Saturday, 8 November 2014

On the move again..

but not before a tram ride here….
The Mirabelle Gardens - can you hear me singing? (just as well!!)
Here is the famous fountain that Julie Andrews and the children danced around in the Sound of Music.
It was a lovely sunny morning and we still had our 24 hour pass which we had delayed using so that we could catch a tram!
It was Saturday and Wedding day for lots of couples, we saw four while we were there.


This couple were happy to pose for me! 

This was near the gate as we walked across from the steps to the other side to have a nosy!!! Lots of berries and stones! The music  was clearly in someone else's head too!!!
Somewhere else to visit if we get a chance to return to Salzburg!!
I didn't jump up the steps!
The gardens were beautiful, I can only imagine what they must have been like in the Summer!!
Then it was back to the hotel, check out and off to the station…..Next stop…Vienna!

Some more shaky sketches! Didn't notice hubby taking one of me or I wouldn't have emphasised my nose!!

It wasn't all pretty houses and villages, wood is pretty important around here!!
A longish walk from the station as an information clerk sent us out of the opposite end exit to the one we needed! But the Savoy hotel was so typically Austrian we didn't mind!
By now it was time a bite to eat so we unpacked quickly and got out to explore!
I must say my first impressions of Vienna were not so good - 'A big building, Oh! another big building, and another…..!'
We really needed a map and an information  centre - I had plans for Sunday!! We didn't really take many photos as we went through a shopping area, even fell down badly on the coffee front too - don't know what possessed us but we went into a Starbucks and had the worst coffee we've ever had!
It was getting dark by the time we left the information centre and we came across this lovely building.

As we walked around the outside everyone was dressed up and going into the Staatsoper. I had seen a sign indicating the entrance for standing room but me being me decided that this was my chance to go in the main entrance on the pretence of an enquiry so that I could take in the atmosphere!
A bit blurry as I tried to conceal the fact that I was taking photograph with my phone - Oh! the depths I'll sink to!
When we found the price of the standing only tickets we decided on the spot that we had to do it!!!
A lot of steps to climb in a short time - the performance was about to start! Not a good view but the atmosphere was amazing!
3 Euros each! There are padded leaning places and we watched up to the interval and it was in fact a prologue to the main Opera and was a complete story! Difficult to explain - if you want to find out it was 'Ariadne auf Naxos' - a Richard Strauss opera!
So glad we went, but by then we were ready to sit down for a proper meal.It was a warm night and we sat outside to have a Pork Wiener Schnitzel - delicious, and we were joined by an American lady on her own and wanted some dining company - she had seen the Prologue too and was going back in to watch the end of the opera - we decided it was time for a walk back to the hotel! Plans to be made for Sunday - our last full day before travelling again! The bed turned to be like sleeping on boards - good job we were tired!!!


Hope you'll come back for a grand experience!
Thanks for looking, Chris 




5 comments:

  1. Somehow I left a comment and it got lost in the ethernet.

    Basically what I said was I guess I should watch the Sound of Music, because the grounds and fountain were beautiful. I can see why so many weddings are held there.

    From what I've heard, Vienna is supposed to be a very beautiful and Romantic city. It's too bad you had such a bad first impression. I hope the rest of the trip is more to your liking and satisfaction.

    I got a big laugh at the two twin beds in a double occupancy room. I wonder if that's what you often find.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fabulous photos Chris, you show everything in it's best light because it looks beautiful to me. Love your sketches too, they are wonderful! Sorry I have not been able to comment much whilst away but I have been keeping up with you. Enjoy the rest of your trip. Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my, those gardens look fantastic - just like they are in the film! What a pity your first impressions of Vienna were not great! I always think of 'The 3rd Man' and that wonderful zither music when anybody says 'Vienna', actually! I imagine lots of little coffee shops with wonderful pastries so a dodgy cup of Starbucks must have been a disappointment! I do hope the rest of your trip provides you with lots of wonderful adventures! Great post with lots of wonderful, atmospheric pics! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. What great little sketches to compliment your photographs. Looks a wonderful trip.
    Julie x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful photographs Chris! I think next time you go on vacation, I am going to hide in one of your suitcases! Great sketches for the memory book! hugs :)

    ReplyDelete