Vienna: Thursday August 25
ORIGINAL PLAN:
Today we tour the Austrian capital of Vienna. Ride along the Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century. See some of the city’s baroque architecture, including the world-famous Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Return to your ship for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to further explore. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Alternately, you may choose to join an optional excursion to see the famed Lipizzaner Stallions; or, express your creativity and create a lasting keepsake at an optional art workshop inspired by the work of Gustav Klimt. After dinner, relax or enjoy an optional classical concert. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
See the magnificent architectural highlights of one of Europe’s most elegant and romantic cultural capitals. The center of arts and intellect during the reign of the Hapsburgs and beyond, Vienna dances to a tempo all its own. Meet your guide and drive into the city for a half-day motor coach and walking tour, focusing on the splendid buildings on the remarkable Ringstrasse, the gracious boulevard laid out on the site of the old city walls in the mid-19th century. Imposing palaces, elegant public buildings and grand residences line this world-famous avenue. You will see the magnificent Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Hapsburgs and home of the Spanish Riding School with its Lipizzaner horses. Admire the great, Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, crowned with a gleaming spire and colorful roof tiles. And view the beautiful Vienna State Opera concert hall, its facade adorned with elaborate frescoes depicting Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute.
* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
9:00 am to 12:30 pm: Panoramic Vienna (Viking included, Jim & Barbara reserved)
Tram is better than hop on hop off at 1.50 euros for senior citizens
The classical music never stops in Vienna, as you will hear firsthand during this special concert. Even the elegant architecture along the famed Ringstrasse seems to sing. On a daily basis, the city celebrates its long musical tradition with concerts in high-style venues. The Vienna Residence Orchestra is one of its most beloved institutions. Despite its young age (it was founded in 1989), it has hosted luminaries in the classical music world; Rudolf Nureyev was a guest director in 1992. During this special performance, you are sure to lose yourself in the lilting airs of Vienna’s most beloved music. In a historic venue, witness the period come to life as costumed singers and dancers take to the stage. And enjoy the beautiful strains of Strauss waltzes and selections from Mozart’s The Magic Flute—music that has defined this magical city. Then, the magic continues during a scenic drive after dark through an illuminated Vienna.
* Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm: Mozart and Straus Concert (Viking paid, Jim & Barbara)
Zoe: The stop in Vienna, I went to a memorable Strauss concert in the evening. The city tour of Vienna is a must since there are so many historical sites.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
An overview for the day with special insights was in the Viking Daily.
We started the morning with a bus trip to central Vienna where our guide announced the names of a blur of monuments and buildings as we made our way through Vienna traffic. We were on the Ringstrasse, a circular boulevard that replaced the former walls of Vienna. It was a dizzying experience. We had never seen so many monuments in one city and couldn't absorb it all in one ride. It was like someone from Ireland touring Washington DC for the first time. Eventually, we were dropped off in the middle of the Ringstrasse with a guide who would provide commentary about the buildings and lead us to the shopping district and other nearby sites.
Some of the buildings and monuments:
Parliament Building; City Hall
Hofburg Palace; Imperial Palace
Our guide added some humor to the tour with a lighthearted introduction and then pretending to wear an imperial crown:
More buildings:
Vienna Opera House; Art Museum
Now our guide led us into a plaza and shopping area. It was amazing to see a monument to the Trinity in the plaza buzzing with locals and tourists:
The plaque acknowledges God as Father and Creator
It was a short walk from God to mammon as we passed jewelry and fashion stores, chocolate shops and bakeries:
Once past the shopping district, our guide took us by the Spanish Riding School, home of the famous Lipizzaners and their riders. I snapped a picture of the training area and one of the Lipizzaners in its stall.
Soon after, we were on our own to tour St. Stephens Cathedral. Barbara and I paid a few Euros for close up opportunities which afforded us some great shots:
St. Stephen's mosaic roof; painting of St. Stephen's stoning (main altar)
central nave; pipe organ and rear window
Frederick III's tomb
pulpit; baptistry where Mozart's children were baptized;
followed by side altars, statues and paintings:
We returned later that evening for a special excursion, the Mozart and Straus Concert, performed by The Vienna Residence Orchestra at Palais Auersperg:
The chamber orchestra combined its talents with soloists and dancers with amazing skill:
The three hour program included pieces beyond the Mozart and Straus billing:
I have included biographies of:
Violin soloist, Gerlinde Sonnleiter:
Soprano, Marlene Gerber:
and flautist, Constantin-Talmaciu:
It was the perfect ending for our first day in Vienna.
