25th October Venice

Today we travelled through the Austrian Lake District, across the Italian border to the Byzantine city of Venice. I have always found that people either love Venice and say it's one of their favourite places, or that they found it to be a dirty smelly place. Well I now know which side of the fence I sit on...I LOVE VENICE!!!! From the moment we boarded the private water taxi's it has won me over (falling in love had NOTHING to do with the VERY attractive captains either)! We took private water taxi's up the Grand Canal which is lined with more than 170 buildings, most of which date from the 13th-18th century. We sailed under the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge across the canal in Venice and which was the dividng line for the districts of San Marco and San Polo. On the way I was able to see Palazzo Venier dei Leoni which belonged to Peggy Guggenheim and now houses her private art collection. After seeing the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and knowing there is one in New York, I was keen to also see this museum and plan to do it during my free time tomorrow. I also saw along the canal the basilica Santa Maria della Salute, which I had seen on the 'Sacred Destinations' website. After we disembarked our private taxi we walked through the streets of Venice which house the designer labels of Lois Vuitton etc and found ourselves at the location of where we were to take the Gondola ride. Five of us boarded our Gondola and headed off through the canals of Venice...drinking champagne! We emerged into the Grand Canal and joined three other boats from our group where we were serenaded by an Italian man...it was soooo much fun. We then headed back to buy our group shot on the Gondola and then we walked through some more streets of Venice and then found ourselves standing in the middle of the very impressive Piazzo San Marco (St Mark's Square), the principal public square of Venice. We looked at St Mark's Basilica and the Campanile (the bell tower of the Basilica), the clock tower and we marvelled at the cafe's and restaurants also in the surrounds. We then walked back past the Doge's Palace, the residence of the Doge of Venice and the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice. We then boarded a taxi and headed across the water to the Lido where out hotel was. This was at a much faster speed and more like 007 racing across the water in Venice. The only thing missing was Daniel Craig!!! 

24th October Vienna

This morning we began our day visiting Schonbrunn Palace. We were one of the first groups in which was great as we didn't have to compete with other groups to see the wonderful sights in this magnificent palace. Schonbrunn Palace is a former imperial, 1441 room summer residence. The palace and gardens reflect the tasts, interests and aspirations of the Hapsburg monarchs. The name Schonbrunn means 'beautiful spring' and was named after one of the monarchs commented on the beauty of an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court. It was here in Vienna I was really introduced to 'Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina, the only female ruler of the Hapsburg dominions and the last of the House of Hapsburg. The House of Hapsburg was one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formerly elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740. A series of dynastic marriages meant that the family were able to expand its domains throughout many parts of Europe. Maria Theresa and her husband Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, had sixtenn children, including Queen Marie Antoinette of France. Under Maria Theresa's rule she led many financial and educational reforms, developed agriculture and reorganised the military, which all strengethened Austria's international standing. The palace is surrounded by many magnificent gardens, which would have been fun to explore, but we just ran out of time. There were lots of locals taking advantage of the grounds and using the area to jog.

After the palace we then headed back to the main part of Vienna for a walking tour with our local guide Sylvia. We saw St Stephen's Cathedral which is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna. It is a Romanesque and Gothic structure and stands on the ruins of two earlier churches. We then walked up to Hofburg Palace which has housed some of the most powerful people in European and Austrian history. It currently is the official residence of the President of Austria. We saw the balcony where Hitler delivered his speech on the 15th March 1938 to the people of Vienna in....That was VERY weird, to stand in the place where he had spoken, kind of eerie! After the walking tour was complete a few of us headed to the Sacher Cafe where the original Sacher Torte was created. I had Goulash soup and of course, the original Sacher Torte for dessert! I then headed up to see the Hapsburg crypt, about 140 members of the Hapsburg family are buried here, well not exactly 'buried', they are inside very elaborate metal coffins. The coffin of Maria Theresa and her husband is huge and very elaborate! I took a walk on the ringed road to see the town hall and parliament building and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for the Viennese concert we were attending.

Many concert venues offer concerts (aimed at tourists) where they perform many of the works of Mozart and Strauss. We first had dinner and then headed upstairs for the performance. The music was beautiful and they also featured some amazing dancers and singers. Another great night with a great group of people.

23rd October...and the hills are alive, with the sound of music (Salzburg)

Today we drove to Salzburg and the magical setting of the musical the Sound of Music. It has always been a dream of mine, since watching the movie as a kid, to come to Salzburg and see where the movie was made. We had a local guide who took us around this beautiful village and along the way she pointed out parts of the village that appeared in the movie. It is also the birthplace of Mozart and we saw the house where he was born, and another house where he lived. We saw some beautiful produce markets that had the most amazing looking fruit and vegetables. We then headed up to the cemetry to see the gates from the film where the family hid in the convent. It just so happened that the doors of the chapel were open, our guide was beside herself because they are rarely opened, usually only once or twice a year and we were privileged enough to get a glimpse inside. After our walking tour we stopped at a restaurant to have some potato, bacon and mushroom soup and in the words of Julie Anthony....a "crisp apple strudel" for dessert. I bought a christmas decoration from Salzburg just before it was time to board the bus.

We then had a four hour drive to Vienna, so what do you do when you have four hours to fill? Watch the Sound of Music of course....and say as different scenes appear...I saw that!!

Tonight was an optional extra dinner...and I have chosen to do ALL the optional extras! We were taken to the Marchfelderhof restaurant which is very famous and MANY celebrities and royalty have dined here. We were greeted at the door by the staff waving Austrian flags. Linda from the group had to cut the ribbon and then they rolled out the red carpet for all of us to walk down. It was an amazing place with so much history packed into so many rooms. The walls are littered with photos of royalty and celebrities who dined there...including George Michael!!! There was a man who played a keyboard while we ate, a trio who played guitar and violin and then two dancers, who once they danced together, went around the room and picked dance partners from our group...yep even me! When we arrived we were served a pesto/garlic topped bread which was delicious, a salad with dressing, I chose the spare ribs as my main meal and then there was some sort of mousse for dessert. I was soooo full!! It was another fun night and on the way home we sang to Patrick's music mix...most of us agreed he needs a new mix!!! 

22nd October Innsbruck

This morning we leave for Innsbruck with a quick stop in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. Through the mist we could just work out the castle of the reigning monarch. I bought a fridge magnet and had a hot chocolate. I'm guessing the Prince was home as we could see smoke rising from a chimney...and we didn't find him down in the village buying the tourists a coffee which he is often found doing apparently. 

We then crossed into Austria following the Arlberg route through the Tyrol to Innsbruck. After checking into the hotel we went on a quick walking orientation around the town. In Innsbruck we saw the Golden Roof and the palace where Marie Therese gave birth to many of her children. Then we went to the Swarovski crystal shop as Swarovski is made in Innsbruck. I may have purchased one or two items ;) We then grabbed a pizza and beer for lunch before heading to St James' Cathedral. I bought a book about the history of the church which says about the interior 'the interior is a uniform area of severe monumentality in which the vigorous pillars supporting the saucer domes produce a repeated triumphal arch motif'...I can't compete with such a description! Trust me...it was beautiful and spectacular!!!!

This afternoon we took a horse drawn carriage ride up to a typical mountain village and enjoyed the magnificent alpine scenery. On the way up in the cart Patrick our tour guide thought it would be nice to drink some champagne and orange juice...a Bucks Fizz??? Well, I did warn him that I was strictly a Moet & Chandon girl, but he managed to twist my arm into a cup or two...or three and four (you get the picture). We stopped to admire those beautiful wooden  houses, the kind you see in books but think they're for the tourists...they're not, people really live in them. We were warned not to drink the pear and apple schnapps...I didn't listen! We stopped at a traditional Tyrolean Gasthof for a drink...a beer...and a red wine! Are you getting the picture. Just in case it was cold I took my new puffy jacket up with me, it wasn't cold, but I had some photos taken in it...just because! Oh...and there were a couple of champagne bottles that needed to be emptied before we got back to the bus too!!! Needless to say while I made it to the restaurant for dinner, I didn't make it to the part where you order...by then I was back in the hotel room...in the recovery position!!! And yes what my mother told me is all true...the bigger the bubble the bigger the headache! And you should NEVER mix your drinks....next time I won't be putting orange juice in my champagne!!!

21st October Lucerne

This morning we visited the Lion Monument which is a sculpture in Lucerne designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820-21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Mark Twain praised the sculpture of the mortally wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world". He was not wrong...it really is the most emotionally moving sculpture I have ever seen. One of the ladies in our group was even moved to tears, which I could completely understand. When this trip is over people will ask me what I liked best...well everything has been so wonderful, but this Lion monument was very special! 

Next we went on an hour long cruise on Lake Lucerne and took in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. After the cruise some of the group headed to a folklore show and lunch in a typical restaurant. We watched a lively folklore show which included yodelling, flagthrowing and Alpine hornblowing while tasting the famous Swiss cheese fondue. After lunch we had free time so we wandered through the shops of Lucerne in search of watches and Swiss army knives. I was keen to buy a Longines watch but could not find one that I loved...so I'll keep looking. The girl I am rooming with wanted a Cartier watch so a group of us headed there to help her choose. Later that day she did go back and buy a beautiful silver and gold watch with a rectangle face..so yes, I was in Cartier purchasing a watch ;) I just don't get to bring it home!  Needless to say the cost of that watch would pay for my Greek cruise next year!!! We also went to a chocolatier called Bachmann where we bought a small sample of the truffle chocolates...sorry but they won't be making it home...Bailey's mint truffle = Yuuuuuummmm!!!! We then got a few more souvenirs and later in the afternoon a couple of us went to Mass at the Jesuit church...all said in German of course! For dinner we went to Mr Pickwick's and English style pub. I had fish and chips which cost 22.50 Euro...food and drink here is VERY expensive. When we got back to the hotel a couple of ladies had gone to a Thai restaurant for dinner and the main dished there (Pad Thai) cost 47 Euro...they shared it, much to the disgust of the waiter! Tonight I am also trying to catch up on my blog posts. I have found it hard without free wifi, it can be very expensive to purchase it and some nights after dinner we just head to bed. I have been trying to catch up on the bus when I can.