vaguely remember crossdressing and waterfowl of some sort. I think they were two or three different skits...I digress.

After that, I heard it Way Too Much and Strauss wore out his welcome. I chalked him up to "annoying cliche" and prided myself on my more hipster taste in classical music. And then...I got to Vienna. So here you are. Wine, Danube and Strauss. And Stolen Pictures from Jayna. And probably a few Wiener Jokes. Nothing but Class.

May 7th, 2011. Vienna Lunch Time. Picnicking on Yums from Naschmarkt in front of Karlskirche

Karlskirche

Well, the night train was hard to sleep on, but I am in Vienna and it was WORTH IT. Currently noshing on Date Stuffed Prosciutto and some pastry thing filled with beef and cheese...Yum! After getting in at 6 AM-ish and grabbing a few bits of sleep, Jayna and I ate our way through insanely expansive Naschmarkt and picked up some Yums before heading down the streets of Vienna towards a fantastical beautiful church...which turned out to be the Karlskirche (see above). So here we sit. Eating some good stuff watching a wedding party enter the church. The sound of the bells gave me chills. This market was amazing. Olives stuffed with cheese, juices, fruits and veggies I have never seen, meats, more cheeses, wine, beer...If it Looked strange, I tried it. Cheap, delicious, and enriching my view of the world. Speaking of enriching my view of the world and such, Jayna works for the United Nations. We met at the 2009 HRC Women in Leadership Retreat, and remained Fast friends... actually, we met before that. In New Orleans. At an HRC Leadership Retreat in 2005 or 2006. She is a long lost sister, and I was thrilled that she was coming in from Budapest. When we met, she lived in Ohio...and had been all over the world since then. She was a perfect Viennese Tour Guide!!! And...Holy Shitballs...I am IN VIENNA!

May 7th, 2011. Vienna Dinner Time at "Georgische Spezialtaten Pilas"

I am currently eating a kebap Sandwich mit Schafkase. For a mere €3.30, Salat, Tomaten, Zwiebel, Sauce and Meat of Unknown Origin=Yum! I am also having a Wieselburger Bier Gold...an Austrian beer from Brauen Aus Leidenshoft. Now, I am guessing on most of these spellings. Because...I was maybe, possibly, under the influence of Vienna. And by Vienna, I mean Beer. Jayna had a Pepperoni Pizza. I think our total tab was all of €10. The neighborhood we are staying in is great. We are staying in one of the few "branded" hotels I arranged for my trip...but that is just because Jayna is with me and it was cheaper than a hostel with my Employee discount. Thus, the Holiday Inn worked perfectly. I did my first load of laundry in the sink and took a bath!
We have already done tons of site seeing, and mapped out our routes for the next few days. Vienna truly is magical, and I can't wait to explore more of the city. Hard to believe I have only been in Europe for 2 days... I am really really excited about all I am going to see and do and experience. I am a little intimidated, but super excited. I am glad that Jayna is here to assist with the Culture Shock. And I am glad to discover that Beer is Delicious!! We are heading to a Mozart concert at Musikverein. I am pumped!

May 8th, 2011

This has been a great day. Currently sitting in the shadows of what I think is the Schottenkirche as a group of youngsters listen to music, smoke and just enjoy the frivolity of being young. We started the cold, rainy day with a great breakfast at "The Breakfast Club" and then started our sightseeing filled day. Stephensdom, St. Peterskirche, and dessert at Aida...followed by the Hofburg Hapsburg Palace Tour. €10 well spent.

Mozart! Can you spot me?

Stephansdom

Hofburg

Parliament

Rathaus

After the tour, we walked through the museum quarter, by parliament and the Rathaus, which is the City Hall. Appropriate name, eh? We ended up at an anti-fascist counter rally. They were responding to the Neo-Nazis marching near Hofburg in celebration of Hitler. We saw a bunch of police earlier and were wondering what was going on. Apparently, the counter rally will march towards the Facists & that is why the polizie are on hand. I bought a pro-revolution T-Shirt. Probably from communists.

GREAT PLACES TO HEAR SOME AWESOME CLASSICAL MUSIC:

Musikverein

Wiener Staatsoper

Wiener Opera Toilet

We are going back to St. Peter's tonight for a free concert of sacred music in honor of Mother's Day. Bach, Mozart, Schubert and others. The Very Campy Mozart/Schubert concert last night was fun. Especially since it was at Musikverein, a Stunning gilded performance hall from 1870... But, the music and performances were solid. The wigs were amusing....and I vaguely remember a parrot. HOLY COW LOOK AT THE JUGGLERS. Uh, sorry. There were jugglers in the park. We had a great cheap pasta dinner after trying to find our way back because of the barricades. Carbonara, I believe....Now heading to the concert at Peterskirche:

Though Peterskirche was my favorite, Stephansdom is exquisite. Beethoven discovered the totality of his deafness when he saw the birds take flight, but could not hear the infamous bells. Take more time to see the amazing pictures of this Romanesque and Gothic Beauty, built starting in 1107 :

On the Next part of our Journey, I will talk about the Danube and Wine, The Schonbrunn and Desserts, and probably a whole bunch more nonsense and pictures. My Impression of Vienna so far? Absolutely WORTH they hype. I may even learn to love Strauss.

To hold you over, ,enjoy gratuitous pictures of me being "Star Struck" by Composer landmarks and other Classical music delights: