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Old Posted Jul 29, 2011, 9:07 PM
aspiringArchitect aspiringArchitect is offline
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Vienna, the stunning capital of Austria - aspArchi's euroTour'11

After Prague, we took the five hour train ride to the grand capital of Austria, Vienna, or Wien as its called in German. Vienna was my favorite of all the cities we visited in our two week stint around Europe. It was the most over-the-top place i'd ever seen, with just one extravagant old building after the next. There was tons of stuff to see and do, far too much than we had time for in the mere two days we were there. Vienna is definitely a city I would like to return to.

One final note, I just got a Macbook Pro and so I've been able to have some fun editing my pictures. So this thread will be slightly different from my others!

1 We'll start off at a place not very well known by tourists - a very large "market" just outside of downtown - where everything and anything is sold. From scented candles to fudge and fast food to elegant sit down restaurants, this place had it all. It was pretty awesome! Also, as this was the very first place we visited, it also gives you a good idea of the elegance that awaits just a short 5 minute walk to the other side of the ring road surrounding downtown...

2

3 It was a busy place!

4

5 On the "other" side of the ring road, in downtown

6 In this city known around the world for its classical music, a nice opera house is a necessity. We'll see more of it later...

7

8 I don't know what this was, but it had a cool rooftop restaurant or something. (Hence that large grey thing jutting to from the top)

9

10

11 Just one of many quaint little side streets running through downtown.

12 The Austrian National Library in the middle...

13 The Prunksaal, or "Splendid Hall" of the library. Photos don't do this place justice. It was incredible.

14 These murals are awesome

15

16 And to think, it only took TWO years to complete!

17

18

19 Walking through the massive government complex. (This is only a small part)

20

21

22

23

24 On our way to the Rathaus (city hall).

25

26 This is the main national library, where people can actually go to read and check out books. The Prunksaal is basically just for show nowadays.

27

28

29

30 I'm pretty sure this is the Austrian Parliament, with the spire of the Rathaus behind it.

31 Next to the Parliament building:

32

33 Inside the Volksgarten, or People's Garden, just behind where I was standing to take that last picture:

34

35 Getting closer!

36

37 The only two buildings I saw in the city that were built in this style, and they are right next to each other

38 That is a big museum in the background

39

40 If I were a millionaire, I would for sure live in one of these...

41 ...or these

42 Here we are, the Rathaus!

43 They were setting up for a big film fest set to start the next day. For any big film fest, you need a big tv:

44

45 This city was built to impress

46

47 Fancy condos / apartments around the Rathaus

48

49 Another theater, facing the Rathaus

50

51

52 Um, I actually don't know what this building is.

53 A large upscale shopping street, right next to...

54 ...the Opera House (again)! We took a 40 minute tour of the building the next day. We were impressed...

56 Little did I know, but Vienna was actually bombed during the war. One would never know from walking around the civic center, but the city was actually (according to Wikipedia) bombed a total of 52 times during the war resulting in 20% of the inner city being destroyed. The Opera House was partially destroyed and was later rebuilt in a simpler style. This is the original grand staircase, which was fortunately spared by the bombs:

57 This is one of several intermission rooms. This one was not destroyed...

58 ...

59 ...while this one was, apparently. It was rebuilt in a modern style in the '50s. It is still pretty nice though, I think.

60 This was the emperor's own *private* intermission room. Today it can be rented out for some really high price.

61

62 The seating area / stage was destroyed and was rebuilt in a simpler style.

63 We left the opera house and went to our hotel for a little bit, which was outside of downtown on the other side of the ring road. An area less glamorous but still very nice:

64 This was the street our hotel was on. This is what the average street looked like in the area:

65 The view from our room:

66 After a short pitstop at the hotel, we head back downtown...

67 We go out of our way i little to see the Church of St Charles...

68 ... thar 'tis:

69 It was completed in 1737

70 The hectic streets of downtown Vienna on a warm summer Saturday afternoon:

71 some magicians

72 St. Stephen's Cathedral, the most visible landmark downtown. Unfortunately, we couldn't go inside. It was also impossible to get a picture of the whole thing especially with all the people around.

73 That's part of the church on the left:

74 An interesting tidbit of history, from [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen's_Cathedral,_Vienna"]Wikipedia[/URL (because i'm too lazy to sum it up myself)]: During World War II, St. Stephen's Cathedral was saved from intentional destruction at the hands of retreating German forces when Captain Gerhard Klinkicht disregarded orders from the city commandant, Sepp Dietrich, to "fire a hundred shells and leave it in just debris and ashes." On 12 April 1945, however, fires from nearby shops—started by civilian plunderers as Russian troops entered the city—were carried to the cathedral by wind, severely damaging the roof and causing it to collapse. Fortunately, protective brick shells built around the pulpit, Frederick III's tomb, and other treasures, minimized damage to the most valuable artworks. The beautifully carved 1487 Rollinger choir stalls, however, could not be saved. Rebuilding began immediately, with a limited reopening on 12 December 1948 and a full reopening on 23 April 1952.

75 Around the church:

76 Just walking around

77

78 enjoying the solitude away from the masses

79

80

81 An exceptional name for a coffee shop:

82 Area around the Stadtpark (city park):

83

84

85 I don't know what this building is

86

87

88

89

90

91 Back into the masses:

92

93

94 St. Peter's Church

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100 Going back to our hotel again, a small art museum:

101

102 More views from our room:

103

104 To finish off, we'll take a 15 minute ride on the U-Bahn to Schoenbrunn, the beautiful imperial palace / gardens:

105 The palace is about a 5 minute walk from the U-Bahn station. This is the backside of it:

106

107

108 On our way up the hill...

109 ...we see this fountain with, what is that in the corner? A duck ramp! I thought that was cute.

110

111 About halfway up the hill:

112

113 Here we are!

114

115

116

117 Back in the palace gardens, GIANT hedges:

118

119

120

121 That's Vienna.


Next up - Salzburg!

Hamburg, Part 1
Hamburg, Part 2
Lübeck
Berlin
Dresden
Prague
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  #2  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2011, 9:42 PM
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Most definitely an incredibly beautiful city!
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Old Posted Jul 29, 2011, 9:51 PM
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Wow stunning!! Thanks for sharing with us!!!
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  #4  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2011, 9:54 PM
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A beautiful city and it appears to be very liveable, but it seemed to me as a tourist that the locals bent over backwards to be as unhelpful and unfriendly as possible which wasn't my experience in any German cities.
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Old Posted Jul 29, 2011, 10:22 PM
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Those Hapsburgs knew how to build 'em.
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Old Posted Jul 30, 2011, 2:42 AM
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Great photos, Vienna has such elegant architecture!
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Old Posted Jul 30, 2011, 4:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimby View Post
A beautiful city and it appears to be very liveable, but it seemed to me as a tourist that the locals bent over backwards to be as unhelpful and unfriendly as possible which wasn't my experience in any German cities.
Maybe it's just because I was always being escorted by extended family members while in Vienna, but I have always had the opposite experience while in the city. Austrians have always been nothing but polite and inviting during my visits. In fact, I commonly contrast the culture with the Parisians and their snobby anti-tourist attitude when discussing Austrian/German culture with my friends.
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Old Posted Jul 30, 2011, 6:00 PM
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What a grand, opulent city! We sure don't build 'em like that anymore. I love all of the excessively-detailed buildings, along with their historical profiles. Thanks!
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Old Posted Jul 30, 2011, 10:26 PM
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Thanks for the comments, guys!

Jimby, I have to agree with mr1138 - Aside from some hobo at the market, I can't really think of any instances in which someone was especially rude or bothersome to us. Everyone seemed very nice and helpful. But then again we didn't talk with too many people while we were there, as we were only there for a couple of days. I will agree with you about the Germans, though - they seemed especially nice and helpful!
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Old Posted Jul 31, 2011, 1:20 AM
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Stunning is the correct description!
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Old Posted Jul 31, 2011, 6:07 AM
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'This city was built to impress." Ummmm yeah...you're not kidding! Paris, eat your heart out!
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  #12  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2011, 11:44 AM
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This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which makes sence since the Hapsburg Empire was one of the wealthiest and this was its jewel.

I read a book about the Congress of Vienna, and the delegates from Europe's capitals were all struck by its grandeur.

PS: You have a great eye for MILFS. She's delicious. I like the photo of her bending over.


Last edited by RobertWalpole; Jul 31, 2011 at 12:13 PM.
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Old Posted Jul 31, 2011, 10:15 PM
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^^^
Haha, hmm well thats not exactly what I was aiming for with that pic but thanks, I guess?
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Old Posted Aug 1, 2011, 9:27 PM
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Awesome!!!
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Old Posted Aug 2, 2011, 3:43 AM
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the only problem i have after taking in such an enjoyable thread is WHOSE WALTZ TO LISTEN TO.
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Old Posted Nov 11, 2017, 7:56 PM
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beautiful city.
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Old Posted Nov 11, 2017, 8:27 PM
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Vienna is so grand and gorgeous it's almost comical. Thanks for sharing!
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Old Posted Nov 30, 2017, 3:02 PM
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I did Vienna a second time, properly last year. I was blown away this time by street after street after street of huge ornate buildings in a wall, every one like a unique, glittering palace festooned in statuary. It's true what Bill Bryson said about the place, aliens would think it the capital of the world. It's just jawdropping, even coming from London.

And don't take the Viennese attitude personally, who are renowned for being super grumpy (their motto is 'everything's sh!t') to everyone, ever, despite living in the world's most livable city, bless em.
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Old Posted Nov 30, 2017, 4:00 PM
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it makes me want to eat crumbly cake and sip coffee on a snow day but these jason bourne-y street-disruptions keep going through my head when i see vienna.

but yes, it's an absolute stunner. may be my favorite european city from just the built form/aesthetic perspective.
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  #20  
Old Posted Nov 30, 2017, 4:08 PM
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Who can cook an apple strudel properly on here!? Warning you, the dough is tricky to prepare.

That's our twin. It needs to be added to Rome and Paris to the mankind legend.
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