It was chilly! Even Bryn finally broke down and put his hat on!!
Inside of St. Stephen's Cathedral. At first both of us thought, what tacky light displays for a church! Then we realized it was a result of light coming through the stained glass windows and it became seriously cool and completely acceptable!!
Karlskirche
Our wandering took us to the Nachmarkt, one of Vienna's most popular street markets. It reminded me a lot of New Orleans and Charleston...I guess most markets are the same! It was nice to wander through a more "local" place though. It always makes me wonder what it would be like to live there and walk to the market daily for fresh fish, fruit, vegetables and flowers.
After a quick shopping trip though the big Christmas Market (much less crowded in the day time and easier to see what you are buying!) we dropped off our purchases at the hotel and headed for Figlmuller, a tiny little restaurant which supposedly is the most famous place for wiener schnitzel in Vienna. We had tried to go for dinner a couple nights earlier, but the cold drizzle made the long line to get in not very appealing. Luckily, it was much less crowded at lunch. Figlmuller basically serves ginormous weiner schnitzel and house wine. Not even coca cola here! The enormous plate proved too big for even Bryn, but it was worth the experience!
That evening we decided to check out the Spittelberg Christmas Market, one Bryn had read about and came highly recommended. It was worth the walk (nothing was really a terribly far walk, but it was cold!) It was much more of an artsy Christmas Market and spanned several blocks of the pretty neighborhood. It's hard to resist the easy Christmas Market atmosphere and before we knew it we had our mugs of steaming gluhwein and punsch and found a perch to enjoy it.
It was not difficult to find, just follow the crowds!
All of the Christmas Markets in Vienna were crazy crowded - shoulder to shoulder around every corner. In most cases it was similar to cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, even with the crowds everyone is in good spirits, so it doesn't matter. Of course occasionally there was someone who had had a bit too much gluhwein or was a bit too pushy for their own good...but we'll ignore them.
Roasted chestnuts and "kartofelpuffer" - basically a hashbrowned potato that they brushed fresh garlic on...really, really good!!!
Punsch time!!
We cut through the Museum Quarter on our walk back to the hotel. This was one of many interesting art installations we passed. Sometimes I wish I were an arty person...
We also cut through Maria Teresa Platz and wandered through the Christmas Market there again.
The walk back also took us past St. Peter's Cathedral (apparently owned by Opus Dei) and lots of other picturesque sights. We have found that if we aren't using a tripod, uh, because we don't own one...that candle mode takes decent nighttime shots. It still doesn't do the real thing justice, so just use your imagination!
Punsch stands scattered all over town for those who don't want to deal with the Christmas Market crowds and aren't collecting mugs.
This may be a repeat photo, but who cares, it is pretty!
Our last day in Vienna was more of a last morning. After breakfast at the hotel we packed up and headed for the airport. We are already planning a return trip though because there was so much we didn't get to see, or want to see in a different season (let's face it, gardens and palaces are so much prettier in summer, unless they are covered in snow). Despite the bits we didn't have time for, it was the perfect mini trip before Christmas and I don't think I want to have another Christmas if I can't go to a decent Christmas Market!
In conclusion, if you've never been to Vienna, go.
