The first place we went was the Opera House. There, we were bombarded with offers to go to either an opera or a music festival coming soon. Our next stop was the Cafe Sacher. Actually, we didn't really stop there, we just passed by. If we had stopped, we would had to go inside and eat the world's most classiest chocolate cake, which would have been perfectly fine with me. Past this was the Albertinaplatz, beautiful architecture with lovely statues. Kartner Strasse was a very long, very wide pedestrian only street, with large buildings on either side full of shops. The buildings were a collection of old and new, with a wide assortment of shops. Off on a side street was Kaisergruft, a church with the Imperial Crypt lying beneath, full of Vienna's royalty. Passing on is the Neuer Markt, with a statue of Lady Providence surrounded by figures that are supposed to represent rivers that flow into the Danube.
Now, before I go any farther, I want you to picture yourself in the largest, fanciest foyer and highest ceilinged room you have ever been. Now imagine that foyer ten times longer, with ten times the amount of fancy decorations, and the ceiling is ten times higher. That is Stephansplatz Catherdral. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt awed and very insignificant. It was such a holy place, and although I was surrounded by gibbering tourists, I felt alone.
Leaving the cathedral, we go on to another street full of shops. In the center is a statue, called the Holy Trinity Plague Column. It is covered in clouds with angels and cherubs, and the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost on top. It was erected as a monument to remember the epidemic of the bubonic plague. Our next stop was another church, that of St. Peter. Picture Stephansplatz Cathedral. Now decrease by five times the size, and increase the decorations by five times. That is St. Peter's Church. Everything outshone another. Things you might normally see in a church as impressive is nothing compared to the decorations inside this church.
Of course, when visiting places, one does have to take a side trip to go to the bathroom sometimes. But in Vienna, go to the bathroom is a tourist destination. You pay fifty cents and do your business in the cleanest public bathroom you will ever be in. We took our last trip to the statue of Goethe, sitting in thought.
But before that, we visited another place: Hofburg, the palace of the emperors. Staring at it, there are two things I thought. One, that it would be very easy to get lost in there, and two, that it would take days to finish a game of hide and seek. That is how large it is. White stone with windows everywhere, and statues depicting gods and goddesses, angels and cherubs. At the main entrance are four large sculptures of Hercules at his different tasks. After passing under the main entrance, you come into a huge courtyard, and under another arch, on father still is the Heroes' Square. On the left is the gigantic "new palace" and there are two statues of heroes riding away to victory. There are museums, but we did not enter. Instead, we enjoyed the outside glory of the city.
Leaving the cathedral, we go on to another street full of shops. In the center is a statue, called the Holy Trinity Plague Column. It is covered in clouds with angels and cherubs, and the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost on top. It was erected as a monument to remember the epidemic of the bubonic plague. Our next stop was another church, that of St. Peter. Picture Stephansplatz Cathedral. Now decrease by five times the size, and increase the decorations by five times. That is St. Peter's Church. Everything outshone another. Things you might normally see in a church as impressive is nothing compared to the decorations inside this church.
Of course, when visiting places, one does have to take a side trip to go to the bathroom sometimes. But in Vienna, go to the bathroom is a tourist destination. You pay fifty cents and do your business in the cleanest public bathroom you will ever be in. We took our last trip to the statue of Goethe, sitting in thought.
But before that, we visited another place: Hofburg, the palace of the emperors. Staring at it, there are two things I thought. One, that it would be very easy to get lost in there, and two, that it would take days to finish a game of hide and seek. That is how large it is. White stone with windows everywhere, and statues depicting gods and goddesses, angels and cherubs. At the main entrance are four large sculptures of Hercules at his different tasks. After passing under the main entrance, you come into a huge courtyard, and under another arch, on father still is the Heroes' Square. On the left is the gigantic "new palace" and there are two statues of heroes riding away to victory. There are museums, but we did not enter. Instead, we enjoyed the outside glory of the city.
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