Roaming the streets lost and so much more...

The winds could be heard outside our hotel room to announce the arrival of Saturday morning.  It was still spitting snow and sleet, but today would be a special one… We have a walking tour at 10:00.  This was a free bonus from our hotel, and when we checked in it sounded great.  To see the backstreets of Vienna with a local would be a great opportunity.   So we bundled up and headed to a sister hotel of ours where we would meet.  Janet and I are pretty much staying in theater district and it was a short subway ride over to meet our tour group.  Only about 20 folks it was a good size to see the city.

The only Synagogue in Vienna that survived Kristallnacht in 1938

1000 year old St Rupert

We started in what was known as the Jewish section of the city.  Vienna before the big war was about 10% Jewish, which of course many lost their lives or were deported during the war.  Today the population is less than 1% however the ethnicity of the neighborhood is still apparent.   This neighborhood is also where you will find St Rupert’s Church.  The oldest Catholic Church in Vienna, it was built in 1000 AD.  St Rupert is the patron saint of miners.  The salt mines surrounding Vienna were very important in the early years of the city. 

The winds whipped down every alley, but the morning was extremely enjoyable.   We saw so many interesting things, but one of our favorites was the church that Franz Joseph built next to a monastery and the school where the boy’s choir attend.   With the Protestant influences creeping into Austria from Germany, Franz wanted to insure that Catholicism was part of their studies.  Austria today is still about 80% Catholic.   The fresco on the ceiling is an optical illusion of a grand dome, but in fact is flat. 

I do not care what you say the ceiling is Flat!

The statue for Lost Souls

Well enough educational stuff.  The tour was almost complete with just a couple more stops.  Tom whipped out the camera to snap a picture of this beautiful gold statue attached to the Cathedral.  He heard a guide explaining about the bell tower in the church.  Then he heard her explain it again and he thought,  hmmmmm that is strange.   When he turned around he realized that it was not our tour guide and my group was gone!  Now what?  Coast Guard training kicked in.  Tom stayed exactly where he was for 30 minutes.  He kept saying, “I told myself when the Cathedral bells announce the noon hour I would return to the hotel.”   On the 12^th Bong after a beautiful intro Tom began walking to the subway station.  And that is where he found his bride searching for him.  Ohhhhh did I get the look.  Those who know Janet – Know the Look!

After a wonderful lunch in a backstreet coffee house (earlier blog) we headed back to hotel to catch our breath.  

Somehow we came up with the idea to go to the Christmas Market at the Rathaus (Government Center – appropriate name don’t you think) for a late afternoon adventure.  What a zoo!  Thousands upon Thousands of Outdoor Drinkers were pushing and shoving for just one more gluehwein.   After walking all morning our legs were weak and the weather was getting colder. The Christmas Markets are special places, but we have found on the weekends they are absolutely insane!  There are people everywhere, but when you make to a booth there as some magical things.

We headed back to the hotel.  On a whim we stopped at the opera house to see if the 2 Euro tickets were available for La Boehme.  Yes 2 Euros!  Tickets go from 2 Euros to 400 Euros.  The 2 Euro tickets are standing room only but hey you get what you pay for.   Well we went in the same door we did for our tour yesterday, but it was the wrong entrance.  A nice lady got us pointed in the right direction.   We got in line and were only about 15 yards from the ticket booth when we decided we are just too tired and jumped out of line.  We opened the doors to go outside when we realized that there was about 1000 folks in line behind us outside.  Uh Oh, the gringos cut line.  It was good for a laugh as we headed to the underground to return back to our hotel.  I will expand on how to do this later on in my Vienna wrap up.  I had always told my children growing up, “Just act like you know what you are doing” and keep walking.  We had two ushers open up barriers and doors for us.  

Hungry and tired we went to a neighborhood restaurant for some local fare and enjoyed our meal with a wonderful Austrian Pils and then we called it day.

Have a great day - It is Gluehwein Time!

By the way is there anyone out there?  Leave us a note to say Howdy!