New Years in Vienna

So New Years in Vienna.

We actually left on Friday and stopped at Lake Bled Slovenia.  It is a beautiful little town on a grand lake. After exploring we think it would be even better place to visit in the summer time because there are a lot of outdoor and water activities.  But in the winter it was a sleeping little gem.  Our hotel may have been the best part. Despite having made the reservation for the wrong night (yes I am my mother's daughter) they were overly accommodating. They sent us away for about a half hour so they could get the room ready - turn on the heat.  During our half hour we explored the lake region driving down to the end by the Church of Assumption and enjoying the great views.   

Sunlight bouncing off Slovenian Alps.

Church of Assumption in the middle of Lake Bled.

When we came back to the hotel they provided a nice local snapps to enjoy by their wood burning grill/fireplace before we went up to the room. The room was huge - it had a small table and a day bed with a trundle could have slept four people.  The bathroom which we were told when we made the reservation would not be attached, was attached but a little cold (we didn't notice the separate heater until we were getting ready to check out the next day).

After seeing the food being cooked on an open grill table side we also decided to dine at the hotel. The food was amazing - I had a steak with gorgonzola and Phil had lots of meat. Of course we also enjoyed some local wine and desert. We also enjoyed breakfast at the hotel the next morning; cooked just for us because we were the only guests also sitting fireside.

After dinner we took a stroll back to the lake and started to experiment with the new camera. 

Moonlit barns in Slovenia.

Then on Saturday morning before we drove to Vienna we hiked up to the Castle for more breathtaking views.


 

 

Saturday we got to Vienna and ended up walking most of the downtown major sights.  It was nice to see a little in the day light and then watch as the city lit up.  St. Stephens is a little church hidden in the center of the city very Gothic from the outside. As soon as we arrived it reminded me of Paris which of course was a great trip so I had high hopes. While I really enjoyed it I think it would be exponentially better in warmer weather we are just not cut out for the cold.

St. Stephens Cathedral in the center of Wein.

Sunday it was so cold we decided to take a hop on hop off bus around the city.  We really just rode the bus the while day to get a feel of the lay out and see the sights from afar so we could decide what we wanted to go back to.  Our first stop was Schonbrunn Palace which sits outside the city - think Versailles for Paris but on a smaller scale.  Since it was cold/winter time there were no flowers and all the fountains were off, so again we missed the real beauty of it.  



View from behind Schobrunn Palace.

Due to the timing of the buses we didn't get off anywhere else just rode and saw the sights from afar - I would love to go back to the Prater area and explore on a summer day I think this would win my heart as much as the parks in Paris did.

So then we walked the city a little - Phil was trying to find a bar to watch the Skins game at, but since it didn't start till 2am local time even the "American" bars were not showing it. But we did have a few beers while we watched one of the earlier games - Giants I think. 

We had planned to go back to the history museum on Monday but alas because it was new years eve day it was closed. So we ended up exploring the outside of Belevdere palace. Also very beautiful but would be better in the summer.



Belevedere Palace and the frozen reflection pools.

Phil was a little disappointed to say the least but I was able to appease him with a ride on an old trolley which we ended up going in a few circles on but finally figured it out.

 

After a little nap on Monday evening we had a nice dinner followed by a fun night at Ratzplatz to ring in the new year. 

Tuesday we got up and going pretty early so that we could get back and but for another almost gas fiasco we made it back for a little more relaxation before going back to work on Wednesday.