Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Vienna, at Heart and Home



Hello my blogging friends!
Thank you for your patience while I've been away,
I'm here to say a quick hello.

I hope you all are well, and that you had the happiest of holidays,
and that the new year has started out for you in the best way possible!






For me, 2011 has been momentous so far!
My husband and I recently returned
from a quick trip to Austria and Hungary.
He travels there regularly for business.
This time I tagged along, for not exactly a 2nd honeymoon,
but instead a much needed escape from reality!

We left San Francisco early for the 14 hour flight.

Three plane changes later...



...we arrived ready for adventure,
first in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.


Vienna!
Day and night, we explored the sights.


The snow from the storms a week earlier
 was melted by the time we arrived.
We bundled up and walked for miles and miles in the cold winter air.

For me, it was love at first sight!




There is no shortage of excitement in this glorious place!

Urban, refined, sophisticated, and very romantic,
exploring Vienna was exhilarating


And any city that puts such a high value on a daily sweet treat
 is my kind of place!



The "cafe'" break is a Viennese tradition!
There is a pastry shop on almost every corner.
There is always time in the afternoon
 to have a * nice pastry, with lots of whipped cream,
and a hot cup of strong Viennese coffee.
...or a beer.

Afterwards, -  time for more sightseeing:



St. Stephan's Cathedral in Stephansplatz, is undergoing renovations.

The front of the building is beneath photo-screen covered scaffolding.

Walking around Stephansplatz,
everywhere I looked
I found more and more things to love
about Vienna:

Beautiful sculptures:


Ancient Roman Ruins beneath the street:


*chocolate truffles, oh my:


Street corner flower stands:


   *Wienerschnitzel und kartoffelsalat:
(YUM!, and no, I didn't eat all that by myself  - we shared!!)


gilded altars, art, and statuary in huge cathedrals:


palaces open for exploring:


arboretum and gardens to wander through at Schonbrunn, the summer palace:


the folly at Schonbrunn:


churches and river boats on the Danube:




If you love art (abundant statues and fountains
 can be seen throughout the city)
museums (too many to visit in a few short days),
 history (Vienna is historically significant and a former Roman stronghold),
music (home of Mozart, Liszt and Strauss)
dancing (400+ balls are held annually in the city),
walking and exploring,(the center of the city is nearly car-free,
 and the underground subway is fast, cheap and easy to use),
eating and drinking (see * above, Austrian food is delicious!)
you will love Vienna!

Vienna has a vitality and energy that is stimulating.
Everyone was friendly and helpful.

It brought me so much joy to stroll the streets,
watch the people,
 and to simply be, there in the midst of everything.
I had a lovely visit,
and I'd happily return, anytime!

Up next:  Hungary

Until next time,
xo
Heidi

(linking to Outdoor Wednesday, at A Southern Daydreamer.
Thanks, Susan!)

33 comments:

Unknown said...

OMGosh...I want to go, I want to go, Oh I wish I had a fairy Godmother...the photo's are stunning..The buildings, the Churches, the CHOCOLATE...oh thank you for taking me there..as I know I have no Fairy Godmother..
Welcome abck...
Shirley

seanymph said...

What a beautiful city. Ive always wanted to go to Europe and Vienna was not on that list but I will have to add it. I spied a cream horn in that pastry shop window! Oh yum! And your dinner.........Oh how I would have loved that. (Im a chef). My family is also Hungarian and that is one place Ive always wanted to see.......where my gramma was born. I cant wait to see your photos from there.

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I remember going there and loving all those delicious pastries like no other country has! WOW!
Viena is such an incredible city, beautiful, elegant and with sooo much class all it's own.
You sure look like you had a ball and I can't say I don't blame you, I did to love it, although it was 25 yrs. ago. YUM, YUM, YUM all the way through. Thanks for sharing.
XOXO
FABBY

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Thank you Heidy for such nice comment.
I love your Christmas house, mantel, tree everything, very gorgeous and elegant. I just put away my tree today with the help of my granddaughters that are visiting us, they live 3 hours away.
Anyhow...my house looks drab, colorless without a trace of Xmas left! I love this time of the year too, not only kids.
You can check..."Christmas with my granddaughters" on my blog. Thank you and blessings.
FABBY

Light and Voices said...

Next time take me, I'll carry the luggage. tee hee Looks like you are having a grand time. Enjoy!
Joyce M

Honey at 2805 said...

I love Vienna. Thanks for the beautiful photo tour and pleasant reminders.

Jemsmom said...

It is so wonderful to see you here!!! Oh my!!! What a wonderful trip! Can you believe after almost three years of living in Europe and many trips to Salzburg... I have never been to Vienna or Hungary! I am loving all your photos, but I did want to dive right into that wienerschnitzel! Yummmmmyyyyy!!! What a wonderful time! I can't wait to see more! I hope you had a wonderful holiday too!

cjvierow said...

Heidi--it's so good to see a new post on your blog. Thanks so very much for sharing your photos and your time in a couple of places I'd love to see but may have to travel "with" you. CJ

deb said...

Good to see you back, Heidi!!

James said...

Oh my Wienerschnitzel! That would be worth the trip alone. Thank you for showing us such interesting photos.

Candace said...

I enjoyed this post sooo much! I felt like I was along for the ride. How wonderful for you to get to experience that magical place?! I'm so happy that you stopped by and said hello to me and introduced me to your world. I'm happily following along with you. I look forward to reading more and getting to know you. Blessings! Candace

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Thanks for sharing your trip - great photos! Sounds and looks like you had a great time.

The Single Nester said...

Oh my word! What memories came flooding back to me when I read your post today. Vienna is one of my favorite cities in Europe! I remember having Sacher Torte and going to the opera. Did you get to Salzburg? That is a gorgeous city too. Jealous!

michelle said...

Hi Heidi, it looks like you had an amazing time! Your photos are gorgeous and oh all those buildings and sweets! :) I would love to go sometime and thank you for taking us around with you, what wonderful memories you will always have!! :)

Allison said...

Heidi, your trip sounds spectacular. What beautiful photos! I would love to go someday. I'm so glad that you started out 2011 with a special trip with your husband. What wonderful memories to treausre. I'm happy you are posting again! Great picture of you, too.

Karen said...

Thanks for giving me a mini-vacation this morning! Hope you and hubby can still have a little taste of honeymooning. Travel safely, Heidi. blessings on your day!

Modern Country Lady said...

Lovely pictures- o, I love Vienna, and haven't been for ages, this makes me think I should really go back again.Don't you just love the life there??The cafes and the food- fabulous!!

Modern Country Lady said...

Your blog is so lovely, I have become your latest follower by the way.You sound like a woman after my own heart :-))
Have a look at my blog - I would not mind a follow back :-)

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Wow... what a beautiful trip you . The city is incredible. The tulips had me smiling from the beginning, your pictures kept it there through out the post.... thanks for taking us along. hugs ~lynne~

RedBettySummer said...

Oh, good. I thought I had missed something so I'm glad you have just been on holiday all this time. This is my kind of vacation. Your post is beautiful and the photos make me want to do some traveling. Everyone is talking about traveling to warmer climates, which I can't blame them, but when I see your photos, I am reminded of why I like to travel. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to getting back to your blog each week.

chris said...

magical

Glacier Dreaming said...

Lovely report on your "escape from reality." Thanks.

Glacier Dreaming said...

Lovely report on your "escape from reality." Thanks.

Apron Senorita said...

I'm so happy for you!!!! Enjoy your trip and find all the special gifts that God has to offer

Yoli :)

bj said...

That must be the most beautiful city in the entire world. You are so blessed to have been able to see all this.
Your photos should be in a magazine..so pretty.

bj said...

Came by to link...will try tomorrow.

Curtains in My Tree said...

I would say that was a dream trip.

Your pictures were so good i feel like I was there

Janice

Stacey said...

Heidi, your trip looks like it was wonderful. What a fun adventure. One of these days we need to do something like that.

vignette design said...

So glad you're back Heidi! And with such wonderful photos of your trip. You look like you are having a blast in Vienna. I'm off to see Hungary!
xo Delores

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pics!!

Gayla said...

I just found your beautiful blog and fell in love with the pretty photos of Vienna and Hungary. I wish I had traveled more but the pretty sights are a near journey for my mind... Have a sweet Easter.

Wendi said...

Hello Heidi,
I found your blog through Vignette Design. I recognized your photos of Santa Cruz, we used to live in the Soquel hills & had ToNS of problems in the winters so I can relate to your tree/house accident. We were there during the big earthquake & that was interesting to say the least. I hope you are able to rebuild. You take great pictures & have a wonderful blog. Hope you are having a great day!!

kjrpaint said...

I'm sorry about that tree! You have such lovely style - you CAN rebuild and make it even better! good luck!