"Down here at Cape Spartel is the celebrated cave of Hercules, where the hero took refuge when he was vanquished and driven out of the Tangier country. It is full of inscriptions in the dead languages, which fact makes me think Hercules could not have traveled much, else he would not have kept a journal."

-"The Innocents Abroad," Mark Twain

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

AND YOU WILL LOVE IT!

Lovely evening, isn't it? I arrived home yesterday from a trip with my family to Wien! I am not really sure what to tell you, so I will make a picture book for you. Okay, sorry, it's not a book. A selection of pictures with captions, if you want to be so literal.

We left Saturday morning and drove for about 3 hours. Along the way, we stopped (here) along the road by the Donau river (you probably know it as the Danube). Here, I am pictured with Richard the Lionheart, who was held captive in a nearby castle. Please note and choose to ignore the fact that my eyes happened to be closed, as it was particularly bright at the moment the shutter went off.


After we arrived, we met up with my aunt and uncle (pictured, right) to go and eat. We ate at a huge area that used to be just a market and is now mostly made up restaurants, known as the Naschmarkt. Above, you can see the number of Schnitzel eaten since January 1st ( 16,201,556; this photo was taken October 1st at 2:13PM). Afterwards, I went with my host father to see several things, including, but not limited to:


Stephansdom


Random street performers


The Opera House

In the evening, the four of us attended the event that took place throughout the city (and in others in Austria) called Lange Nacht der Museen. You could buy one ticket and go to over 100 of the city's museums with the single entrance fee from 6PM to 1AM! We went and saw an art museum, a modern art museum that was really interesting but did not entirely seem to have a point, and an exhibit of marzipan in a chocolate shop! 



The next day, we went to see Schloss Schรถnbrunn (above), home to the famous Sissi and Franz Josef. We also saw the HundertwasserHaus (below), designed by Gustav Klimt. Right after, we went to the KunstHaus (in relation to Gustav Klimt, but has ever changing exhibits), which is the most wonderful modern art museum. Ever. It actually is logical in a fictitious way. I don't know how to describe it and do it justice. Pictures are not permitted, which, in this case, I am actually happy about. If you are anywhere near this city, bring your favorite porch swing, toadstool, pile of hay, whatever your preference may be, with a thick notebook and pencil. Go and be inspired. You will not regret it. AND YOU WILL LOVE IT!



The following day, we went shopping before taking the train back. 'Nuff said.

<3 from home, Mary Beth

P.S. I apologize for such a long post and hope that you had beautiful weather for your weekend as well! Also, as far as things you have to do go, if you are in the state of Maryland, I highly suggest you attend this event on Friday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2SDJDg1f8I&feature=youtube_gdata_player



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