One Month Later

Ok, so I wrote this on January 22nd and some of you may have read it on Facebook but it took me a lot longer to get it posted here.....so I guess I could really have called this 2 months later.

Thursday, January 22, 2009
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

Well I have been home from my trip for a month now. Managed to spend a Christmas at home with my family (some of them anyways) for the first time since 2005. I got my backpack un-packed just in time to re-pack a bunch of boxes, watch them get loaded on a truck and move into Auntie Faye and Uncle Andy’s basement in Vernon. I am still looking for a job back in the US and the foggy weather seems to be permanently stuck in the Okanagan Valley so I have had some time to reflect on my little journey.

Here are the numbers:

94 days
9 Countries…….10 if you count Vatican City
175 Postcards sent
Well over 33,000 kilometres (around 20,500 miles) travelled
2 major protests
1 football (soccer) riot
No injuries
1 bout of food poisoning
2 new pairs of great boots
1 really cute new leather jacket
1 great new attitude
A whole bunch of new friends
More memories than 1 lifetime can handle

The highlights: well there were a lot but here are a few that stick out in my mind right now (in no particular order):

1) Egypt…yeah pretty much the entire country. It was my dream, it was a dream come true and there is nothing that I did or I think will ever do that will compare.

2) The US Army boys in Sharm-el Sheikh. Yes, Kevin (aka: Hillbilly), Trevor, Michael, the other Kevin and of course Zach have to get a mention. They’re great dancers. 3 months and 9 countries and you were by far my favourite group of random guys to run into. Trust me…it wasn’t even close.

3) Getting married in Turkey…or something like that. Who knew eh Paul? Plus this is so unlike me. As Crystal can confirm I normally only get engaged (not married) while on vacation…….and I normally prefer guys who don’t speak English.

4) Skiing in Austria. I have spent a large portion of my life just a short drive from some of the best skiing in the world but it is my 4 hours in Gerlos that I will always consider the best skiing of my life…..probably just because it was in Austria.

5) Wading through calf deep water in Piazza San Marco in Venice while people looked at me funny. The more they watched though the more they realized that it was a much faster way to get around during high water season.

6) Nafplio: Who knew I would have to climb 1000 stairs to the top of a mountain in Greece to find peace on earth.

7) Getting lost in Rome and Florence and Istanbul and…..well you get the point. It has been said before that sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself……and really good restaurants.

8) Finally meeting the cousin-in-law in Prague. I had a lot of fun hanging out with Graeme for the day. So glad all the stories I had heard were not exaggerations. I could have done without holding up a convenience store but it all worked out so whatever. Plus I also got to meet Julia and Nick and a few others and I think the pictures speak for themselves.

9) Almost throwing up and passing out due to vertigo at Aspendos Theatre in Turkey and the Eiffel Tower. Totally sucked but trust me it didn’t stop me from climbing up every random set of stairs I could find to get a great view.

10) Travelling around Turkey in a 12 passenger van with a bunch of complete strangers. Great to know that I can now call Winston, Paul, Liezel, Ed, Sam, Eva, Reshmi, Monica, Ergun and Ekrem friends.

Most annoying thing I encountered…fake Canadians. I actually had someone ask if I was actually from Canada (I had Canadian flags hanging from pretty much everything) because it turns out a lot of Americans will travel around, wearing a Canadian flag, pretending they are Canadian….because they know they will get treated better. I think we all knew it happened and now I can officially confirm it.

So now that I am home, where am I? The smartass answer is Vernon. Yeah, I’ve moved but I can honestly say I am in the exact same place I was before I left just a few pounds lighter, a little more self-confident, with a few less dollars (ok with a lot less dollars) and with something that resembles an actual plan for my future. The ideas have always been there and remain unchanged. Now I just need to put the plan into motion. Big questions have been answered…little ones have somehow appeared and who actually knows what tomorrow will bring. The fun part is….I still don’t know.

Julie

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Saturday, December 13, 2008
Travel from Gerlos, Austria to Zurich, Switzerland

Ahhhhh Austria......so pretty.

Well thanks to Isi (again) had my travel for the day pretty much planned out when I woke up. We both agreed that a bus down the mountain much before 1000 was too early so I planned to catch the 1005 bus. Of course Isi had to feed me first and I managed to take one picture of her (which I promised I would not post here so sorry I cannot share it), before getting packed up and climbing on the bus. The bus was much less crowded than when I came up as it was Saturday morning so no school kids and apparently only I was dumb enough to be up that early. Anyway, it takes about 30 minutes to get down the hill and then I had to wait about 10 minutes to catch the good old Zillertalbahn back to Jenbach. Basically I did my trip up to Gerlos in reverse.

The hill I could see from the train station in Zell am Ziller.

Anyway, my train to Zurich was about 10 minutes late (arriving in Jenbach.....which is normal for this particular route I have learned) but once it arrived I found myself a nice empty seat in business first class and was eventually joined by one other lady and then it was just the 2 of us for the rest of the ride. I was once again prepared to pay the extra 15 euros but once again they chose not to charge me so yeah. I did get a couple funny looks though when I was asking which way to the first class cars as it seems most people carrying giant backpacks don’t sit first class but hey it’s me and I have to travel like me.

Not sure if this is Austria or Switzerland but it is some snow covered country side flying by very quickly.

I don't know where this is either but it was pretty.

Anyway, the trip to Zurich was uneventful but absolutely beautiful. Switzerland really is postcard perfect. The snow and the mountains and the random little towns and churches and animals and people and well just about everything. I could get lost here and not even care…except eventually it would get cold and I would want some chocolate. I did have to find myself a hotel though at some point on the journey as I was staying the night in Zurich. Once again Lonely Planet to the rescue.

Some of the decorations in Zurich. Don't ask me what street this is.....like I know where I was when I took this.

On arrival in Zurich I kind of felt like I was back in the real world. People everywhere and lots of noise. The postcard perfection of the train ride quickly disappeared but it would return a little bit later. I found my way to a hotel decently close to the train station but on a pedestrian street so relatively quiet and at an ok price. It is a little annoying that Switzerland has it own currency as I was hoping that I would not have to change money again on this trip….especially since I would only be in the country for a couple days, but the exchange rate is pretty on par to the Canadian dollar so whatever.

One of the bridges in Zurich and St. Peter Kirche.

Once I got settled into the hotel I headed out for a walk to see a bit of Zurich. Yes, there are a lot of watch stores and banks and all the Swiss stuff you would expect. Of course I will not be doing any shopping here until Monday as the stores were closed tonight and will be closed tomorrow but I will get to spend some money soon enough. Anyway, back to my walk. I encountered a very interesting thing. At 1900 (7pm) the church bells started ringing and it seemed I was in the middle of about 4 sets of them and they were echoing off each other and the buildings and the water and everything and it was loud and it was a little eerie. You could tell who the tourists were because we were all looking around trying to figure out what was going on. It was very neat.

Grossmunster Kirche....one of those bell ringing churches.

I then wandered the streets for a bit because that is what I do best and I actually did not get lost…although I might not have completely been on the track that I planned on being on. I also had to stop to make a phone call because today is of course Dad’s 60th birthday. Ok that phone call went on mom and dad’s calling card but whatever. I still have to buy him a present but I have time. With the house for sale and the upcoming move of course there was no great big party but there will be for 65 so mark your calendars now.

I'm not sure what either of these buildings are but I had to share some of what I saw in Zurich.

Anyway, after a nice walk through Old Town Zurich, I stopped to have some dinner and found some great Monipulciano wine. If the name sounds familiar it is because I was in that region in Italy just a bit ago. Brought back some great Italian memories.

A little video of those church bells.

Today was an early night as I have a lot planned tomorrow. Tomorrow the destination is Geneva but there will be a few stops along the way. It should be fun.

Julie

Some Beer, Some Skiing and the Town on a Mountain

Wednesday, December 10 to Friday, December 12, 2008
Travel from Salzburg to Gerlos and around Gerlos, Austria

Well, Wednesday I got up and was attempting to run on a perfect schedule. Isabell had given me perfect directions as to how to get to Gerlos including all the train and bus connections, so I just needed to make sure I was at the right place at the right time. My first train left at 1031 from Salzburg to a place called Jenbach. 1031 is actually a pretty decent time to leave so I was not even concerned about getting up. I even had time for breakfast in the morning…..which was included in my room cost so I made sure I took that up both mornings.

Anyway, made it to the train station in plenty of time to make my train and then I just had to make sure I got off the train at the right place. Zurich was the train's final destination but I needed to be off a while before that. I found myself a nice giant empty table in first class and pulled out my computer. I decided that I would avoid sleeping because there was a chance I would then miss my stop. Of course the train was originally going to be 15 minutes late (which made me a little worried) but it was actually only 7 minutes late so it was ok.

So I got off a Jenbach and had about 12 minutes to catch my next train connection. Isi told me to take the 1222 Zillertalbahn to Zell am Ziller. I know, that meant nothing to me either so I was hoping someone could help me. A nice lady directed me to the correct track and then I confirmed once again when I got there that this was in fact the correct train to get me to Zell am Ziller. Now let me tell you the Zillertalbahn is not the first class, fast trains I have been taking throughout Europe. This was more of an creaky, slow, rickety old thing…..but it got us there and that is all that counts and I got to see more of Austria fly by (well ok........ move by very slowly).

A little bit more of Austria. No sunshine today...but that's ok.

From Zell am Ziller I then had to take a bus up the mountain to Gerlos. Now I told the bus driver where I was going (the bus stop at Milchbar) but he misunderstood, (it happens) and I was trying to watch for it but somehow missed it (it is literally on the main road so not sure how that happened) so I went flying by it until we got to the last stop and the bus driver told me I had to get off. So at this point I was a little worried but I found a nice guy who spoke English who told me how to get back to Milchbar. It was a quick 5 minute walk so even with my pack and the snow it was no problem. Isi, in the meantime was busy at the restaurant but did see the bus go by and me not get off so she kind of thought I missed the bus but no I had just gotten slightly lost….but only a little lost which is actually really good for me. And the fact the Gerlos I only really one road certainly helps.

Looking down Gerlos' main street.....well really Gerlos' only street. Really does make it easy to get around.

Anyway, Isi and I found each other and we made our way to her place. She quickly went back to work and I took a nap. I was told I was getting to town just in time for Mathias’ (Isi’s boyfriend) birthday celebration and since Isi owns a bar (as well as a restaurant and a pension with her sister and mother) we would be celebrating there. First though I had to be introduced to some more Austrian beer (there may have been a little too much of it) some Austrian game (and I mean like deer or reindeer or a deer of some sort…it was good), Austrian Schnapps (it was also good but I did not have as much as Debi apparently did last time she was in Gerlos….oh yes I heard stories) and some of Mathias’ Austrian friends (yeah, for Austrian friends). The boys taught me how to order beer in German and attempted to teach me the longest German word I had ever seen (it basically meant something along the line of a pork chop but not what most of us would know as a pork chop....or something like that). Trust me after a few beers I thought I could say it but I odds are I could not. I am still practicing and I am sure by the time I get home I will have it.

Anyway, after dinner it was off to Cheers (yes, that is the name of Isi’s bar) for more beer and some more schnapps and eventually some jaggermeister (I blame Phil for that) and some water…yes there was some water. Eventually there was some dancing (I think) Mathias made a pretend phone call to Debi (he does not remember that), Mathias fell asleep in the bar (he remembers that) and eventually we all went home.

This is Mathias. I must have taken this picture early because he is still awake.

The next day (Thursday the 11th if you are keeping track) the plan was to head out skiing…however by the time I rolled out of bed I figured I would wait a day. Ok I was not feeling that great and I had not skied in 10 or 11 years so I decided some walking would be much better.

Some of the sights I found around Gerlos. So pretty.

So I headed out to explore Gerlos and around. Isi told me where I could find some nice trails so I headed that way. I ended up walking for a while until I decided I needed to sit in a snow bank to take a picture….and that made me cold.

Yes, I am playing in the snow. This is the most snow I have seen in a couple winters so even though it was cold I had a little fun too.

So I headed back towards Milchbar, but not before I laid down in a snow trench to take a picture…..and that made me cold, so I walked a bit more and then headed to Milchbar. Isi then fed me, and gave me hot chocolate (well actually Mathias got that for me) and then I was warm.

Hiking around Gerlos.

It was so nice.

I think I spent the rest of the day napping and then I eventually went to Cheers for a beer and then Isi took me home and fed me more food (she was trying to fatten me up I think). But it was all so good. And then I went to sleep. I love vacations. What a perfect day.

And Friday rolled around and I decided I was hitting the slopes. Now as I mentioned before I had not skied in about 10 years, although I figured it would be ok. First though I had to try to fit my not so little body into Isi’s very little snow gear. I did it though and it kept me nice and warm. Isi then fed me lunch. Friday was the first real day for the season in Gerlos so there were a lot more people in town and the restaurant was officially open to the public. Once I ate lunch it was down to rent some ski equipment. I have to say it felt a lot better than I thought it would. Then up the hill. You have to take the gondola up to the actual hill and maybe I have just been gone from ski hills for so long but you need to swipe an electronic card to gain access to any of the lifts. I guess this keeps people from hiking up the hill and skiing for free. You could totally do it. It is not that far up.

Some more prettiness around Gerlos.

Anyways, once on the hill I was getting a little nervous. There were a lot of people around and I did not know the hill so was not sure which way to head. I had to learn which were the safe runs for me to be on. Over here blue means easy, red means medium and black means hard. I was certainly going to be avoiding the black runs….especially early on. A couple of easy blue runs and then it was off to visit some red runs and some new lifts and eventually a black run and the discovery of a few more lifts. So in all I skied for almost 4 hours. I was about to do one final run just before the lifts closed for the day, but my legs were just starting to burn so thought better of it. So instead I skied down to return my skis and then headed to Milchbar to see Isi…..and of course she fed me food and beer.

And then it was back to Isi’s place for a nap and a shower and to say good-bye to Mathias (he had to head back to Vienna) and then back to Milchbar for dessert and more beer and stuff like that (are you seeing the pattern yet?) and then a conversation with a really drunk old guy (he tried to set himself up with me and then tried to set me up with his slightly younger friend and the guy sitting with them who was closet to my age who just looked completely embarrassed the whole time). I then as introduced to a couple German guys and some how I ended up at Cin-Cin with them (which is a Dutch bar) and a very interesting place I must say. There I met this Scottish guy who was raised in Holland who could not believe that I would leave Amsterdam off my list of places to visit. He just did not understand the time restraint I am working with here and by then I really wanted to ditch the German guys….and the Scottish-Dutch guy and just go to bed. So back to Milchbar to say goodnight to Isi, we quickly checked the train and bus schedules so my travel day would be planned and then I went to bed. I love vacations!!!!

And that was my visit to Gerlos. It was a great couple of days, I had a great time skiing, I met some great Austrians and I cannot thank Isi enough for putting me up for a couple days. Hopefully I will have another chance to visit or better yet, Isi can make her way to Canada (or the US) and I can return the hospitality.

Julie

I like the view from here

Monday, December 8 and Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Travel from Vienna to Salzburg, Austria and around Salzburg

Some of beautiful Austria......love it!!!

Well it was time to put my eurail pass back into service…or more correctly into service for the first time. I had to pull out my Austria/Switzerland/France rail pass for this next part of my journey, get it validated and then hop on board a train. But I made a mistake…not a bad mistake….a good mistake. I sat in not just first class but Business first class. Technically I should have paid an extra 15 euros but they weren’t charging anyone so I just enjoyed the extra leg room and the laptop tables and the plug-ins to charge said laptop all the way to Salzburg. It was a very pleasant 4 hour trip (even with the 35 minute delay). I finally saw some snow. I know, only I would be excited about that but I really want to go skiing in a couple days so I want there to be some snow.

I saw this and all the sterotypes you think of when you think of Austria just came flooding back.

Anyway, I arrived in Salzburg with no plans (once again) so the delay did not bug me. I found a bus from the train station to what they call Old Town, which of course is where pretty much everything is so that is where I stayed. The hotel I stayed at was pretty fun. I picked it after reading the description. It is actually the oldest hotel (building) in the area. It is about 450 years old. But is has been renovated and upgraded on the inside so is now a very modern art hotel….however you can see the age of the building everywhere.

The backstairs at my hotel. They are original.

The ceilings are low, and the rooms are small. The shower floor is slanted and I cannot figure out if it is because the ceiling is so low (and gets lower) or to help with drainage. Either way, it is right in Old Town but has all the modern conveniences so it is perfect for me. The second day I was there I also happened to find a very interesting thing on the second floor which was these little white signs with black writing on them. Why is that interesting, well because written on each sign was a different mental disorder, like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Schizophrenia and agoraphobia and that kind of thing. It seemed out of place and I totally forgot to ask what that was about but the more I thought about it being an art hotel….the more sense it made. I am sure it was someone's art project.

Not just a clever warning. Anyone taller than 5'5" would have hit their head. Lucky for me, I am not that tall.

Anyway, the day of my arrival, once I settled into my new digs, I had to go out and wander around….what else, the Christmas Market. Seems like every town in Austria has one and they are neat and festive so I have to at least wander through. I should be trying some of the hot wine but I am not so sure about that. I am finding it slightly cold in Austria thus far but am adjusting….and trying not to complain as I am sure it is much colder back home.

Some of the Christmas decorations around town. This is Getreidegasse, which is one of the main streets in Old Town Salzburg.

For dinner both nights I found a very odd choice for Austria (or at least I think so). It was called Saran Essbar. The menu had all your Austrian favourites but also included some excellent curry (yeah I found curry in Salzburg). And beer…..of course I found some great Austrian beer.

No joke....this place is for real. I totally wanted to check it out but it was very busy. Apparently the Afro Cafe is a popular place in Salzburg.

Anyway, Tuesday I got up and went to see a couple of things. I decided I would hit up the Festung Hohensalzburg (Hohensalzburg Fortress) since it was up on a hill (and you know how I love to climb up hills and stairs and all that fun stuff).

Looking up at Festung Hohensalzburg. It was a very nice and short 15 minute walk to get up there.

Anyway, the Fortress is said to be the best preserved medieval castle in Europe and is made up of about 50 buildings. Construction probably began around 1077. The function of the Fortress changed many times from a defensive building, to a archbishops' residence and barracks. It held prisoners of war during World War I, it was used as a youth hostel from 1921 to 1933 and illegal members of the Nazi Party were imprisoned here in 1934. It really has had a colourful past and now is visited by millions of tourists each year.

Looking down from my trip up to the fortress. This game seemed very intense as I walked by it.

Some of the walkways in the fortress.

A tour of the Fortress includes a visit to a couple museums including one with all the old instruments of torture which were used until around the 1800’s. No accused person could be sentenced without a confession so things like thumbscrews and neck stretches and the rack were used to induce pain and/or fear of death….and hopefully a confession.

This display was set-up to show soldiers protecting the fortress.

It was in here where I also found the Round Arch Arcade. It was built during the rule of Archbishop Konrad I (1106-1147). It was part of the exterior façade of the building but had been covered during later additions. It was only found in 1998.

I also took a quick tour of the State rooms. Not as grand as some of the State Rooms I have seen but still very neat. The Golden Hall was installed in 1498 by Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach. It would have been used for festivities and gatherings. The area also had a few of the living quarters that would have been used by Archbishop princes and important guests.

It may not look like it but this bathroom was the most modern you would have found in the fortress. That's why it was reserved for the most important people who stayed in the state rooms.

I then joined up with a tour of the Belfry. It was a self audio tour but they control the movement of people through it so I had to travel with a group……..which was actually ok. It was a small area of the Fortress but allowed you up to the highest point in the tower to take pictures. It was also the location where many of the instruments of torture were stored. On the way out of the Belfry you will pass the Salzburg Bull which was is a giant horn which makes noise or sounds or music (depending on who talked to). It was used to send messages to the village below. The noise comes from the sound it makes.

The great view.......love it!!!

Yes it was a little cold.....but a really great time.

This cable car has been at the fortress for hundreds of years.

It was and still is used to get supplies from the bottom of the hill, to the top. Much easier than having to carry it and it is not a very easy place to get to by car.

Once I left the Fortress I walked down the hill the Nonnberg Abbey and the Church at the Abbey. Why is this Abbey important? Come on people.....a convent…in Salzburg. No….nothing? This of course is the place where we first meet Maria….in the Sound of Music. Can’t you just hear Julie Andrews singing now? Well I can.

Just around this corner you will find the Abbey.

Inside Nonnberg Church.

Salzburg is also a very important musical spot because it is of course the birthplace of Mozart. I did visit the house where he was born on January 27, 1756. He was born Johannes Chrysostmus Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart on the 3rd floor of the 12th century house that now stands at Getreidegasse 9 (which is the street where you will find all the high end stores….and my hotel). The family lived here for 26 years.

I could not take any pictures inside but there are many items from his travels and his years of composing as well original photos of his family and that kind of thing. The museum has been designed by an artist so there is a concept to each room that connects to a different aspect of his life. It is a neat little place. A highlight...the piano that Mozart composed The Magic Flute on is here.

After that it was back to the hotel to…..warm up a bit and then out for dinner. I have a big day of travel tomorrow as I head up the mountains to Gerlos to find Isabell. Isabell is a friend that Debi met on her first trip to Africa. Her and her sister run a bar and restaurant and apartments in the resort town so I am heading up to relax and do some skiing. Isi has given me very good travel directions including all my train to train to bus connection points and times so hopefully I will have no problems….but it is me so I am bound to get lost at one point.

I found this rink while wandering. Not sure what the game was called but it appeared to be some variation of curling. No sweepers but the goal was to throw a slider piece down the ice and get it as close to the centre as possible. It looked like a lot of fun. I was far too cold to play a round though.

Julie

Vienna....that's in Austria

Saturday, December 6 and Sunday December 7, 2008
Travel from Prague, Czech Republic to Vienna and in Vienna, Austria

Well once I finally got out of bed, (and Brent and his little guy Charlie certainly helped), I decided I better get myself together, get packed and get on a train to Vienna. I had the schedule so I knew what time trains left and the goal was to make a 1330 train. Well that was actually Plan B but there was no way I was making Plan A that left at 1023. Anyway, once I got packed and in a cab and over to the train station and a bought a train ticket (using up some of the final Czech dollars I had) I headed to McDonalds for some hangover repair. It was nice.

When the train arrived I was obviously still tired as I missed all the reserved seat signs and had to move a couple times but eventually did find a very nice spot in a compartment with one other girl. We both stretched out and slept most of the trip. We were only joined by one other man for about 30 minutes and then he got off again.

Once I arrived in Vienna I grabbed the train schedule for Salzburg (as that will be my next destination) and then grabbed a cab to my hotel. I must say that I have been very, very lazy after my 15 days on tour in Turkey and then the 5 days in Prague. I really have not had to do too much planning the last little bit so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I only found a hotel in the morning before I left Prague. It was a little ways out and was very new so some cab drivers had a hard time finding it (believe it or not I was actually giving them directions……what’s that about?). Anyway, once I got checked in and did some laundry and all that fun stuff, I headed into the city centre of Vienna. I took a cab this first night although I would figure out the very good transit system the next day, to the Christmas market.

Vienna's City Hall.

It was very pretty and very crowded and very festive and all that fun stuff. It was right out front of the Rathaus (city hall) and the front of the building has actually been turned into a giant advent calendar. So much fun.

Another shot of city hall and a few of the decorations.

Eventually it was back to the hotel so I could get some more sleep and then head out to explore the city in the morning.

It really is too bad because I really did want to camp in Vienna.....in December.

When the morning arrived (that’s Sunday in case you have lost track…I know I usually do), I had no real plan as to what I would do or see as Vienna has so much to offer and I just did not have the time. I decided to set out on a bit of a self walking tour to check out some architecture. I found my way over to the metro station and found what I had originally thought….it would be extremely easy to get around by train and tram.

So I headed into the city centre again and stopped by the neo-gothic style Rathaus again. It looked good at night all lit up for Christmas but it was hard to see all the detail in the dark.

The Christmas market was not nearly as busy during the day so I shopped a bit……but didn’t buy anything. From there it was across the street to the 19th Century Burg theatre.

And I had to make a stop at the Greek-revival style Parliament building, which was also hosting its very own Christmas market. So yes I shopped a little more....but still did not buy anything.

I am not sure what the name of this building was but I just liked the detail on this ceiling. I am sure it was some sort of government building.

Then I made my way over to St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom). Really would be hard to miss this place. Of course I did visit Sunday morning and church was in session so I could not freely wander but did get a glimpse and took a couple pictures.

Inside the Cathedral. Really was amazing.

I also got to see the grooves on the one side of the church that were once used to regulate and standardized the exact measurements of a loaf of bread. At least that is what I am told they were used for.

I found this fountain pretty random. It is on the backside of the Hofburg.

A closer look at that fountain. This guy looks really angry.

I also happened to find Karntner Strasse, which is home to all the high end designer stores. I am very lucky that they were all closed….plus I want to go shopping when I get to Paris (I think I mentioned that) so hopefully I will still have some cash when I get there. I was also going to head to a museum (I know, so unlike me), but there were lines everywhere and I did not feel like spending any time in a queue. So I opted for more walking, even though it was very cold and rainy (no snow in Vienna just rain).

I made my way over to The Hofburg or the Imperial Palace. It continues to be home to the office of the President of Austria and a major congress centre. The original building is from the 13th century but like most, it has been added to several times. The Vienna Boys Choir also performs here often.

Some random ruins that I found outside the Hofburg. No signs that I could read so I am not sure what they are but they really looked out of place.

I then hopped on Tram line #1 to take a little tour. It goes around the ring road and gave me a much better layout of the city. I was also able to see a few more things before heading back to the hotel to rest and warm up a bit.

This is out front of the Museum...which museum? Not sure. There were a lot of them.

A little later though I headed back into the city centre for some dinner. For this entire trip I have been trying to get away from the main roads and find some little restaurants and tonight I hit the jack-pot.

One of the main streets I could have eaten on.....but I didn't.

I found this little place called Biem Hofmeister on a random street (Brdunerstabe 7 if you are ever in town). The building use to be the imperial riding stables of an Empress but has been a restaurant for over 100 years. At one point they decided they would only sell Budweiser beer but not anymore. In 1919 the grandparents of the current owners took over and the restaurant took its current name in 1998. It really was great (hence the reason why I am mentioning it here). The food was great, the atmosphere was great and they never tried to rush me out even though the restaurant was really full and they probably could have used the table. One of my top meals thus far on this trip.

Not sure what either of these things are. I found them when I was wandering around....in the dark. I probably could not find them again if I tried.

So I will be off to Salzburg in the morning. Still not sure what I will do there but I will figure that out when I get there.

Julie