Day 10 - Oct. 23 - Cold and wet in Vienna

We had another leisurely moring. Ron cooked us spigeleier und speck - the German style where you fry the eggs right on top of the bacon. The eggs seemed exceptionally delicate, and the yolks broke (and the frying pan didn't help matters), but everything was yumny.

I went over to the cafe while Ron got ready.

Morning capuccino at Cafe Garage 01

Later we went out and took the #2 Tram for a change to transfer at Wien Mitte/Landstrase. Wien Mitte is a new shopping center than didn't exist the last time we were here. Three or four floors, and very nice. We wandered through (keeping out of the weather) and bought a few items we needed. From there we went down into the U-Bahn - although I swore I'd never travel on another U-Bahn after yesterday!

We left the U-Bahn at Stephensplatz, and found the exit that deposited us onto The Graben. Our first stop was a Vienna tradition - Buffet Tzesniewski on Dorotheergasse. I knew they had open-face sandwiches of many varieties and reasonable prices. It was started in 1902 by a Polish cook from Krakow. He came up with the idea of slicing sandwiches into small portions so everyone could afford them. We had never tried it. It was fine, but we don't need to go again anytime soon.

Open-face sandwiches that didn't look anything like description (but tasted good). Here I have chicken liver paste, egg with mushroom, cream cheese with onions and a mysterious one called salami (couldn't detect the meat!). Small glass of wine and Internatinal NY Times

We then wandered further along the street past the gorgeous antique shops and the Dorotheum (the state auction house founed by Joseph I in 1707.

http://www.dorotheum.com/en/auctions.html

Mary in the rain in front of a shop with lots of chandeliers

We walked past the Stallburg, home to the Lipizzaner horses, right across from the Spanish Riding School. It was originally built in 1558 as a residence for a crown prince. The horses were all peering out of their stalls and they were a beautiful sight.

We continued wandering in the drizzle - past the Michaeltor entrance to the Hofburg where the Habsburgs ruled from the 13th century. Today it is the official residence of Austria's president.

Michaeltor - through the arch is the Hofburg Complex

We came to Habsburgergasse, and I realized that is where the pension we stayed in the first time we came to Vienna and numerous times afterward was located. It was converted from an old palace. I had read it now has an elevator and is considered a Hotel, not just a pension. We stoped by to have a look, and the reception was now on the ground floor - used to be up a long, wide, palatial stone staircase. The lady was very pleasant, and asked if we would like to see a room. Ron waited in the lobby, and I took the new elevator up, was able to see the big stone stairway, and inspected a room - which was very large and not much different than I recalled from years ago. Many memories.

Stopped in a cute Italian restaurant for another break from the weather.

Eventually we walked back to catch the small Bus that would take us to Schwedenplatz, and from there returned to our "home". Had enough of being cold and wet.

Later that evening we again took our laptops to "our" cafe, which is quite popular in the evening.

Garage 01 Cafe

 As we prepared to leave, Gustavo served us each a complimentary Austrian schnapps. STRONG!

Mary and Gustavo (owner)