{"id":217,"date":"2020-08-05T15:23:56","date_gmt":"2020-08-05T14:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiositycat.co.uk\/?p=217"},"modified":"2020-09-03T20:14:08","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T19:14:08","slug":"austria-land-of-castles-and-chocolate-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/curiositycat.co.uk\/index.php\/2020\/08\/05\/austria-land-of-castles-and-chocolate-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Austria – Land of castles and chocolate – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Servus! This week’s virtual vacation takes us to Austria, home of Mozart and the Sound of Music, the Viennese Waltz and the world\u2019s largest ice cave… <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We probably won’t manage to climb every mountain or indeed ford every stream, but we can stand at the top of Austria\u2019s highest mountain, Grossglockner<\/strong><\/a> (3798m high) and go for a run<\/strong><\/a> alongside the Danube River, which is pretty good going in a single day! Just click on the links in the text to follow in my virtual footsteps…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flying over Vienna gives us great views of the city<\/a><\/strong> and allows us to get the lie of the land before catching the train to the Innere Stadt where we find our 5* hotel, the Hotel Grand Ferdinand Vienna, conveniently located for the sights I’ve got planned to see. It soon becomes clear though that, although similar to us in many ways, there are a few cultural differences between us and our Austrian counterparts. For one thing, it\u2019s a Catholic country, so in some ways, they\u2019re a lot more formal and conservative than we are, especially the older generation, but there are inconsistencies as with any country. For example, showing too much flesh in public is a real no-no, unless you\u2019re by the lakes or in a spa, where all-out nudity is the norm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We get a deeper insight into Austrian sensitivities when,we pick up a copy of \u00d6sterreich<\/em>, the Austrian newspaper,, to discover that a man in Vienna has been fined 500 Euros for \u201coffending public decency” by breaking wind loudly in front of police. Police had written on Twitter that the man \u201clet go a massive intestinal wind apparently with full intent…and our colleagues don\u2019t like to be farted at so much.\u201d Apparently, though, it was the deliberate nature of the act that incurred the fine and accidental flatulence is perfectly acceptable, otherwise lactose intolerance would be a costly affliction in the land of cream, cheese and chocolate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our wonderful day in Vienna, looks set to be chock-full of art and music interspersed with artery-clogging tasty treats, so let’s make a start. For breakfast, warm croissants fresh from the oven with apricot jam and butter come served with a bowl of scrambled eggs, accompanied by the soundtrack to the Sound of Music<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Putting together the pieces on Gustav Klimt Art Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, we set off on an arts treasure trail in search of Gustav Klimt\u2019s masterpieces. The trail takes us first to the MAK<\/strong><\/a> (museum of applied arts) where among other works we find Fulfilment<\/em>, a picture of lovers embracing, and an animated version<\/strong><\/a> of the Magic Garden<\/em>, which is truly beautiful. At the Leopold Museum<\/a><\/strong> <\/em>we discover Death and Life<\/a><\/strong><\/em> along with many of Klimt’s other works. Next, is the magnificent Stairway to Klimt<\/em> at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna<\/a><\/strong>. And finally, our trail culminates in a tour of The Belvedere<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Schloss Belvedere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

…which leads us to a tantalising peek through the door at Klimt’s most famous piece, The Kiss<\/em>. To get up close and personal with the painting, we have to speak nicely to the curator who lets us see it in glorious detail<\/a> <\/strong>and gives us the full lowdown (in German, of course).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that glut of art it’s time for a different kind of sustenance now. Lunch consists of delicious warm rolls with lashings of butter, a selection of pork-based meats and Austrian smoked cheese. For a change of pace, I’m listening to Austrian metal band, Dragony, a) because I like dragons, b) because I like heavy metal and c) because they are Austrian, but I understand if you’d like to listen to something different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hofburg Palace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Already starting to feel the calories, it’s time to be on the move again. Vienna has many more palaces and castles to explore. Let’s start with a tour of the Hofburg<\/strong><\/a> Palace which, among other things, is the residence of current President, Alexander van der Bellen, who lives in the Leopoldine Wing. Back in the day, both the Hofburg and <\/a>Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace were former homes of one of the most powerful and influential royal families in Europe \u2013 the Habsburgs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let’s head to their other residence next for a tour of Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace<\/a><\/strong>. Look out for the Bergl Rooms, painted to look like a garden indoors for one of the family, Maria Theresa, who couldn\u2019t go outside because of the heat and which took nearly a decade to complete. Let’s go inside…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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