
I spent three days in Vienna and saw some beautiful palaces and churches, ate some local food, and spent a lot of money! My first adventure in Vienna was finding the hostel. I got directs from the hostel on how to get there but when I got off the bus I was lost. I asked a few locals and they sent me in all directions. I eventually went back to the train station and asked the info desk. He gave me the same directions as the hostel, but went one step further and said go back a half block and turn left... I was within 100 yards of the hostel and spent two hours looking for it!!...with all of my bags! The first night in Vienna I decided to take the tram around the old city circle. I got off the eat dinner and look around a few times and then headed back to the hostel.

I got going early the next morning and headed to Schloss Shonbrunn. I did the Grand Tour and got the English audio guide.I spent a few hours walking aroung the palace and looking at art and then toured the outside of the palace. In the distance from the palace you can see Gloriette...a lot farther than it looks!

I walked up there and took a look back on the palace--being up on a hill I could see a lot of Vienna from this point. I got back on the subway and went back to the city center, found a late lunch in a local restaurant and then went to see the Hofburg Palace and the Treasury.

The palace was huge and sprawled out. I took a tour of the Treasury--crown jewels and coronation attire. There were so many beautiful crowns, necklaces, coronation robes and statues from hundreds of years ago.

The city is beautiful at night and the buildings are all lit up. I wish I could take a helicopter tour of the city just for the pictures. I came upon a festival at the Rathaus (Town Hall).

They had multiple ice skating rinks and a curling type event. The Rathaus was lit up with spotlights that changed colors and music (American) played over the loud speaker.



The last place on my list for the day was to see Karlskirche at night. It was lit up so beautifully. I admired it from the outside for a few minutes and got my share of pictures...trying to get the light just right! I got back on the subway and headed for home. I met my roommate when I returned. Her boyfriend Max and his roommate were going for pizza and asked me if I wanted to come along. The four of us headed for the streets in search of an open restaurant. It was 9:30pm and nothing was looking open.

I noticed a pizzeria with its lights on so we headed down the block toward it. When we were about 20 feet away the lights went out. We got to the place as the owers were locking the doors.

Max could speak a little German so he told them our situation and the couple decided to open up for us to get a few pizza to take back to the hostel. Wow! You do not see that very often...and all for 10 Euros. We got our pizzas and walked back to the hostel to eat and visit.
Last Day in Vienna:
I was taking the night train to Poland so I had the whole day to spend seeing more of Vienna. My two goals for the day were Belvedere Palace and Haus der Music. I was in the Museum Quarter in the morning and decided to visit Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts). The building itself was a work of art that pictures cannot do justice.



I had an experience with a Greek store/cafe owner before entering the Belvedere Palace; I got a free Cafe Latte and some local guidance on Vienna. The Palace had amazing art and a view of the Gardens that must be gorgeous in the summers.


After a walk around the grounds I headed for the Haus der Musik and had no clue how awesome it would be.


There were multiple floors with different themes. You could learn about sound waves, making music, the parts of the ear, play interactive games, etc.

There was a floor dedicated to musician including Mozart, Beethoven, Mohler, Strauss, Hayden and more! Lots of pictures, memorabilia, and history. The free audio tour was a must! I left the museum and it was dark outside. I decided to find some dinner before heading back to the hostel to retrieve my luggage. I walked into this little store to look at something I had seen through the window and noticed there was a cafeteria downstairs. I ended up having a great meal here--bratwurst, kraut, potatoes, carrots, tiramisu and soda.

I made it to the train station a few hours early but relaxed in a little coffeeshop and then boarded the train early! I got all settled into my couchette. Luckily there was only one other person sharing it with me.

He was a Polish guy, living in Vienna who knew English which was extremely helpful! I actually got a good night sleep and woke up in Poland. I know that not all night trains are this simplistic but it was a great way to travel.
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