Vienna, Austria

While Austin revisited the herbarium to finish what he had started the day before, Joy had her morning coffee at the Thalia Bookshop on Mariahilfer Strabe, where she face-timed Anna and Isla. One surprising thing in this book shop is encountering customers escorted by their four legged friends on leads, quietly shopping the aisles. From the cafe window, Joy also noticed that it was common to see dogs riding in carriers attached to the back of bicycles – the type we more commonly see toddlers traveling in. In the afternoon, and despite a sore knee and badly blistered toe, she decided to use the Vienna Pass once again to visit Schönbrunn Palace. Upon arrival, she caught the Schönbrunner Panarama Bahn (little tourist train) to the Gloriette for a refreshing iced tea and to enjoy the panoramic views from the balcony. Unfortunately, some garden beds were still under construction for the season, but there was still a splash of colour.

A Gloriette or Little Room is the name given to a small building in a garden elevated above the surroundings. The original version was built in 1775 as a “temple of renown” to be used as a dining room, festival hall and breakfast room for Franz Joseph I. It was destroyed during WWII but was rebuilt in 1947 and again in 1957. Today, it is a favourite venue for tourists visiting the Palace and provides wonderful views across the whole of the gardens and beyond.

In the late afternoon, we met in the city and wandered around looking at some the buildings of the Hofburg Palace. We found a few of the horses looking out of their stalls at the Spanish Stables but performances has ended for the day. We grabbed a bite to eat in a small cafe, near the venue for our evening orchestral concert and ballet performance, off Josefsplatz. More intimate and less fancy than the concert we attended last time we were here, but nevertheless charming and enjoyable.