Museum Time!!!

So, right before I left, I decided to visit some museums. I visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere. I didn't want to see the national history one, since in my opinion, few could compare with Chicago's Field Museum.

First to be displayed: Kunsthistorisches Museum---that name gave me soooo much trouble!

This is not the Kunsthistoriches Museum--rather it's the Natural History Museum--the Kunst is located across from this (I'm actually sitting on the steps of the Kunst.)



This artist was replicating a famous painting and doing a good job of it, too!

The famous picture of Babylon.

Cool, fun art at the top of the museum--reminds me of my room =)

This museum also housed one of the largest coin collections in the world--this is for Tom Serfass!


In the Egyptian section, they had this, an original notebook of Champollion's work to decipher hieroglyphics, which I thought was pretty cool.

Many, many sarcophagi!!

Me, eating my lunch on the Kunsthistoriches' steps.


And now the Belvedere:
Here, they house such works by Monet and the famous Austrian, Gustav Klimt. I got to see the original painting: The Kiss--quite impressive! However, I couldn't take pictures inside, so here are pictures of the grounds.

Playing Tourist Part 2

Oh so much to talk about and describe...goodness me! -- Oh, and I must note that through all this touristy action, I finished 4 books and met with friends for food and drinks before leaving. I was quite busy! I loved it!!!!!!

First up: Hundertwasserhaus. Don't you just love those German names?! I challenge you to say it aloud with the best angry German accent possible--makes the word ten times better, I promise ;)
Second: Schönbrunn Palace --ahh, those double dots--killed me when pronouncing words!

Alright, last Montag in Wien--playing tourist once again =) I heard about this, saw pictures but never knew where it was. But, I found directions online and went on an adventure. The man who designed this building of working apartments didn't accept payment for his work. He wanted to do it to prevent something ugly going up in its place =) He was successful, in my opinion. His theory is that humans weren't meant to walk on flat surfaces. As you can and will see, he designed the apartments and the patio below to flow like water and allow the legs to do what they were built for: climb.





(no description necessary)


Aaaahhhhh, the palace: located near me for nearly 3 months and I decided to visit it the last week I was in Wien =P
I couldn't take pictures inside, but the website is very informational if you want to check it out: http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/





This man was clever in mowing the lawn. He tied a rope to the mower and just directed it with that instead of climbing with it along the steep slope. I had to take a picture!



Time to be a kid again and enter a maze!!



Why is it that when you're not looking for something you find it, but when you are looking for it, you can't seen to locate it? For instance, I was just walking at my leisure through the maze with the acceptance I could be in there for a few hours lost. However, I found the exit easily after 20 mins or less. But, when I wanted to get to the platform in the middle of the maze that allowed me to take this picture, I couldn't find my way at all. I had to ask two girls up on it already how to find my way to the stairs. They were kind enough to direct me along the way.

Within this garden of the prince, I think it was, I walked along citrus trees and was very tempted to take an orange. However, being a tourist, I thought it better not too =)

A view of the Gloriette.

Taking a Medieval Walking Tour around Vienna Part 2

Okay! Here's Part 2 of the medieval walking tour around Vienna.

I love how the people who write these tours tell you it'll only take 2 hours. Yeah right. With the time of walking, taking pictures, and just figuring out the map and where you're supposed to go, I say this is a whole day deal. I especially love how this walking tour would talk about a site I was admiring and the next sentence is "Now you're on Salvatorgasse." Hahahahaha--apparently I was supposed to teleport myself there instead of finding the route like normal humans. They should warn you before you start walking that you find your own route along the way.
Also, to top it, my map didn't have the complete names of the streets. Anyone familiar with the German language knows they like long words and names. This ideology just doesn't work well with a small map. So when you see a Hohen.g you hope it's Hohenstaufengasse. Plus, don't read the small print wrong because next to that are Helferstorfergasse and Heßgasse, abbreviated like: Heßg. Hahaha...ahh, love it!

TahDah! The oldest church in Vienna captured with my camera--the next day =) It's Ruprechts Kirche, built around...hmm not sure. It doesn't say on the little historical name plate.


I think this is for the saint it's dedicated to.


Ahh, a beautiful interior design for the Greek Orthodox Church. Words cannot explain the beauty of this place!

This the outside of the Greek Orthodox Church. I saw it when looking for a Greek restaurant with Maryam. For some reason, though we managed to miss one and grabbed Indian food that was not Indian food--haha--not at all spicy :)


Here's a historical street. Trying to remember the name in German, but very hard to do. I can tell you though, that it means something like beautiful light, as it is famous for a lantern that is still up for people to see.


Here's the inside of a beautiful and hidden church. It was located around a former monastery, but that monastery has been transformed into a scientific university's administrative offices. I can't remember the name, but it's located behind Stephansdom, my starting and ending point. I took a picture of a historical name plate with 'Heiligenkreuzer-hof" written on it. Not sure why at this point, but if you search for 'Heiligenkreuz-hof' you get a courtyard that I walked through, I think.


Here's a famous column located on the Graben, a popular place for locals and tourists alike as it is just northwest of Stephansdom and is populated with many stores, including the famous Julius Meinl grocery store. It's like a Harrods for food--anyone who's been to London understands that. I never ate at one as I was told it was overpriced and could get better tasting food at an Aida or Demel's, which I took as true.--Aida is actually where I ate my first and only sacher torte and it made me really happy because it had pink chairs outside to sit and enjoy the crowds and your food.

Taking a Medieval Walking Tour around Vienna Part 1

So, I was in the library with Katrin, a dear friend of mine from my Vienna adventure, and I discovered something I should have discovered before my last week in Vienna: travel guides, in English! I grabbed one, and started reading it. It had two walking tours and I decided that was a great idea to see the city and get to know its history. This will be divided into 2 sections as my camera decided to die, just as I approached the oldest church in Vienna. What did I do then, I went to a cafe and had tea with the famous sacher torte--rich, chocolate cake with marmalade in the center. Quite made up for my rudely disrupted walk.
So, this is the first day: Sunday--well my last Sunday in Vienna. I didn't write down the names of these sites, nor did I do this while I was in Vienna with the book. I know; I'm talented. So I'll do my best to jog my memory. Hope you like it!!

This church was one of the first on the list. It started out with Stephansdom, from there to St. Peter's Kirche, but I didn't take pictures of those since I knew them already and have pictures of them on the other posts. So, here's a church, I think dedicated to angels.

This itself is not medieval, but is a monument of WWII and the Jews that died during that terrible time in modern human history. It's located in JudenPlatz, which is a medieval courtyard for the Jewish community. The original synagogue was located near there--again, remember I'm doing my best to recall the guide's information. If I'm wrong, please forgive me and correct me so I can correct this.

Here's a church that was just beautiful--haha and me. It was located around Salvatorgasse. It's Maria Am Gestade--I'm able to tell you exactly what it is since I took a picture of its historical name card =) It was built between 1394-1414. Absolutely beautiful inside!

This was a fountain for love and marriage. There are two figures in the front exchanging vows. I think it was a popular place to get married. It's right on Hoher Markt, across the Roman Museum.

This is a famous clock. It survived something fantastic and still works. I think it was called the Anker clock...but I'm not for sure. It too is in the Hoher Markt square....... AH! I was right!! This is from the web:

The Art Nuoveaum, Anker clock, was designed by Franz von Matsch in 1911 in what is thought to be the oldest square in Vienna: Hoher Markt. The historical figures on the face of the clock move with each hour--there are 12 in all.

I suppose it was included because it's in a medieval part of the town? But it isn't really medieval itself...
In this area, right on Wipplingergasse 1, I ate at Fresh Soup and Salad, recommended to me by my friend Gunter. I had a great orange and carrot soup with Sera as my last meal in Vienna. Quite delicious!

I didn't take pictures of everything, but this completes Part 1 as I walked over to the oldest church in Vienna after this, and we all know what that little device decided to do then.