Imperial Treasury

Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury): Is where all of the rulers of Vienna would keep their gold and precious stones. The crown of rome, its scepter, and the spear of destiny are held here.

The Spear of Destiny- has a myth about it saying that whoever touches it will have the power of the people. It was said that Hitler was obsessed with the spear and demanded that it be given to him once he took over Vienna. It was later returned to Vienna by the U.S. at the end of WWII.

Helden Platz

Hero's Place was covered with Santa Clauses (most of them sounded like foreigners aka Americans). In the bg you can see the Rathaus (to the left of the monument). Everything is very close in Vienna which makes it easy to sight see.

A little down the road you could also hitch a ride with a Christmas Horse and Carriage.

Rathaus Christmas Market

This is the Rathaus with the Christmas market in front. This is the typical tourist Christmas Market (or Advent Market same thing). At the end of January they will replace the market with an ice skating rink!

The Rathaus (city hall) has the 24 days of christmas on each of its windows and each day a new window is reveled. (btw Christmas is celebrated on the 24th).

The two girls here are best friends Uli and Michi.

House of Music

The House of Music is pretty new since it was created in 2000. Its an interactive musical exhibit. They have a Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss Room where they explain the lives and accomplishments of the composers. I should have been the most interested in that part but I spent more time playing with all of the musical toys.

For example: I conducted the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

I also created my own Waltz with Dice

I poked me head in the musical Wall and played with the hearing of Beethoven.

I also popped virtual musical notes that made me sound like a musical genius.

I was waving my stick to fast making the orchestra play too fast and the onscreen guy yelled at me in german.

Bowling with Markus

Yes this is the ugliest picture of the night.

Even in Vienna they have normal things like bowling. Not everything has to have some type of historical significance.

Gansel Essen

We went auf dem land (out on the country side) to have a Christmas Goose. This was a real specialty and you have to order a week or so in advance. We were a big group and Walter and Maria also captured the attention of everybody their with their music, Maria on the Guitar and Walter for the Vocals.

December 2nd My Birthday

I was surprised first by Walter and Maria's birthday song at 1am (no they didnt barge in and begin singing while I was asleep) They were getting ready for their trip to the Bahamas and I was on my computer when they gave me some Champagne and sang me a song.

Then I went to an Irish Pub with Uli, Michi, Regina, and Bobsi.

I got a bag of delicious flavored marshmallows, scarf and a beanie plus a ticket to go to the Staat Opera.

My cousin Karin and her Fiancee Dilo also spoiled me by taking me to a nice Restaurant.

Lisi from across the globe sent me a bday care package!

Mauerbach Christmas Market

This special and intimate Christmas Market lasts for only 1st Advent Weekend in December. Its a tightly knit community and we got to see the children of Maria's school perform some Christmas music.

A lot of the stands are run by local families for example the butcher stand was run by a family who has their kids in Maria's school.

Schloss Belvedere

This is another place were you can find a neat little Christmas Market.

Side Note:I like all of the historical sites not only for the history but because you can actually run (literally) threw them. I went running through Schönbrunn and got jealous when I saw a group running through Schloss Belvedere.

Feature: The museum here houses Klimt's "The Kiss"

Karls Kirche

Christmas Markets are a tradition in Austrian and in Germany. In Vienna there are multiple. (hopefully later I will compile a larger entry with various ones side by side). The markets are known for selling little trinkets and Punch (Pooo-nch). Its warm fruit tea with rum or gluewein (warm wine).

Clothing to School

I normally run hot, but after biking to school from Purkersdorf to the train station I have had to add a couple of layers.

Bed of Contents:

Top Row: gloves, long johns, jeans, skiing socks

Bottom Row: marino wool sweatshirt, light jacket, windproof jacket, rain jacket

Spain vs. Vienna Soccer

Rapid is the better team in Vienna but Spain was playing Vienna not Rapid (yes Vienna has two teams). Spain is ranked among the best (i have heard im not a huge soccer fan but it was fun to watch). But as it turned out the spanking Spain delivered to Vienna was to my benefit I got to yell Goal 7 times.

The Vienna Mall

This is the main mall in Vienna. In the center downstairs they have a grocery store. Its hard to imagine the Oaks Mall with a grocery store right in the center.

The Movies with Karin and Dilo

We took a sightseeing tour of Stephansplatz and then went to 1 of 2 English speaking cinemas (movie theaters) in Vienna.

All of Vienna is decorated for the Holidays especially Stephansplatz.

Movie Theater:

There isn't much space in a city like Vienna so they have to get

creative when they put a theater somewhere. The one I went to

was underground and had boulders sticking out on all sides. I

went to see 2012 (which was hilarious horrible plot) just as the

street was cracking inhalf or something intense (i could tell only

because of the strained violins trying to be scary) the movie cut

out and the theater went black, it was for a Pause. I have never

experienced this before only in theaters with real actors on stage.

Fasching

I enjoyed Fasching in Purkersdorf. Walter was all dressed up. During this time the community provides free Krampfen which is like a jelly filled doughnut. It is also tradition to have warm cider with rum or Punch (a warm fruit drink also with rum or schnapps).

The duration of the Fasching period varies according to national and local traditions. Fasching in Austria begins on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the moment the new (Heuriger) wine becomes old (alt), 'Heurige' wine, is the most recent vintage normally offered for consumption by the grower in his/her wine bar and is officially released on this day. (www.virtualvienna.net)

Downtown Vienna

This is the Votive Church

The weather in Vienna is constantly changing and you can start your day with

sunshine only ending with hail and rain.

Something I had to get used to coming from California where we only have

one season all year long.

Kaiser San Josef Volkshule

This school is over 100 years old and they had their anniversary celebration last year. Maria took me on a tour of the historical school and I got to watch a performance from the students of St. Martin's day.

Fasulrukshin

I went to a celebration that took place in an underground wine cellar. In my hand I have a Schnitzel Sandwich.

Wien Konzerthaus

After the concert Walter and Maria always meet at a nearby restaurant to have some dinner and visit with friends. Its common to have the performers visit a restaurant and eat with guests.

FOOD:

This Sandwich here was with dark bread, goat cheese, spinach, and more cheese

melted on top with some chives sprinkled on top.

So good I'm going to try to make it in the U.S.

Importance: The Konzerthaus has the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Wiener Kammerorchester (wikipedia). Since it was founded it has always tried to emphasise both tradition and innovative musical styles.

Porsche 964 RS Joy Ride with Dilo

Dilo has a passion for Porsches and this one here is 964 RS. That day I got a ride back to Purkersdorf in something a little nicer than my pink bike.

Karin's Birthday

Celebrating my cousins birthday with her fiancee Dilo

Eggs Benedict

Musikverein

I went here with Walter and Maria to watch a 3 person Violin Concert.

This hall was a smaller one underground and the fancy one is on the first floor.

Importance:

This is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna New Year's Concert is held here.

University of Vienna Student Protest

While the college students of California protest the hikes in admission fees that soar above 20k a year the Austrian student body is protesting against being charged for their education. As it stands their education is free and their government wants to charge them a small fee (nothing over 1000eu a year).

Their protest (the one i walked though there more more than one throughout the week) took place around the ring and inside part of Stephansplatz.

I found it hilarious but entertaining to walk the ring.

Vienna Staatsoper

I got lucky when I was walking by the Vienna state opera house (browsing through downtown) and some scalper tried to sell me some tickets to the Macbeth play that was sold out that evening. Normally I just say nein danke and pass on by but this time I actually took the time to check out the flyer of the play before I came back to the scalper. I knew it was supposed to be impressive inside so I said ok lets see if I can game up this guy. He was selling the tickets for 30eu a piece and I told him he could let the tickets go to waste or he could have 20eu now. He gave in and I had my tickets.

Once I was inside I played tourist and took some pictures of the inside. After I was done admiring the inside I used my broken German to find my seat...as the people kept on telling me further back, upstairs, to the right to the left...I was starting to think I was the one who got had by the guy outside.

I finally found my seat waiting for me inside the one of the rooms on the 3rd floor.

When I entered I was taken back because I have never had boxed seats for anything let alone the state opera. Then as the show started there was an open seat at the very front of the balcony and I asked the others if they would mind if I took the seat and they let me go ahead (probably because I put on the charm haha jk).

The show was amazing, they had a live orchestra (no electronic amplifiers), amazing sounds, and they even had little lcds that showed the translated text.

TIP: If you want to see a play or show at one of the Vienna theaters go at the last second and find someone selling an unused ticket or grill a scalper for a good price.

Bratislava

Bratislava is only a 1hr train ride from Vienna for about 28EU round trip. A friend from the University, Mohammet (hes from Turkey) and I headed out pretty early by taking the 8am train. But that meant that I had to get up at 6:30am and start riding my bike to the trainstation to catch the underground that would take me to the Sudbahnhof station where the train was leaving for Bratislava. A visualization:

Bike 15 min --->Purkersdorf Sanitorium---> 20min to Hutteldorf --> Train for 35 min to Sudbahnhof ---> 1hr Train to Bratislava

Anyways, got there and realized we didn't really know how to get to the main city or even how to exit the station. Well we both fell asleep in the train and woke up when it was fully stopped only to find out we were locked in side (must have been asleep for sometime). I thought this was the end of my trip and I was only a window away from Bratislava...no big deal just had to yell and scream at the top of our lungs at the onlookers and we were out in no time (or just ask the conductor to let us out cuz we fell asleep).

Happy to be out and taking a picture of the train stop that doesn't say Bratislava I know my fault.

After wandering around I asked some lady how to get to the center of the city and she directed me towards the 80 bus, but I still had no idea how to get a ticket and thought I must get it on the bus NNNOOOPPPEE. No ticket, but I asked the guy driving where I could get it and he said "in there" I was like oook (kinda mad that I would have to get off after waiting) then he demanded "SIT" and I didn't ask questions I just took a seat and headed for the city center.

All of the touristy spots were located around the city center. They are easy to get to by foot and no cars are allowed to drive in the city center. Was cool but I was glad to get back to Vienna.

Remodeling the House

Walter and Maria are adding a separate bedroom to their house and I have been lucky enough to watch the whole process from blueprints to spraying cement to building the frame to wiring and plumbing. This is a picture of the room after the insulation has been put in covered with the dry wall. Walter and I were trying to wire the whole room (well I am giving myself too much credit, I was there to push wires while Walter explained everything to me). We wired the whole room but got stuck at the very last switch where the wire could not be fed through (the tubing was wrapped around a tight corner). I wanted to drown the wires in water (i guess i was trying to inflict pain on the wires somehow). Solution was to remove a section of dry wall and redo the wiring.

Butt I'm not Sick!

I got sick after biking in the rain with snow (even with all of the layers) so I had to take my temperature I was like sure no problem until I was presented with this....

I started inventing creative ways this could be used because it didn't go under the

tongue. I quickly told Walter and Maria that the back of my hand is an excellent gauge

of temperature and I knew it was a good bec I saw it once on Scrubs. They

still insisted that I use it, luckily I only had to put it in my armpit haha

Gymnasium School

Gymnasium is like a U.S. high school. I went with Maria one day to visit a local school and see if there was anyway that I could volunteer my time to help out with one of the classes as a native english speaker. I spoke with the english teacher there and he said that we will work out a schedule (i will give updates to let you know how it goes).

The school was built with the political help of the Purkersdors major who previously held office at the state level of Austria. I also met the principal who was with the school from the very beginning of the project. At first the Purkersdorf school was a small building and later with the help of the major the larger school was built and they are now looking to expand it!

Going to School

This is the gear that I am sporting when I go on my way to school. I have realized I can't predict how the weather is and I must bring a waterproof something (jacket, bag, or gloves) and warm socks shoes, hat, and I found out a scarf works well too. The day can start off beautiful and change into rain and hail in a second.

Yes that is my ride. Pink, seat nearly falling off, and chain on its last legs. Its fun ride.

Dinner with Family

From left to Right--> George (the son of Walter), Walter (who is kindly spoiling me at his house in Purkersdorf Maria was on a trip =( so she was not with us), Bob (friend of Bruni), Bruni (my aunt and godmother), and Karin (my loving cousin who I adore)

Uncle Otto

Came over to our house in Purkersdorf to drop off a warm coat an visit. I am spoiled by both my Family in the U.S. and in Wien.

We had dinner at a Nice Heurigen (restaurant) not to be confused with Heuriger. A Heuriger is a place where people can go and taste the wine of a family's newest harvest. Heurigers can only serve their own wine and have a limited selection of food normally specialty bread and wine. But this was just a restaurant and it was delicious. It was also nice to meet with everyone in Vienna!

Kunsthistorisches Museum

Kunsthistorisches (Art History Museum) was one of my favorite non-touch/play museums. They had an extensive Egyptian exhibit that contained sarcophagi (plural for sarcophagases?) large sculptures of important rules like Cesar and and other sculptures from rulers like Imhotep (thank you The Mummy for educating me).

Imhotep via Hollywood vs Imhotep Sculpture. The bald head looks about the same.

The special exhibit they had was "Wer ist Karl der Kuhne?" It means who is Charles the Bold.

Special Historical Props for Karl:

Charles the Bold left unimaginable treasures from the legendary court of Burgundy. An exceptional exhibition dedicated to his life and actions is now on show in Vienna. The KHM offers visitors the unique opportunity to see its important holdings together with the “Burgundian Booty”, shown outside of Switzerland for the first time in 500 years. These precious mediaeval objets d’art document the character of this enigmatic prince and his historical importance for the spectacular rise of the House of Habsburg. Thanks to the clever marriage alliances and the premature death of Charles the Bold the rich Burgundian inheritance fell to the Habsburgs; only two generations later, the duke’s great-grandson, Charles V, ruled an empire “in which the sun never set”. (www.khm.com) <-- read more there

Historical Props:

The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna numbers among the most important European museum buildings put up during the 19th century.

The monumental structure, built at the behest of Emperor Franz Joseph I as part of his expansion of the city in 1858, was intended to both unite and appropriately represent the artistic treasures that had been collected by the Habsburgs over the centuries.

Construction work lasted 20 years, from when ground was first broken in 1871 to the museum building’s completion in the year 1891. (www.khm.at)

Schloss Schonbrunn Garden

The Schonbrunn Garden is ridiculously large. When I was dropped off (saved me 1hr of train hopping) I had all intentions on running literally (thats why I look so ugly, fat, beat, sweaty in the pic) through the whole place. I was stoked on the idea of running through historical sights so I couldnt resist the temptation to run through the gardens featured in James Bond's The Living Daylights. Unfortunatley, I am not as well trained as I thought I was so I could only run through about 1/4th of it (i was running real fast thats my excuse).

Admission to the gardens is free for everyone to enjoy you only have to pay to get inside the Castle. As you probably know by now I like to interact with my surroundings even if its historical, so you can imagine my excitement when I found a garden labyrinth. The maze was constructed resembling the same layout and plants as were present in 1695. I didn't have enough time to make it through the maze no worries you can bet on it that I will be back there to check it out (with pictures and video next time).

Marketing Blerb from the Castles Website:

The palace and its grounds form a unit and reflect each other, in correspondance with the Baroque notion of the princely palace, according to which architecture and Nature should interpenetrate. The Baroque layout of the gardens, together with the additions made during the last decade of Maria Theresa's life, have survived more or less intact and today still determine the characteristic appearance of the gardens at Schönbrunn.

Historical Props:

From the 18th century to 1918, Schönbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors. It was designed by the architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Nicolaus Pacassi and is full of outstanding examples of decorative art. Together with its gardens, the site of the world’s first zoo in 1752, it is a remarkable Baroque ensemble and a perfect example ofGesamtkunstwerk. (© UNESCO World Heritage Centre) (trip advisor)