A trip to the Palace

Feeling a few side effects from the cycling day, the wandering kiwis chose to catch a train straight to Schönborn Palace, number one on the must sees in Vienna. The train ride became a train 🚞 walking 🚶‍♀️ bus 🚌 walking 🚶‍♂️ train 🚞 ride, due to remodelling of the train line on our chosen route. Upon arrival, finally, at the Palace, it appeared that every other visitor to Vienna today had this must see on their must do list!

We joined the procession into the main gates.

The garden front of the Palace was fenced off and sporting a huge stage, tents, seating and stands…summer evening music concerts at the Palace are happening evidently.

A little closer to the front entrance podium.

The organised Kiwis had purchased a sandwich and packed some water, and decided to look for a more peaceful place and a park bench…hunger and thirst sated, and wandering deeper into the gardens, we soon realised there were acres of Park to hide in (500 acres to be exact)

We chanced upon the “Palm House” a structure built in 1883 at which time, it was the largest greenhouse in Europe, housing exotic plants (1500 species of orchids to name a few) and hundreds of butterfly species.

Having strolled around for an hour or more, choosing not to enter the zoo (which is also in this park), we arrived at the back side of the castle…

Looking back at the Palace and in the other direction to the “Neptune Fountain” and the second building on the hill (one we didn’t climb)

The reverse side of the in full panorama, picking the moment when humans were scarce.

One of the many statues, a man and his dog, unconditional love!

And a collage of Russ in the guardhouse and in front of one of the many garden gazebos and Sue in front of the fountain.

An opulent Baroque building and parklands in the middle of the city of Vienna and well worth the visit. (It is after all – number one attraction)

It was then back to train-bus-train for the journey home, hopping off the bus at “Naschmarkt” a streetmarket with mainly food, cafes and more food and dresses from what appeared mainly Turkish origin (at a guess).

Lots of stuffed things and dried things and fruit and cakes, with a distinctive aroma of herbs and curry!

Another 2km walk before getting back on the train to town and closer to home. In desperate need of a bathroom, which it seems are few and far between when needed, Russ just had to buy an ice cream, at a cafe, to relieve my stress!

Getting a bit weary we headed towards our room…and en route happened on this gothic style church.

Door open, so took a peep inside.

Beautiful leadlights and gold at the front…

And an enormous organ raised above the back entrance doors. Carvings and sculptures quite gothic and scary.

Out the back door and down a flight of steps and we were back. Visiting the supermarket on the way, dinner sorted, repacking to do and checking out of Vienna in the morning heading to Zurich!