Munich to Vienna December 2019
We arrived to Vienna in the early evening. Vienna was glowing with Christmas lights everywhere!
Our Pension Nossek was located in the heart of Stephanplatz, a pedestrian mall. Another ideal location! It isn't a typical hotel property. It is located in an office building and occupies the top few floors of the building.
Tonight's agenda was meeting our local guide, Gerhard, getting acquainted with our neighborhood and having a great deal of free time enjoying the evening in Vienna.
The City Center is transformed into a huge ice skating complex of small rinks and ice trails through the trees. I had brought my skates for this moment and had a great time skating through City Center grounds. I filmed this while I was skating. Come join me for a spin around the Wiener Eistraum!
Saturday, our last full day of this fabulous tour. It was a drizzly day, but the weather added to the noir vibe of what we were about to experience-- a trip to "The Third Man" museum. I was not familiar with "the Third Man" movie, but quickly got up to speed on this film considered to be a masterpiece of film noir. The movie depicts post war Vienna.
Rolinka got us familiar with the efficient and clean public transportation. A brief shortcut through the Naschmarkt and we arrived to the museum.
It turns out our tour guide, Gerhard and a partner created this amazing collection of pre and post war ephemera and artifacts. It captures a part of WWII from the perspective of people dealing with a "now what?" situation after the war. Another amazing experience we would never have found on our own.
Leaving the museum, we hopped on a city bus and headed to the Imperial Apartments and Treasury of the Hofburg Palace.
A snack of Sacher Torte and Coffee at the Spanish Riding School’s café provided a much needed caffeine and energy boost! We couldn’t leave Vienna without having the famous Sacher Torte.
The Treasury was filled with priceless jewels, religious artifacts and history of the Habsburg Dynasty. We were permitted to take no flash pictures in the Treasury but no pictures were allowed in the ornately appointed apartments of the last emperor Karl Joseph and his wife, Sissi, who is compared to Princess Di. We learned more of the history and political strategy used by Empress Maria Theresa. (Marie Antoinette’s mom).
Here are scenes from our morning experience in Vienna.
The afternoon was left for exploring Vienna on our own. A luxury grocery store was right around the corner from the Pension Nossek. Wow! Free samples of Campari greeted us when we walked in. A marvelous store, with a café by the window, allowed us to watch the world go by as we sipped our drinks—Holiday shoppers, families, friends all enjoying the energy of the main shopping area of Vienna.
One thing I enjoyed about Europe are the small, fine stores that capture beauty, tradition and allowing one to enjoy the niceties of life. Whether it’s a cup of coffee or a luxury can of caviar, people take time to enjoy their life and connections to friends and family.
After congregating at a Glühwein stand directly outside the Pension Nossek, we headed to our farewell dinner.
Rolinka had another surprise for us, a guest appearance from Cornelia Mayer—Austria’s best known Zither player. She is renowned for creating the Anton Karas sound that was used in the “The Third Man” movie. Another treat of a traditional Viennese restaurant and being entertained by Cornelia.
Truly an amazing experience!!
We said our goodbye’s to fellow tour members we hope to see again on another tour. What a fun group. What a great time we had going from Munich to Vienna.
