We ventured onto the sub way today, or the U-Bahn ( pronounced Ooh) and headed down to Karlsplatz. The morning's goal was Schloss Belvededere, home to the main Klimt exhibition (this summer, there are many exhibitions on to mark 150th birthday of Gustav Klimt).
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| Taking a tram is much easier! |
Schloss Belvedere is located near Sud Bahnhof and there are trams that go there. We decided to walk however and I had forgotten it was one big hill that we had to climb!
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| Schloss Belvedere |
We walked along the road, uphill as the heat of the sun followed us. We have been lucky to enjoy warm summer days here this August.
Schloss Belvedere is A small and lovely castle in two parts, upper and lower. There are some nice waterfalls and statues to see, nit to mention the exhibitions inside. This summer, you need to brave the crowds, but on a regular day/ year, there is no problem getting in and around to see everything.
We walked through the back streets and found ourselves near the Ring street and, quite unexpectedly hit the Naschmarkt (the flea Market). There are some great coffee shops and bars surrounding the markets ( some the same from over a decade ago), many new. They a refurbishing the whole area and sorting out the plumbing to make the Market not just permanent, but healthy too!
What left me salivating were the fruit and vegetable stalls and the stuffed olives!!
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| The Secession (and some cars) |
Back towards the Ring street, we saw the Secession and popped inside the shop (always the best part of most museums!). We collected a few books and posters and then decided to pop into see the Frieze.
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| Exhibition leaflet |
Beethovan's Frieze, by Klimt is something I have never seen before and as part of the 150 celebrations, they have created a platform for visitors to view up close and personal. It was an experience that really moved me. In all my time in Vienna, I had never seen it, so to be able to do so up close, was unique. It is Klimt's presentation of Richard Wagner's interpretation of Beethovan's 9th symphony.
The details within the frieze are stunning, from pearl eyes of the evil monster to hidden ghosts in the faces of the people. (I was mesmerised by middle and apparent evil section of it where the hostile forces take over!)
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| Choir of angels (poster) |
From the Ring street, we wondered over to the shopping street of Maria Hilfer Strasse. By this point, we were already knackered, but we pushed through to check out the fashions.
Then through the seventh district, we walked on to find a restaurant highly recommended by a friend. Sadly, when we did discover it, we couldn't eat there as they specialised in Veal (Wiener Schnitzel is more often than not served with chicken, unless otherwise stated....here it was a rare case of it being stated) and there was literally nothing vegetarian on the menu! Luckily we could still enjoy some wine....(Gaswirtschaftschilling - for the record, the food looked pretty damn good!)
Burggasse also proved to be a great shopping street, but as everything was shut, we have vowed to return tomorrow!
We basically travelled on foot from Karlskirche through to Schloss Belvedere and then back to the Ring street and up to Burggasse. For the record, it wasn't a painful route. I am not good with bearings, but my husband was on it and was able to navigate us back through the city. We had bought a travel pass for the day (around 6 euros, equating to three journies on the tram or metro, but we were hard pushed to use just 4 euros worth...just goes to show how small Vienna is if you walk around, plus it is well worth it! There are also electronic bikes available for hire in many places...
For the record, it wasn't a painful route. I am not good with bearings, but my husband was on it and was able to navigate us back through the city. We had bought a travel pass for the day (around 6 euros, equating to three journeys on the tram or metro, but we were hard pushed to use just 4 euros worth...just goes to show how small Vienna is if you walk around, plus it is well worth it! There are also electronic bikes available for hire in many places...
We stumbled across an amazing recycled shop with bags, stools, even jewellery, all made from disused products! I was in my element!
We also came across an amazing restaurant with the best spinach pancakes I have ever tucked into! So, while it was a long and tiring day for the feet, it was stimulating for the brain as well as the belly!
Sweet dreams tonight, Vienna!
to ...tram life (got to be a geek, like me!)
to good food (not one single meal was under par!)
