The Search for the Holy Grail

Quick post this morning of yesterday as we are sailing into Budapest.  Yesterday was one of the best days of my life!  Vienna is the most unusual city I have ever visited.  I keep contrasting it to big American cities like NYC and here's what I have decided:

Vienna is not as crowded as large American cities.  The people walk much slower and take their time. NO ONE eats while walking.  It was so odd that I started watching for it.  Like Paris, Vienna is a city that savors its meals.  I assume everyone sits down and enjoys the meal because we saw only two young women together eating while they were walking along.  It is the most orderly city I have ever seen.  The subway is spotless and there are no turnstiles, just places where you validate your ticket.  If you are caught on the train not having validated your ticket, then you are fined.  They told us there are always two officers on the train and it is safe to travel on the subway even late at night.  Pedestrians don't cross the street against the traffic light.  But they are crazy bicycle riders!  You have to be on guard!  They appear to be incredible rule followers.  I have thought a lot about this.  That knife cuts both ways.

Here we are in another lock just before Vienna.  I took this from our balcony.

This first night in Vienna we went to a musical event...Mozart and Strauss.  The program ended with the playing of The Blue Danube.  Here's Phil cutting up (and Wayne, totally impressed)  as we head in to find our seats.

This is a Romanesque church near the Danube where our ship is docked.

Lynn and Wayne at a palace...Tony said to say everything is a palace and I will be right most of the time.  We saw so many of these buildings, I can't even remember what they are.

Melanie and Ted Thomas...Melanie pulled our trip together through her company Creative Travel Shreveport.  Call her up if you want "the trip of a life time!"

Mozart's statue, or as Lynn says, "the treble with Mozart."

One of the kazillion marble statues around Vienna. 

The ancient sits atop the modern!

The incredible St Stephens Church with its "Missoni" roof!

The sidewalks of Vienna

These are "homemade" potato chips.  I could eat some more right now!

Then Tony, Lynn and I walked over to the Museum Quarter and visited the Leopold with all the Egon Schiele and Gustave Klimt.  I wished for Hannah a dozen times! 

Here are a couple of the Schiele paintings, a self portrait and his homage to Klimt's The Kiss.

There is a large nosh market in Vienna...full of fruit stands and restaurants of every ethnicity.

Lynn was dying to go by the Sacher Hotel and try their famous sachertorte.  Of course we did...and it was no disappointment!  Rich and dark and sweet!

And then began our pilgrimage to find the Holy Grail of 20th Century art...Klimt's The Kiss, hanging in a gallery at the Belvedere.  We had to ask for directions from people who spoke only German....had to ride the tram....had to figure out the ticket situation....and had to get back to the ship by the time it sailed.  We had roughly 2 hours.  "Let the games begin!"

The Belvedere is massive.  We purchased our tickets and then entered the huge building that housed all the art.

We ran up the enormous staircase...walked quickly into the dark gallery, turned...and there they were....in the most golden embrace.  A moment I will never forget!!!  Lynn, the bold photographer she is, snapped this photo.

And then we were off....Tony was so nervous but it worked to our advantage...he got us to the ship with about 30 minutes to spare!