April 10, 2018 ~ Vienna, Austria

April 10, 2018 ~ Vienna, Austria

We sailed from Krem at midnight and woke to another sunny day in Vienna.  I'm not sure what I expected, but I know I did not expect such a large city.  Although there are many green spaces in Vienna, it still feels very much like a modern city.

Today took us on a bus/walking tour (mostly bus) of the city - just enough to give us a bit of the flavor of the city.

Sylvia was our guide today.  She was an eclectic lady who told us that she was Viennese, her husband was Viennese, and her dog was Viennese.  Jeff later asked how she knew her dog was Viennese and she admitted it was because he was born in Vienna.  The dog is a Golden Retriever!

Our bus took us on the "Ringstrasse" (a route that circles the old city).  It was impossible to capture photos of all that we saw, but the buildings mirror the history of this place.  I remember my high school European history class and discussions of the once mighty Austrian Empire.  Today, Austria does not think of itself as "political" - they remain neutral.  Today, Austria is but a shadow of its former self.  Today, Austrians are happy and enjoy a very good lifestyle.  The city center has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in July of 2017 it was moved to the list of World Heritage in Danger.  None of our guides discussed this, but I surmise that it is difficult to keep a city center such as Vienna's maintained.  We saw much scaffolding, but there are so many historical buildings and a limited budget.

A view of the Ringstrasse with the trolley

Vienna Natural History Museum

Maria Theresa Monument

This statue of Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of the Hapsburg dynasty, is situated in the middle of the Maria-Theresein-Platz in Vienna.  Being female, she had to fight for the throne during the War of the Austrian Succession, but eventually she ruled Austria as well as Bohemia, Hungary, parts of the Balkans, and the northern Italian regions from 1740 to 1780.  She had 16 children (including Marie Antoinette) and was very popular with her people.  She was known for positive reforms in areas of finance, education, civil rights, and health care.

Hofburg Imperial Palace

Our guide told us that the President of Austria has his official residence and offices in the Hofburg, which has been the seat of government in Austria since 1279.  It is a massive complex that has been expanded over the centuries and houses several residences, the imperial chapel, the imperial library, the treasury, a theater, and the Spanish Riding school.

St. Stephansdom

Emperor Franz Monument

This monument to Emperor Franz I stands in front of the Hofburg Palace.  Commissioned by his son, Ferdinand I, it was cast in bronze in Milan and unveiled in 1846.  Emperor Franz is clad in a toga, and the four women at the base are said to represent faith, peace, justice, and power.

St. Michael's Facade

Archeological discovery of Roman ruins during construction in the city

Our ultimate destination was the Stephansdom (or St. Stephan's Cathedral).  The "mother church" of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna, the current form of the cathedral is in the Romanesque and Gothic style standing on the ruins of two earlier churches - a parish church consecrated in 1147.  It was Duke Rudolf IV (1339-1365) who began construction on the current church. The partially constructed Romanesque church was consecrated in 1147 to Saint Stephen. Present at the dedication were Conrad II of Germany, Bishop Otto of Freising, and other German nobles who were about to start on the Second Crusade.  The first structure was completed in 1160, but major reconstruction and expansion continued until 1511 (according to Wikipedia). Scaffolding around the building shows that repair and restoration continue into the present.

The Organ Console -- could not find the pipes in this church!

Everywhere we have been our guides have talked about the devastation wrought by the second world war.  Vienna is no different.  Sixty percent of the city was damaged or destroyed by the bombing, and about half of that has been rebuilt; the other half is gone forever - replaced by modern buildings.  The cathedral (the Stephandom) was saved from intentional destruction when Captain Gerhard Klinkicht disregarded orders to destroy the cathedral.  There was, however, damage from civilian looters.  Fortunately protective measures were in place to minimize the damage; hence we have the beauty to enjoy today.

After our morning bus/walking tour, we returned to the ship for lunch and a rest (JJ has my cold -- #don'thateme) before our evening - an early dinner on the ship and then the bus to the music hall for a Mozart and Strauss concert performed by the Wiener Residenzurchester (The Vienna Residence Orchestra).

The Ferris Wheel at night

Staircase to our music hall

The concert was absolutely delightful! The musicians included flute, oboe, clarinet, three violins, a cello, and a bass. The program consisted of ...

• Air "Cosi Fan Tuti" - Mozart
• Turkischer Marsch
• Haydn Symphonie
• "Cerubino
• La Ci Darem La Mano (Don Giovanni)

Then we had an intermission - complete with a glass of champagne for those who wanted. The second half was music of Johann Strauss:

• Overture "Zigeunerbaron"
• Tratsch Polka
• Aria "Als Flotter Geist"
• Tik Tak Polka
• Delirien Walzer
• Czardas
• Vienna Blood
• Blue Danube Waltz
• Radetzky March

The last two numbers are typical of ending a Viennese concert!

In addition to the musicians, there were a pair of ballet dancers and a pair of opera singers. It was a truly memorable evening!

Tomorrow ... another day in Vienna!