The day began with purchasing train tickets so the group would be mobile tourists. First stop, the Opera House. The four were approached by men wearing costumes to buy theater tickets. Clothes for the concert? No problem. They could wear casual clothes because Vienna was casual in the summer. (Did you know that? ) They only had 7 tickets left in the A section which they would sell to us because we were so nice. Blah, blah blah. The group was able to resist the sale.
They continued on with a walk through the city. Some of the sights that they saw were the following:
Opera House – AKA Wiener Staatsoper – (This was confusing to Debbie – She thought Wiener Staatsopr was the name of a tour company and kept looking for the Opera House).
Albertinaplatz – Contains several museums and the Monument Against War and Fascism
Kaisergruft – The Imperial Crypt (Kaisergruft), also called the Capuchin Crypt (Kapuzinergruft), is a burial chamber beneath the Capuchin Church. The bones of 145 Habsburg royalty, plus urns containing the hearts or cremated remains of four others, are here, including 12 emperors and 18 empresses. (Fun fact – A Hapsburg is buried in three places – bones, heart and organs in different places.)
Neuer Markt – Has lots of statues and other stuff
Graben – The Graben is one of the most famous streets in Vienna’s first district, the city center. (We walked down it.)
Demel – Chocolate Club field trip – Ultimate Viennese chocolate shop packed full of tourists. (Debbie resisted the urge to purchase any more chocolate).
St. Peter’s Church – The oldest church building (of which nothing remains today) dates back to the Early Middle Ages, and there is speculation that it could be the oldest church in Vienna.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral – St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. (Okay, Debbie failed on this – When the group got there, the church was closed for the day and only open 1 hour the next day). The church was circled several times with multiple pictures taken. Vienna gingerbread was also purchased which was quite tasty and helped keep strength up for touring.
Larry: People stood too close to me. I felt the togetherness of the tour group. Jawohl! (He has been wanting to use this word from Hogan Heroes days).
Joyce: Well, it was informative but did you check with Trip Advisor about this tour? However, did you find this tour?
Jerry: It was okay. I felt energy in the building and energized by the tour. I might take up singing again.
Larry: Just wait until you get to Salzburg and the hills are alive with the Sound of Music.
Debbie: Who ever planned this tour brought the Wein Opera alive. Maybe we will be invited to the debutante ball in 2018. We should start practicing the waltz. It was a magnificent tour!
Which opera did you resist buying tickets to?