Viennese seagulls can ice skate!

seagulls on thin ice on the fountain ponds

We woke to brilliant blue sunshine and decided to go to Schönbrunn Palace just a short train ride away. 

Although the weather is still sunny and clear, it turned really cold today – it only reached 3oC today.

You can read more about the Palace and its history, and that of the Habsburg dynasty here.

The palace passed to the ownership of the Republic of Austria in 1918 and is now open to the public.

We took an audio-guided tour around the rooms of the palace and were amazed at the immense wealth and (unexpected) artistic skill of the family. 

Frost on the ground in the middle of the day -
looking towards the Palm House at Schonbrunn

Beautiful architecture and luxurious furnishings filled every room, and there were so many portraits of the family and their multitudinous children.

The gardens are quite spectacular and we want to go back when there are leaves on the trees and flowers blooming.

It was about 1pm and there was still frost on the grass and (thin) ice on the ponds. 

It was funny to watch the seagulls fly in to land and skate across the surface a bit – they seemed a bit surprised at it too.

People soaking up the sun in a green patch of garden

Look how far he made me walk from the Palace!

Some tourists really don’t have a clue!

The Vienna Boys Choir at Mass

Yesterday morning we got up bright and early – well it feels early when the sun doesn’t come up as early as home!

We had tickets to Mass at the Hofburg Chapel. 

I hear many of you ask, why would Jackie go to Mass, let alone on holiday?

Morning Mass at the Hofburg (Imperial) Chapel is the only place where the Vienna Boys Choir perform in January. I bought tickets online sometime ago.

It was a bit hard to find the chapel but thanks to a few maps in the street, we found our way through the maze that was the Imperial complex to the little chapel.

We didn’t see the choir until the very end of the service and I think some of the ‘audience’ were disappointed in that. We weren’t worried as we had gone to hear them, not particularly see. 

One of the many entrances to the Imperial Comples

At the end of the service, the boys came down from the third tier of the chapel where they had been singing and lined up in front of the altar to sing one hymn. 

It was nice to know they were for real up there, not just piped music through the speakers.

They were great, and some quite little boys too.

But, getting back to the heading of this blog. 

It was a regular (according to Mr Jax, my religious interpreter) Catholic mass with a gospel reading and liturgy, and with communion. I always understood that communion was only for those who were confirmed, and Mr Jax added ‘and been to confession’. 

There were some people lined up for this communion who obviously did not know the ritual side of it, and one (at least) who must have been trying to take the communion wafer as a souvenir! He didn’t put it in his mouth and walked back to his seat. A priest tapped him on the shoulder and signalled for him to put it in his mouth.

The giant St Stephens Cathedral

We spent much of the rest of the day walking around the old town part of Vienna, apart from a stop for coffee and Viennese cake (each).

At night we went to a Strauss and Mozart concert at the Kursalon Wien (a concert hall near our hotel). Although obviously geared for tourists with mainly ‘popular’ well known works played, it was very good. 

There were a couple of playful arias and some dancers too. We met a couple of Aussies – another Jackie!

The amazing tessellated roof of St Stephens

Inside the Kursalon showing just a few of the chandeliers

The performers - way up in front of all the tour groups!

The beautiful Kursalon Wien all lit up

First Evening in Vienna

Our magical run with the weather continues – a bit of rain earlier in the day but clear skies for our night arrival in Vienna. 

We quickly checked in and walked to St Anne’s Church for a ‘Classics Exclusive’ concert. 

This is a small but very beautiful church and the ensemble was equally so – small and beautiful! 

A string quartet played Vivaldi, Haydn, Mozart, Puccini and Rossini to a small and enthusiastic audience.

Out the train window

We then strolled (quite aimlessly) around the pretty streets and chose a restaurant to have our late dinner. 

We went Viennese: Mr Jax with the Tafelspitz and me a Wiener schnitzel – both too big for us.

Now we are about to head out to mass at the Hofburg Imperial Court Chapel – the only way to hear the Vienna Boys Choir in January.

Inside St Anne's Church

Christmas lights still up

Mr Jax's huge Tafelspitz - traditional Viennese beef broth with trimmings

A lighter side of Prague

All that is important to a tourist ! ?
toilet, wifi, coffee, museum and religion!

I could post lots of photos that show the brilliant blue skies we had yesterday but they would also show the multi-layers of clothes we had on to shield out the cold.

We caught the tram up to the Prague castle and had a walk around. 

We had thought about walking back down but it was so bitterly cold that even Mr Jax’s eyes kept tearing up!

So, as we are in a bit of a rush to spend our last Czech kroner and catch our train to Vienna, I thought I’d post some of the funnier things we have seen around the city.

009: translation is something like:
In the service of your country

A Cubist woman

Twisted building

3oC is really not the weather to take a spin in a convertible!!

Red man taking a photo of a red giraffe

Waiting for a friend - Mr Jax didn't stop to chat to this one

He did however, have a chat to this
little marionette!

Not quite my knight in shining amour!

Good for getting around the narrow streets

Prague: Picturesque and Photogenic

What a beautiful city!

Neither of us had been here before but I am sure we will come again. 

Beautiful, easy to get around, friendly and cheap – although it feels really hard to pay 100 for a drink! We have to keep converting back to realise that it is less than $6AUD!

This is not a city for heels, or even simple flat shoes – you really need hiking boots for the cobblestones, especially in the morning when they are a little damp. 

We’ve had amazing weather – sunny and crisp but not cold. I even had my hat and gloves off, and coat unzipped in the middle of today.

Mr Jax had me walking again – well over 10,000 steps yet again (up near 14,000 steps)! 

Through squares, past churches, down alleyways and over bridges – barely letting me stop at Christmas markets or crystal shops, and certainly not any shoe shops.

Tonight we continued our cultural pursuits with a Gershwin concert in the Spanish Synagogue. 

It was performed by three violinists, one cellist, one double bassist and a guest soloist on the trumpet – all members of the Czech Symphony Orchestra. 

There were less than 30 in the audience, so a really personal performance and great acoustics. 

No photos as they are not allowed inside the synagogue. You will have to click on this link if you want to see inside (it’s worth it). 

signs in case we got lost !!!