Vienna Adventures: May 22

After several nonstop, no-time-for-jet-lag days in Prague, it was time to move on to Vienna. Judy pre-found and booked a night train from Prague to Vienna, and we caught a taxi to take us from our hotel to the train station late one evening. 

We got to the train station and it was deserted. Not a soul to be seen. We were not quite sure which gate our train would pick us up from, and there were zero, zilch, NO signs in English telling us what to do and no train workers or other travelers to ask. We began to head in the direction we thought we needed to go, aware that time was passing and our scheduled departure was near. I had two suitcases: a smallish bag and a second suitcase the size of a large hippopotamus. I had the largest suitcase of all ten of us (How embarrassing. I got a good deal on the floor model from Costco. Note to self: don't buy things bigger than a car to pull behind you when you travel.) It was SERIOUS work getting that hippo sucker up and down the stairs. As time passed, we moved faster and faster trying to find an informational board, a person to ask, ANYTHING to figure out where to go. We climbed a large flight of stairs to the platforms (me dragging that hippo of a bag) and Stan and Bob quickly took off in the growing darkness to find someone who could direct us. Finally, with no time left to spare, we learned we were supposed to be on the opposite side of the tracks. Now what? There was no time left to go down the stairs, across the station and up the stairs to the other side-our train would be there in seconds. We did the only other thing we could do--we jumped down a couple of feet onto the tracks, ran across them, and climbed up the other side. As me and hippo were struggling to cross, I was sure I could feel the wind of the approaching train rushing at me, coming to flatten me in the dark. We managed to pull ourselves up onto the platform just as the train arrived.

Kids, if you EVER do something that dangerous and stupid, I'll hunt you down!

These aren't the tracks we crossed, but it's about half the width of our track and gives you a bit of an idea of what they were like.

We collapsed onto our beds, sure the adventure was over for the night.  Nope. 

 I'm sure Judy and Bob are so blurry because I was still shaking from adrenaline.

You've got to suspect there's more to come when you find you've been left free alcohol to get you through the experience.

We found the beds were small, hard, and very claustrophobic, and the rooms disappeared when the beds were folded down. There was a bottom bunk and a top bunk, and the room was the size of a small closet. A door separated us from the Cannons. As an added bonus, the bathroom was down the hall, and we had the privledge of sharing it with several other passengers. To top things off, after we were sleeping soundly, the conductor came by, woke us and told us we had neglected to get the appropriate stamp in the station from the non-existent official, and we now owed him 50 euros if we wished to continue.

Yep. We paid the bribe.

We pretty much decided train-sleeping is for the under 25 crowd. Which explains why we did it again a few days later.....

Our plans for the day included a visit to Schonbrunn Palace, former summer home to Austrian royalty. The palace began life as a mansion in 1548.

 It was purchase in 1569 by Emperor Maximilian II for use as a royal hunting ground. The palace was added in 1638 to 1642.

The palace has a pitiful 1440 rooms and has not been used as a residence since the 1918 downfall of the monarch.

The beloved and tragic Sisi (Empress Elisabeth of Austria) resided here in the mid 1800s.

Nowadays you can find Sisi on chocolates, which is ironic as she was obsessed by her appearance and weight and probably never allowed herself the calories.

Mozart spent a lot of time in Vienna, and played for the reigning monarch when he was just 6.

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the palace. Likely because they didn't want me to go home and recreate the look in my own space.  I scanned a few pictures from a brochure I picked up.

The floors were beautiful inlaid wood. Some of the floors were just incredible.

The style of the palace is "Baroque Rococo" 

The palace has an extensive garden we wandered through. Now Judy and Bob and even Stan may tell you a ridiculous, exaggerated version of the events that followed, but this is the real story: It was raining the day we visited the palace, and I had left my umbrella behind. Fortunately, the palace elves leave umbrellas in the bathroom for all visiting royalty to take, so I was covered (so to speak). Those palace elves are so thoughtful! My umbrella even had my name on it. 

Okay, it actually said "Eddie Bauer" but without my reading glasses on, it could have passed for "Chris Jones".

The garden has 32 statues

and a large maze, as well as these neatly trimmed trees.

I like the way this dude so casually holds that severed head.

 Beautiful, intricate fountain, opposite the palace.

This statue, in the central foyer, is called Hercules Slaying the Nemean Lion. It was created between 1714 and 1724. It is actually a hot-air stove, with the hot air flowing from the gaping mouth of the lion, serving a practical as well as a decorative function. Clever!

Next: The Art and Churches of Vienna