We got in late Friday night and were more than pleasantly surprised with our hotel accommodations. We stayed at the beautiful Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel. They upgraded us to this amazing room. It was absolutely beautiful and comfy as you can tell by our kids automatically jumping on the bed!
The beautiful church outside of the hotel.
Saturday morning, we got out and explored the city! Michael is so good at doing research before we head out. He figures out how to get us there and some of the fun facts behind what we are seeing. The more we travel, the more I realize that how much of a talent that is. My favorite part of us being in Europe this time of year is the fact that I have been able to see and SMELL the whole lilac season. *sigh* Phoenix has many wonderful things about living there but the smell of lilacs is seriously deficient...
Our biggest takeaway from Vienna is just how incredibly beautiful the city is. Every building was grand and colorful and classical. The sidewalks were also really wide and smooth which we appreciate so much more now that we are pushing a double stroller. ;) We just loved being there!
We took a family photo right before Laila and I had a girl's date in the museum! It was Harrison's nap time so I was ok with the trade off. ; )
Vienna is an incredible city that truly values the arts. This building and the identical one right across from it were built specifically to be museums. Incredible! I got to cross off a few more AP Art History list items on this visit too!
I told you we saw the original of this painting. Remember?
After we walked around a bit, we ate lunch outside on the terrace of a fun restaurant. The weather was perfect for being outside and seeing the city. Which was a blessing because after lunch we decided to take a bike tour of the city. It was so fun! We got to see so much of the city without dying from walking. The kids loved it too- nice change of pace from having to sit in the stroller or slowly walk.
^Of course there was a break for ice cream!
Austria is proud of their famous musicians like Mozart and Vivaldi. Laila like Vivaldi's statue too.
She also loves leaving money for street performers. (Even if this picture looks like she's running from them. haha!)
Harrison loved waving to every single "trolley."
It was such a fun day!
Sunday turned out to be a bit more brisk than Saturday. The sun was still shining but it was cold! However, we tried our best not to let that stop us from seeing the beautiful Belvedere Palace right by our hotel. This was fortunate because Laila declared that our house hunt was over when she said she wanted to live there because that's where princesses live and she could invite all her friends over to play. We love her little commentary as we travel!
Harrison was extra cuddly trying to stay warm. I didn't mind.
Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed going to church- (see the steeple?) it was actually an English branch. Who knew I'd be so excited to sing hymns in English again. ;)
Sunday evening, we also hiked all 343 steps to the top of St. Stephen's Cathedral. What a view!
Laila on the stairs. The staircase literally looked like that 98% of the way. Intense and totally awesome!
Here's our victory faces! Also loved learning that this bell tower is how Beethoven realized he was deaf- the pigeons were flying because the bells were tolling but he couldn't hear. (At least that's what we were told. And I like the story.)
I told you Vienna was a city of fine art admirers. So much so, that they put this big screen outside of the opera house with many rows of seating that we could just stop and watch the opera live. Laila truly loved stopping and watching. She was the one that we had to convince that it was time to go. Love it! (If she was just trying to delay bedtime, I say 'well played.' Haha!)
Monday before we flew out we hustled out to see the incredible Schoenbrunn Palace!
This self timer picture shows how huge it is but the left & right wings didn't fit in the shot. Neither did the grounds, gardens, front gate, nor the zoo!
Here's the back yard...not too shabby. ;)
Remember how I said it was cold. It definitely started to hail/snow right before we left. The kids were ok taking in the view from the protection of the patio. haha!
Overall, it was a great trip. And thankfully everything worked out well since the kids and I went back to Romania alone. Michael traveled safely with his colleagues. Despite, some scary falls made by Harrison and some whiny Laila moments, everything worked out alright. And in just a few days, the kids and I would be meeting Michael in Prague!
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