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Published: August 15th 2015
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A cabinet of minerals at the Natural History Museum
There were 3 halls and row upon row of these cabinets containing every mineral that could be collected. Karilyn and I had given ourselves a couple of hours doing what girls like doing – looking at merchandise and maybe spending a little. We went off with the men and left them to go on the City Tour while we went off along a well known, mile long shopping street (yes, truly). Before long we realized there seemed to be no shops open and not very many people about. Well, that kept the men’s bank accounts happy! We texted them to tell them the happy news and they duly met us back where we started. The reason for shops being closed? A public holiday. Karilyn was disgusted.
All four of us bought a ticket for the Red City Tour route. We were on the upper deck on the bus and it was hot and stuffy. Then it rained and up went the windows to make it even stuffier. We were sweltering. After the rain the temperature did not go down but just made it more humid. However, despite all that, the tour was interesting and Vienna is an incredibly beautiful city of lovely ornate buildings originating from the time of the Austrian Empire. The main theme is either Royal
Palaces, parks and buildings, music composers (Brahms, Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart), Freude, Museums and Art. There is plenty to see and visit. I would have loved to have gone to a concert but it would have been by myself.
We found an Italian restaurant on a side street away from the crowds which had rather a neat theme. You got a card on going in, chose your food from a menu then ordered it at the kitchen and watched it being prepared. The card was used to set the price and you paid on the way out. The food was very fresh and very good.
Afterwards I got to go to the Natural History Museum and Lindsay chose to come too. I was dubious about this as it can be a little like a woman shopping – men waiting around. But not this time. I love these museums with their wonderful collections of rocks, minerals, fossils and other natural wonders. This one is renowned for it’s mineral specimens and is very special as the collection goes back 250 years when the Emperor Francis purchased some collections to make the foundation of this one. The museum as it is now
was begun in 1871 and is housed in a most elaborate building. It is one of the major life science institutions in the world. I was totally blown away by the mineral collection which contained thousands of samples in glass cases as we used to see museums. Just a wonder to see. I thought I knew quite a few minerals but this collection confounds my small amount of knowledge. Not only were there 3 halls of just minerals and rocks, but these were followed by a hall of meteorites, then of fossils of vertebrates and invertebrates, plants and dinosaurs. The halls were not air conditioned and we got incredibly hot and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of specimens. We had to leave without visiting other halls containing a planetarium, anthropology, crustaceans, insects, fishes and birds. There was so much more to see and frankly you really need weeks to take it all in. I would highly recommend this museum and like the fact they kept it as a traditional museum and not an interactive modern one.
After a couple of well-earned gelatos we headed back to the hotel to cool off. We now wonder if we are going to
get any cooler weather for the second leg of our journey as it continues to be hot and sticky. Karilyn and Neil had flagged doing any sightseeing after waiting for a crowded bus and giving up. Not a good day for them.
Drinks and dinner was at the hotel – it was cool. Need I say more!
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