I already mentioned how much I like Schoenbrunn Palace. So, I was looking through old photos, and I saw this photo from the palace’s garden – the back view.

I hope you’ll like it I admit I like the sky too! I was afraid rain will start – but we were lucky and had a wonderful time there!

Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna, back

At about an hour outside of Vienna, in Herrnbaumgarten, Austria was opened this month The Museum of Nonsense. Fritz Gall is an Austrian inventor who, however, didn’t manage to invent something special. But he obtained some money in order to fund the opening of a museum dedicated to weird, unuseful objects. And it seems the museum is quite a success.

I remember reading a while ago an article on most strange and stupid gadgets ever invented. I admit I laughed at some. So this Museum of Nonsense sounds like a good idea. I am sure there are many inventions that can be catalogued as strange, unnecessary or unuseful.

The museum, as I already mentioned, is localized in Herrnbaumgarten – the hometown of the inventor – and it is only one hour from Vienna.

I didn’t find – unfortunately – an official website of the museum – but I really want to go visit it next time I’ll be in Vienna.

I saw some photos here and below is a video that appears also on an article on Huffington Post dedicated to the museum. I found out about the museum via Slashdot.

How do you find this museum? Would you visit it?

Famous skiing resort, but also an important and beautiful city in Tyrol, Austria, Innsbruck has a lot to offer to a traveler (passionate or not about winter sports). As we read in the official website, situated in between the German and the Italian border, on the western side of Austria, Innsbruck is Europe’s oldest and beautiful city in the state of Tyrol. Capital of its state, the city has got its own beauty with a true Alpine landscape and snowcapped mountains.

Innsbruck twice became the home for the Winter Olympics and is also famous for its winter sports. Additionally, with its historic churches, monuments, museums, galleries and scenic atmosphere, Innsbruck has gained the reputation as being an impressive Austrian holiday destination.

I’m inviting you today to see this city through some interesting videos. The first video contains photos from the city, the second video presents the city, being more than a photo collection, the third video is a walk through the city and, finally, the forth video shows as a take-off and then a flight over the mountains.

Innsbruck, AUSTRIA – impression

Innsbruck, Österreich – (Tyrol) Austria

Paseo por Inssbruck

Taking off from Innsbruck Airport, Austria on a bright winter’s day

The air/flying industry is changing. Intergalactic flights and spaceport (read about it here); laser-guided travel pods (presented here) and now the first self-boarding gates in the world in Vienna.

These 92 world’s first common-use self-boarding gates are provided by air transport IT specialist SITA, and are being installed throughout Vienna’s terminals, including the new terminal Skylink, which will open mid-2012.

As we read in the press release, according to the latest statistics reported in the 2011 SITA/Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey, 30% of passengers have used automated boarding gates and 70% are interested in this service. It is logical in these conditions that if a service is required, it should be offered to travelers.

Mag. Julian Jäger, COO of Vienna International Airport, said: “One of our main strategies is to increase our service quality and passenger travel experience at Vienna International Airport. This new boarding solution will substantially contribute to our objectives.”

I’m sure that Vienna International Airport is only the first airport in a long series offering self-boarding gates. In fact, the same thing in mentioned in the official news where we read that Boris Padovan, SITA Regional Vice President, East and Central Europe, said: “SITA is committed to helping the air transport industry improve efficiencies, and passenger self-service is key to this. The SITA common use self-boarding solution at Vienna International is a clear demonstration of our close cooperation with our customers to develop innovative solutions. We are delighted to be chosen by Vienna International and to be the first to deliver common use self-boarding to the industry – another important step in end-to-end self-service for passengers.”

What do you think of these gates?

I must admit I’m wild about schnitzels. My grandmother makes them, my mother does – so I learned too (though not practice it much unfortunately yet).

When in Vienna, you must try a traditional Wiener Schnitzel. I did – and it tasted perfectly!

photo taken by Kobako

This dish is not only a very tasty one and not so hard to prepare. To see how simple it is to make Wiener schnitzel I’m inviting you to watch this video. Then you’ll definitely cook this dish – and I am waiting to tell me how do you find it .

I promised a while ago, in the post about the Karlskirche, that I will present you the experience of visiting Saint Stephan’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) in Vienna.

As some of you may already know, this cathedral is a very famous Gothic monument located in the center of Austria’s capital, in Stephansplatz.

You might say that there shouldn’t be much to tell about visiting a church – even a Gothic one. I beg to differ. Visiting Stephansdom is an experience in itself.

You get there easily. As I already pointed out it’s in downtown Vienna. And yes, near a carriage station (those carriages that take you in short, medium or long city tours – love them!). But let’s get back to the church.

Here we were, in the Stephansplatz, in front of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. Rather black on the outside – in fact, covering of one of the parts there was a “sheet” with a model of the church for an accurate image of the church to be used for restoration purposes.

Stephansdom - entrance

OK, I have to admit now, I’m not a big fan of black, of darkness. I like light, white, brightness. But this is a Gothic building, meant to impress and to dominate you.

The church looks very impressive indeed – I’ll give you that. And here are the doors – so let’s get in.

Visitors can choose between walking freely, having an audio guide and taking guided tours. When we visited we didn’t buy a guided tour – we just wanted to closely examine the church. As you can imagine, the first word that might describe it is big. I already mentioned that it is impressive – but once you get in you get to see all the tainted windows and their models (usually on blue). Not much light, although sufficient. You will also notice 2 altars, many places to sit and relax, meditate. We also heard the church’s choir performing. You can also see the black organ, another impressive feat. As I already pointed out, an impressive building – see Top 10 Gothic churches.

Stephansdom - mobile shrine

Stephansdom - black organ

Stephansdom - interior

In the end you arrive to an entrance – actually a passage towards a door below the church. You find out that in order to visit the catacombs you have to pay for a guided tour. Hmmm…. My dear husband was interested in such a tour, so we waited for about 10 minutes before the tour began. People from different countries and cultures (of course different religions as well) were part of our group.

What should you expect from some catacombs? That’s a tricky question – for I sure didn’t expect what the tour offered.

You’ll see some sealed coffins containing the bodies of important priests that have served here.
You’ll see some recipients that “host” some internal organs or parts of famous leaders of Austria. You will also see a grave (I’m not going to tell you who’s, however).
You’ll then walk trough different galleries and you will be told interesting historical information / details related to the church and the activities within (or around…) it. For instance, during The Great Plague many bodies were buried under the church, but the stench that followed made it impossible for the church to be used for ceremonies for several years.

You’ll also see the remains (bones collections, former mass graves) of hundreds of people.

The access corridors are getting smaller and smaller. Some might want to get out. Soon, you tell yourself, soon you’ll be out, breathing fresh air, not being surrounded by death.

But there are still some corridors to walk through and then some stairs to climb. And you have to wait in line, for it’s here, at the exit, that you pay for the tour. You hope everyone has change, you want people to move faster. And then you are out – directly in the street! – after an experience you won’t easy forget.

Of course there are some people for whom everything may seem ordinary. But in the end you’ll see that everyone is impressed – one way or the other.

If you’ll need to drink something or to have a coffee or an ice cream to balance your low sugar level you can find some nice places near the church.

Blue Danube, “stop your tides at Vienna, / it loves you so much!”, and at Budapest as well! Please let me contemplate your unrivaled gorgeous waves! This is what I secretly wished in my mind, after having had the chance to look at the Danube from a political and economic point of view. Danu (Danuris), the goddess of the Thracians, makes its way though seven countries, springing from the heights of the Black Forest Mountains in Germany, creating a wild defile and a splendid Delta, eventually becoming one with the Black Sea in Romania. I will show it to you when it generously embraces the romantic landscapes of two capital cities Budapest and Vienna.

It is a shinny May Day and I find myself in Budapest, the twin capital of Hungary. Over centuries, the Danube has been splitting the city into two architecturally different settlements, Buda and Pest that nowadays are linked by Széchenyi Chain Bridge. After walking on the banks of the Danube, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, I get on a lovely cruise at sunset. Champagne and delightful entries follow, while the boat floats, swung by the lazy tides. Music begins and a band of what I will find out to be Romanian musicians play a Romanian well-known composition, “Waves of the Danube” (Iosif Ivanovici). Some Spanish travelers start dancing. I am invited too. For some minutes I float in the glowing light and catch a glimpse of the best of Budapest: Matthias Church, Fishermen’s Bastion, The Parliament, Margret Island, Gresham Place and the National Theatre. Already dreamy, I lose myself and live the moment, mixing in my head the reflections of the day. But Budapest is already another story that I will tell you some day.

Next, I see a completely new face of the Danube in Vienna, or Dunaj in Slovak, named after the river. The Austrian Capital is cloudy and rainy so it is useless to make the cruise I have planned. Instead, I give rendezvous to Strauss’ Blue Danube at the Orangerie in Schoenbrunn, the sumptuous palace where Mozart started his career at the age of 6, by playing in front of Empress Maria Theresia. The divine performance captures all senses, starting with a dinner in Café-Restaurant Residenz intended to appease the taste and smell of the guests. Then we move to the hall and the curtain rises shifting me to another era. A highly elegant orchestra dressed in opulent costumes announces that it’s time to enchant the guests’ listening with the superb pieces or Strauss and Mozart. Then, it’s the sight’s turn to be amazed by an extraordinary ballet performance of the Blue Danube, which I consider the finest moment of the evening. It has a Proust effect on me: it reminds me playing Cinderella and dancing on this waltz many years ago. The concert ends in a wave of applause for a dream that has carried us over the world like in a cartoon where birds and dwarfs harvest Nature’s blue in the tides of the river. The Danube has been my goddess of music for one night, and has marked forever my memories of Vienna. But this is again another story.

After two days of having been delighted by the Danube, I leave with a nostalgic heart and a tune resounding in my mind:

The Blue Danube

Vienna offers a great variety of places to visit, including a large variety of museums. One of the very famous and good looking – as well as palace – is Schloss Belvedere – Belvedere Palace.

Schloss Belvedere consist of two buildings – the Upper and the Lower Belvedere – that were built in the 18th century as the summer residence for the important general Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736).

The Upper Belvedere is the larger palace and it is most famous for housing the World′s largest Gustav Klimt collection. The Lower Belvedere is a smaller palace, but a more personal one. The two buildings are united by an amazing garden – a site you will surely enjoy seeing.

Gustav Klimt - the Kiss

When we visited Austria’s capital city we didn’t miss the chance to visit this museum, among others. However we didn’t make a very good plan and ended up having only enough time to visit the Upper Belvedere and at a rather fast pace. It was, however, a nice experience; we saw many interesting paintings by famous artists. We were also impressed by the marble hall and grand staircase. You can see some pictures on the official site (we didn’t take so many due to the short time).

Of course there’s a souvenir shop downstairs – we bought some cards with famous paintings.

Whether you like the paintings and the artists displayed in this museum or not, you have to admit that the collection is impressive, as well as the palace itself. In the photo you can see just how good the palace really looks.

Upper Belvedere - Vienna

Lower Belvedere looks also very good – even if it is a smaller palace. Unfortunately, as I already mentioned, we didn’t visit it so I can only ask you to write your impressions if you’ve visited it and to recommend you the link to the official site describing this palace and interior.

Lower Belvedere - Vienna

You have to see the Palace garden by yourselves. Words are not at all enough to describe it. You will surely enjoy the walk between the two buildings of the Schloss Belvedere, you will enjoy the smells of the flowers, the beauty of the colors and the nice view. You’ll also probably take many pictures. We couldn’t, however, because it was raining and we didn’t have camera rain protection.

Have you been to Belvedere Palace and Art Museum in Vienna, Austria? What was your impression?

The photos of the Belvedere palace in this article are from the official site, the painting by Klimt is from Wikipedia.

Last year, just before Christmas, I followed the sound of music and got to the Castel of Salt – Salzburg – where I participated in an international project on cultural identities. Salzburg is a modern city at the foot of an old city, quite calm, picturesque, with a refined elegance, similar to a musician’s dream of glory. Salzburg can be envisioned as a concert hall, two parallel worlds, structured vertically, perfectly embodied and inter-linked through the city funicular. I will try to lead you, on orchestra music, to the best places in Mozart’s and Haydn’s city. Now, let the music play: Do-Re-Mi!

When I sing Do, I get to the Domplatz or the Cathedral Square, the center of the Old City. Virgin Mary’s statue, Maria Immaculata, the most beautiful attraction, explains the mystery of the Holy Conception in an allegorical way. As Christmas is close, it is here that you can find the specific Germanic market. In Salzburg you will have the opportunity to buy Christmas decorations and a lot o traditional wooden toys or porcelain puppets, while listening to “Silent night”, composed by Josef Mohr, a past inhabitant of the city. I stop to speak to one of the sellers, a kind man who (amazing!) has Romanian origins, his grandma having left Timisoara during communist times and afterwards having married an Austrian gentleman. For this reason, even if the man does not speak Romanian, he is very fond of this country, has visited it several times and helped a lot of Romanian residents in Austria. I like the story and I buy a singing marmot, dressed Christmas-like, the symbol of the Alps and Austria, he claims. I say good-bye and continue my song.

My Re stands for Residenzplatz, the Residence Square, hosting the most beautiful fountain in Salzburg, the Residence Fountain, built in a mannerist style. Just before having reached the square, I met two lovely ladies… horses, Mona and Lisa, perfectly matching in the romantic landscape, populated by sledges making city-tours. For the snow sports passionate, there is an enormous ice rink set-up and people of all ages enjoy the evening while graciously skating on the ice.

Leaving the Old City behind, I definitely cannot avoid the Mi, the Mirabel palace and gardens, their construction by Prince Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau in 1606 being a symbol of love for his lady, Salome. Here, the famous Do-Re-Mi scene in the “Sound of Music” was filmed and I can almost see Maria and the Von Trapp children singing and running. The center of the gardens is dominated by the Pegasus Fountain, and completed by a four-element (Fire, Air, Water, Earth) sculptural complex, an old hedge theater, a dwarf garden, all of them having been added in time, as the Mirabel complex has suffered several changes since the 17th century.

Getting back to the city center, I start climbing the stairs leading to the world of the majestic Alps where the echo sings Fa, sounding like a Fo, the Fortress of Hohensalzburg, one of the largest and best preserved castles in Europe, dating back from the 11th century. All Gothic castles are romantic but this one seems to be more than others with its guarding lions and breath-taking view on the city. The castle is impressive, overwhelming, it’s like a gate-keeper traveling through times. “All old and new-all”, would Eminescu say, the castle is eternal. It is as durable as the man feels tiny, transient, and perishable. It seems to have been dug into the rock and has almost become one and the same with the salt-like stones. A part of me remained in the castle, looking over the city, at the light and bustle of life, so different from the silent, but not dead fortress, impassive to the curious and cheerful voices of the visitors.

While descending with the funicular, I feel the need to sing again, Sol for solfeggio, this time, on my way to the Mozart Platz. “Michl march, Mozart is here!” I say in front of the composer’s huge 19th century statue looking over the square. Salzburg is the home town of Mozart and many souvenirs are dedicated to him; I couldn’t help to have some Mozart specific chocolate bonbons. The old house of Mozart’s close friends, the Antretters, hosts now the University Institute of Music and further on there are two Mozart’s museums as well. As I pass by Mozart birth-place, Hagenauer House, I sing La for “La finta semplice”, a controversial opera of Mozart composed when he was just a 12-year old boy, and then get to the Tanzmeisterhaus where he has written many of his major works. The museums offer wide collections of musical instruments and pictures, taking the visitors on a journey in the life of Mozart.

I feel that I still have not had enough, so I reach the Si, the oldest street in Salzburg, the Sigmund Haffner Gasse, at the end of which the City Hall and the Franciscan Church are. It is a perfect shopping area, with buildings dating back to the 15th and 16th century and also sheltering the House of the Elephant (a gift for Prince Maximilian and his wife) and the oldest Austrian bookstore. Hold on, I will stop to buy something from here! After shopping, I feel hungry and I decide to try some specific food and cakes: soups, meat-dishes and a cake similar to an omelet with cherry marmalade. I confess I am not brave enough to have an entire schnaps, a traditional drink apparently curing and keeping colds away.

Unexpectedly, at the end of the day, although I come back to the Do, it is not the one remaining in my mind. The Castle stays with me and paraphrasing Eminescu, I say: “we, humans, live along to perish/ alone, the chance can make us cherish/ but Salz, the castle, reigns above us all/ in his cold, eternal world”…

The historical information on Salzburg that I have used comes from: www.salzburg.info

In Vienna there is a clock that marks each hour with a special figure from history. We’ve visited on the same day with Jungferngasse – for it’s very close to this street. The clock forms a bridge between two buildings that belong to the Anker Insurance Company. The clock itself is adorned with mosaic ornaments.

There is a special process occurring at noon: when the hour changes, all the figures appear in some sort of a procession, not only one as it happens at all the other hours; therefore you can actually enjoy all the characters. I must say that this is a show that catches the attention of many tourists – many of them either filming or taking pictures.

When we got there, we arrived too soon – so we had enough time to enjoy a nice ice cream and a piece of cake – a little bit down the street to a terrace. 5 minutes before the noon we got back to the clock for the show.

The German names of the figures are: Marc Aurel (1 Uhr), Karl der Große (2 Uhr), Leopold VI. (3) Walther von der Vogelweide (4), Rudolf I. und seine Gattin Anna (5), Hans Puchsbaum (6), Maximilian I. (7), Johann Andreas von Liebenberg (8), Ernst Rüdiger Graf Starhemberg (9), Prinz Eugen (10), Maria Theresia, Franz Stephan von Lothringen (11) and Joseph Haydn (12). You can see a German explanation for the clock here.

It’s an interesting experience – so if you have a little bit of time I recommend you to go see the figures. “The Anchor Clock was built between 1911 and 1917 after the plans of the painter Franz von Matsch. It is situated on the oldest square of Vienna ‘Hoher Markt’ and represents a typical Art Nouveau design.” (source) Ankeruhr is located in Hoher Market. I liked the show – and if you’re in Vienna I recommend it to you!