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Today was the day we set aside to visit Schonnbrunn, probably the number one attraction in Vienna. Our plan was to get there early and spend the day exploring as much as we could, while taking plenty of time to relax so we don't burn out.
We got to the palace right when it opened. There were crowds, but honestly, the place is so large and spread out that I never felt crowded. Our Vienna Passes allowed us entry to basically everything here. We started with the palace itself. It is huge and yellow, and not nearly as pretty as Hofburg or Belvedere. I find it funny that this was the summer palace of the Hapsburgs, only about twenty minutes away from the regular palace. Seriously, how many palaces does one need? I did not get a headset, for I felt I had learned plenty about these extravagant royals during my stay. I went from room to room, reading the informational signs and gawking at all the overly ornate, ridiculous furnishings. I wasn't at all impressed with this palace, most likely because I had seen some rooms in Belvedere, Albertina and Hofburg, and they were more impressive. I guess I
Schonnbrunn
the Gloriette was done with Hapsburg living quarters. If I were to return, I would not revisit the palace.
The palace gardens are another story. What a beautiful plot of land! The gardens are free to enter, and they are immense. Among the grounds are many special features...fountains, greenhouses, a hedge maze, a carraige museum, statues, gates, and special themed gardens. If I were to return on a nice day, I would definitely spend half a day exploring the vast gardens.
We hopped on the little tourist train to get a good look over the entirety of the place, and got off at the Gloriette. I am not sure of the purpose of this structure, but it is so lovely. Mom relaxed on a bench while I walked the stairs to get to the top. You have to pay to get up there, but the views are fantastic. You can see the gardens with the palace in front of you, and all of Vienna behind.
From here, we walked to the zoo, which was included in our pass as well. This zoo was founded by the Hapsburgs and is the oldest in all of Europe. Although small, it was
Schonnbrunn
The Gloriette very well-maintained and modernized, with decent living areas for the animals. Mom is not crazy about zoos, so I made a point to only see SOME of the animals. The animals were so cooperative, posing for me every time I lifted my camera..well, every animal except the panda. I DID see the panda, but he simply looked at me and wandered into some hole, so I didn't get his photo. Doesn't matter though...I saw him and he was adorable!
We had a snack here at the zoo. Now, in the states, lunch at the zoo is usually an overpriced hot dog and a soda. But here, in Vienna, we had cafe melange and fancy small sandwiches in a rather elegant setting. We felt rested enough to walk back to the Gloriette, and took the tiny train to the exit. We spent a good four hours or so here, and barely saw most of it. Another reason to come back...
We went back to the apartment for the rest of the day until dinner time. We decided we would ride the Wiener Reisenrad today, that iconic ferris wheel which I believe is the world's oldest still in operation. Mom
Schonnbrunn
view from the Gloriette does not like heights, but she was quite the trouper. Each ferris wheel car had a bench in the middle, so she sat there with her eyes closes while I enjoyed the views. The ride was pretty pleasant. It's just one of those things you have to do when in Vienna. After this, we went back to Schweizerhaus to have the giant pork hock, and boy, was it good! Crunchy skin on the outside, tender meat on the inside. Man, I am loving all the food here!!
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