Thursday, December 1, 2016: Arrival in Vienna & a Taste of Vienna
After our uneventful flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam, we have a planned three hour layover at Schipol Airport which we spend in the very spacious KLM lounge.
Again, our flight from Amsterdam to Vienna went flawlessly, we caught a catnap on the way, collected everybody's bags and made our way to our hotel.
Since we have planned to arrive one day before our tour begins, we have an afternoon (and tomorrow) of leisure to explore on our own. While the temperature is quite balmy in the low 40s, the wind is howling making it feel much colder. We can't resist bundling up and heading to Old Town Vienna and the Christkinklmarkt in the plaza between the Rathhaus and the Burgtheatre.
Unfortunately, it is not yet dark enough to really see the effect of the lights and since we have essentially been awake for over 24 hours we are unable to stay later. But I will be back on a light photograph mission.
After having rot guhlwein (hot red wine)
we peruse the marketplace goods
and make a few purchases.
While stopping in the Rathaus to warm our feet, Beverly sits down to read with Santa Claus.
As our endurance flags, we head back toward the center of old town for our first real meal since Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, it is only 4PM and most restaurants don't even open until 6PM. Nevertheless, we find an Italian bistro
which serves up a delicious quattro formagie gnocchi.
As we emerge from the restaurant it is finally dark enough to begin to see the effect of elaborate lighting strung above the streets on old town, each street having a individual theme.
A view of St. Stephen's Cathedral in the center of old town.
Then we drag our weary feet back on the S1 U-bahn to our hotel for a frightfully early bedtime. I hope that I can sleep at least until the wee hours of the morning. See you tomorrow.
Again, our flight from Amsterdam to Vienna went flawlessly, we caught a catnap on the way, collected everybody's bags and made our way to our hotel.
Since we have planned to arrive one day before our tour begins, we have an afternoon (and tomorrow) of leisure to explore on our own. While the temperature is quite balmy in the low 40s, the wind is howling making it feel much colder. We can't resist bundling up and heading to Old Town Vienna and the Christkinklmarkt in the plaza between the Rathhaus and the Burgtheatre.
Unfortunately, it is not yet dark enough to really see the effect of the lights and since we have essentially been awake for over 24 hours we are unable to stay later. But I will be back on a light photograph mission.
After having rot guhlwein (hot red wine)
we peruse the marketplace goods
and make a few purchases.
While stopping in the Rathaus to warm our feet, Beverly sits down to read with Santa Claus.
As our endurance flags, we head back toward the center of old town for our first real meal since Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, it is only 4PM and most restaurants don't even open until 6PM. Nevertheless, we find an Italian bistro
which serves up a delicious quattro formagie gnocchi.
As we emerge from the restaurant it is finally dark enough to begin to see the effect of elaborate lighting strung above the streets on old town, each street having a individual theme.
A view of St. Stephen's Cathedral in the center of old town.
Then we drag our weary feet back on the S1 U-bahn to our hotel for a frightfully early bedtime. I hope that I can sleep at least until the wee hours of the morning. See you tomorrow.
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