Vienna Travels

October 21, 2019March 18, 2020 ~ Vincent Mars ~ 5 Comments

Earlier this month, I had the good fortune to spend a few days in one of the world’s enchanted cities – Vienna.

Palaces, museums, cafes, parks, cobbled streets, pleasant people, classic music – what does Vienna not have?

Food options for a vegetarian, perhaps.

Austrian cuisine may be limiting in this regard, but then in a cosmopolitan city like Vienna there are plenty of alternatives to the meaty Austrian diet.

And then there’s always the strudel to compensate, to say nothing of the Sachertorte.

Here are some memories from my wanderings…

On the first day, I wandered around the Inner Stadt…

….and climbed all the 343 steps to the top of the Stephansdom tower…

At the cafe Hawelka, I ate my first vegetarian strudel.

Griechenbeisl, the oldest restaurant in Vienna

There’s a lot to do and see around the Hofburg, and the Imperial Treasury collection is worth your time. You can find there a unicorn horn (ahem, a narwhaal tusk mistaken for one.)

On the second day, I went to Schönbrunn.

The Schonbrunn seen from behind the fountain

I sipped some tea at the Gloriette Café and sat awhile in hot glasshouse, surrounded by greenery.

I then headed off to the art museum to see Bruegel’s paintings and other masterpieces.

On the third day, after a stop at Gerstner, I went to the Belvedere and Prater.

Monument to the Sovient Soldier in Vienna

No visit to the Prater is complete without a ride in the city’ iconic Ferris Wheel.

At night, you can see the stars from up there, and be a little closer to them than usual…

A Postcard from Peles

December 29, 2017December 29, 2017 ~ Vincent Mars ~ 5 Comments

It’s that time of the year when I visit castles. At Peles, they have everything – a retractable glass roof, a playhouse, a Moorish saloon, a Turkish parlor, a 19th-century heating system that’s so good they never had to clean it, and the first modern toilets in the world.

Together with Bran, Peles is one of the best places to visit in Romania. But be ready for a queue at the entrance. Many people are coming here, especially after the death of King Michael.

Within walking distance, you’ll find Pelisor, a more intimate summer castle. Don’t skip it. Inside you’ll find a queen’s own art creations, combining Celtic and oriental motifs. And her heart in a box.

Romania isn’t only beautiful – it can also be refined, even luxurious. But you have to look in the right places, and not be easily put off by appearances.

The wooded slopes guarding the castle make for a spectacular setting. I felt a little sorry for leaving this statue there alone, though. Wish I could have taken her by the hand and brought her home to meet my mother.