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Salzburg
Salzburg - early morning. looking towards
the Old Town. The gardens on the right bank belong to the Mirabell Palace |
From Hohensalzburg Fortress looking down over the Old
Town and the Cathedral with a copper roof. The Cathedral has been
partially rebuilt after damage sustained in World War 2. It is very
sumptuous and decorative. The crypts below the cathedral were open
for viewing - very eerie and cold, although well-lit. |
Mirabell Gardens - the start of the formal
gardens (attached to the Mirabell Palace) through which we walked.
We also returned to these for a late picnic lunch. |
Fortress of Hohensalzburg: We travelled
up the hill by the electric funicular railway built in 1891.This was once
water driven. From the castle walls are superb vistas of the Austrian Alps,
and of Salzburg itself. |
Part of the Austrian Alps seen from the castle walls (see the fairytale
castle tower in the right hand lower corner) |
Hoher Stauffen (1782m) is the highest peak
of the three shown here.The views from the castle walls were superb |
A beautiful fountain hidden in Kapitelplatz one of the squares of
the Salzburg Old Town area. The Kapitel Horsepond
fountain shows four horses rising from the waves (basin of the fountain). |
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| Vienna |
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We stayed at an hotel in the area next to the University at Spittelau.
This grandiose structure is a refuse burning plant,
decorated in superb modern style by Hundertwasser. It loks like a
fun factory children's play area. |
Hundertwasser House and adjoining shopping
area, decorated by Viennese artist Friedenreich Hundertwasser in 1985.
This building houses Council Residential apartments. |
In contrast the formal buildings of Vienna were beautifully proportioned
and elegantly decorated. This is the Vienna State
Opera House (undergoing external cleaning). The interior of
this building is superbly decorated and very richly ornate in places. The
Opera Hall is of maginificent size, horseshoe shaped with five balconies,
including a standing only area with cheap tickets (to make music affordable
for all). The most magnificent ornate marble staircases lead to richly
decorated rooms and reception areas. |
St Michael's Square - leading to the stables
of the Winter Riding School. On the left, Loos House built
in 1910 with a simple modern facade contrasts to the formal architecture
of the St Michael's Tract and copperdomed church. |
| A superb example of New Gothic buildiungs is the City Hall with
its fine spires, and ornate balconies and arched window openings.
Thetallest spire (98m) is topped by a figure known as the Rathausmann
(City
Hall Man).
We had dinner at the restaurant in the basement of the City
Hall- a superb meal. After, we walked through the outdoor
gathering - a concert and film showing. Hundreds of people gathered
to sing, to chat, to party in the City Hall grounds.
More people wandered the parks and streets. |
TheVotive twin spired church.
The spires are so finely crafted they look like wedding cake decorations. |
I want a carport like this. This is the inside of the Carriage
entrance to the Hofburg Palace. |
Vienna Hofburg Palace
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Mozart's statue and treble clef garden
in his memorial garden |
Superb gardens at Schonbrunn. Designs
were accentuated by the use of small red and white flowering shrubs.
Formal topiary gardens are in the background, andclose by alpine gardens
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The Butterfly House
We waited for 20 minutes to enter the Butterfly House while the
receptionist talked on the phone. Eventually we left, disappointed
at not being able to see this magnificent collection. |
Natural history museum and Zoo information still under construction
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