This could easily have been titled “What to do when you’re not feeling Prague!”. As you know from the last postcard, I wasn’t enjoying Prague as much as l thought l would. I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t love it. I’m not sure why l thought we were in Prague for just 2 weeks, but it’s actually just a shade under 3 weeks :-). Luckily, I had booked our accommodation for just one week with the intention of trying out a different area of town so we could get a good feeling for the city. The thought of staying on didn’t exactly light my fire, so l did what l do best… cut the losses and move on to greener pastures. Since we were so close to Austria, we decided spur of the moment to add a new country and head to Vienna. The awesome freedom to do what you want, when you want!. What a lovely surprise Vienna has turned out to be. We are both sure we could live here. We’re also sure that we probably couldn’t afford to, but what a lovely place. So many reasons to love it, I keep humming all these happy songs. The above image is from the Belvedere Place complex…stunning place!
Vienna is grand! As the train rolled in from Prague, I was at first a bit disappointed because it didn’t look like l expected (it looked “new”). Once we moved away from the train station though and went into the core of the city, I was wowed. It reminds me of Paris mixed with yeah.. Prague, Budapest and a cleaner London (my precious!). This is a great time to visit too. The weather has been awesome the past 3 days that we’ve been here. There are loads of tourists, but once again, like in Prague, not overwhelming yet. I wonder if it gets super crowded in the summertime? Everyone has this vision of Vienna as a very expensive city, but it’s actually not as bad as l thought. Now, I wish l had taken my aunt up on her offer to visit while she was posted at the embassy here.
From our usual poking around at the supermarkets and eating out, we both are positive that Stockholm and Copenhagen were more expensive for us, which l find surprising. I am also surprised at how many Asian restaurants there seems to be. We haven’t tried any yet, we’ve been busy with the schnitzels :-). Federico’s are just as good by the way, if not better, so …yeah!!! winning! The rental prices are not as horrible as l thought they would be either. Looking through realtor windows, we are seeing 550 – 650 square feet apartments for like 600-700 euros. Of course, they give you an empty shell it seems, you have to bring your own everything..including kitchen..so maybe not so cheap after all. It is also very impressive how workers switch from German to English so effortlessly. You’ll be happy to know that Uber works here, and is not so pricy either, we always seem to get upgraded to the next level. Nothing is cooler that when your Uber ride is an M5 series BMW, a Jaguar Pace or a snazzy Benz. I groan when l see Skoda on the app because l became an entitled twat really quickly! 🙂 :-). In addition, we have been walking for miles daily, it’s that pretty.
The plan was to stay a couple more days here, then onto Salzburg for 2 nights, then back to Prague for the last 3-4 nights. Instead we are skipping Salzburg and staying in Vienna for 4 more nights, then back to Prague. The need for me to walk in the footsteps of Maria Von Trapp, while strong, doesn’t justify the costs of the 2 nights. The prices are way higher than we are willing to pay. Besides, Federico has never heard of the movie and doesn’t care to either..haha! We are going to chill in Vienna, we might visit one museum (impressionists). Even though we happened to be here the first Sunday of the month when 3 museums are free entry, they looked absolutely and positively boring. I was even bored reading what they were about! l think l’d rather sit in front of a mirror and watch my hair try to grow 🙂 for 12 hours than visit them. More palace grounds, eating and people watching, maybe some wine tasting. That is the leisure game plan. I really need to start naming these postcards from.. since it’s never just a picture. That’s it for now from Vienna. So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen.. Goodbye! :-).
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Have you been to Vienna? If yes, did you find it very expensive? Have you ever heard of the Family Von Trapp?
Very happy to hear that you are enjoying Vienna. Where you stay matters a lot – when we were there, we lived in an industrial neighborhood close to the Prater Amusement Park (and therefore VERY far away from the city center). We were there when no flowers had bloomed and it was cloudy and gloomy… so we left with a rather poor overall opinion of Vienna. We did enjoy Schonbrunn and I believe that part of the city is beautiful whenever you visit.
I am also happy that we haven’t found the Aida cafe when we were there. The desserts looks absolutely yummy and by the looks of it, there’s a lot to choose from… Enjoy your next few days in the city!
They actually both came through :-). I’m glad we decided to come too as it is a pleasant surprise. You’re right, being that far away from the center would give you a rather poor opinion of the city. Where we are is close to the center and it has a lot of cool cafes and even more shops than we thought (thank god we are discovering that now, not the day we got here.. 🙂 ). We have visited Schonbrunn and Belvedere palaces and wow! Yeah..today on our way to DIY wine tasting, we got lost of course and ended up like an hour out of our way and really saw the “real” parts of Vienna..and saw another Aida…haha!
I though Vienna was pretty- but it is still fairly unwelcoming to folks like me. My kids- on a separate visit- had exactly the same reaction.
I swear it, we humans suck big time 🙁 . That was what l felt about Warsaw.
We loved Vienna. There’s a very cool library but I can’t remember its name. Really old school with a world globe that’s centuries old and those bookcases that are so high you need a ladder on wheels to get to the higher shelves. Well worth a visit
We are loving it as well. You’re the second person who has told me about this library. I’m going to chase that up and see if we can go visit. I wonder if it is in the city hall? That would suck because they have some thing going on and therefore are not giving tours right up till the day we leave :-(.
Here it is https://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/sights/imperial/national-library
Thanks. It looks awesome. We’ll have to see if we can get there after the City Hall tomorrow :-).
I haven’t been to Vienna but it’s on my list. Wow – like Paris! Asian restaurants seem to be everywhere; I am no longer surprised. So nice that they speak English. I love museums so I would have pushed for getting it all in.
It’s simply gorgeous..really wows you! and not in an empty shell kind of way. I really want to see the Gustav Klimpt exhibition, but they charge you up the king yang for all these museums 🙂 . It is very nice that English is so widely spoken, even though from reading German signs, you can sort of decipher what they mean, but thank god for Google map too !
We will be in Salzburg and Innsbruck in October. Hope they are as Wonderful as Vienna!
I hope so too! Those are 2 places l would still like to visit in Austria :-).
Vienna is definitely one of my favorite cities, world class museums, restaurants, palaces and very cool neighborhoods to explore and also from what I saw in your pics amazing dessert places to enjoy everywhere around the city.
I can see why it’s one of your favorite cities. It is fast becoming one for us as well. Getting lost way outside the city center yesterday was an unusual way for us to discover the grittier parts of Vienna and it was great. Even with graffiti, they still looked majestic 🙂 . Yep, good food and cool places. Who could ask for more?
Everyone has different tastes. Vienna is definitely pretty – but it’s almost antiseptically clean and manicured and we felt it was soulless compared to either Budapest or Prague. I remember writing about it and comparing it to Beyonce: sex, beautiful, but the eyes are kind of vacant….
Makes the world exciting, doesn’t it ? :-). I love it that tastes differ. I agree with you that the center is clean and manicured, maybe even too clean, but dig a little deeper, and you will find regular neighborhoods. The first AirBnB we stayed in was a nice neighborhood, a step back, with the most awesome gigantic murals that took up a building and kids playing basketball. We just moved today to another neighborhood that is definitely not what one thinks when you think of Vienna. 30% of this district are foreigners, mostly Serbs, quite a few of my peeps and Turkey. Just regular everyday people who buy their stuff at €1 store and one of the longest street stalls l’ve ever seen. I thought l was in Nigeria or Istanbul for a second :-). I do remember reading that post, and laughing because l totally don’t find Beyonce sexy or beautiful, same with Giselle 🙂 :-)… haha!
You’ve hit on a true definition of freedom Kemi – doing what you want, when you want – and there’s no better time to change your mind and your plans than while you’re traveling. I’ve never understood people who get so stuck on their travel itinerary that they won’t do do anything spontaneously, make room for an opportunity or take a jump elsewhere when they don’t like where they’ve landed. IMHO, time has the upper hand versus money. Why waste precious days if you’re not enjoying where you’re at? And, oh, it looks like Vienna would have me singing too! I’m with Fed about that Viennese Sacher Torte. Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate sounds … orgasmic! Anita
Oh double yuck with the double chocolate! You are both weirdos! :-). There was no use crying over spilled milk. I figured we might as well enjoy another place, take a break so to speak. Then if l still feel the same after we get back, then so be it. Like you say, the freedom in being able to do what you want, when you want is pretty cool, especially when we weren’t tired down with a non-refundable stay. I usually choose 1 thing, or maybe 2 a day and then let things work their way through. I hate rigid timetables :-).
Vienna is high on my list, also Prague. I have mid-aug open to wherever, but, ugh, it’s Aug; I’d prefer somewhere not so crowded. I know Frank (bbqboy) prefers Prague and now you’re saying it’s Vienna for you. It’ll be interesting what my verdict will be😉
Haha! It really will be interesting to get your take on things once you’ve visited both. Summer time will be brutal though in either place, but l suspect especially more so in Prague. If you prefer beer and drinking, Prague will have the upper hand, there are loads of beer pubs. I can do one pint of beer and enjoy it, but any more than that, I’m ready to call it a night, so beer gardens and such are sort of lost on me :-).
Oh Kem, you have fallen for the pretty face! Although, I have to admit that Vienna has substance too so why not fall. We spent just two nights in this beautiful city and loved every minute. The Belvedere Palace is home to “the Kiss”, by Klimpt and is worth a visit. Google it before you go for the back story. You will either love it or hate it, just like that Sacher Torte. One more thing we have in common – milk chocolate. Never been a fan of dark chocolate layered upon dark chocolate, but Malcolm thinks it’s heaven on earth. There is an open market somewhere in the city that you must visit. It’s pretty famous, so just ask around. We had a great picnic from stuff we picked up there. Sorry that you are skipping Salzburg, but understand. And yes, to your question. Vienna is beautiful, but very expensive. Now get back over to pretty little Prague and give it another shot!
One of my best friends loves everything Klimpt and so l listened to him drone on about him. I’m pretty sure l was some of his work years and years ago at the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston. I’ve always been partial to “the kiss”. I, however wasn’t willing to pay €24 to see his work. The only one worthy of that price in my book is Monet! 🙂 :-). Oooh.. I love that you love milk chocolate, we’ll leave that nasty stuff to Fede and Malcolm and Anita..haha! We did go to the Naschmarkt. It was pretty cool. The apartment we stayed in was only 10 minutes walk from there so we spent a good part of Saturday pressing the market, reminded me of the Rose Bowl flea market. I will definitely give pretty Prague another shot. We did go to a museum just before we left that blew my mind..Boom! We spent over 5 hours there and could have easily spent a couple more were it not for hunger :-). Elevated the city in my mind !
I’ve been to Vienna twice, but only a stopover at the airport. I was on my way to Prague, and then returning to Seoul. Next time I will stop, if only for that pastry in your last photo. Seriously, it look like a lovely city and I can see myself happily wandering the streets.
Haha! You should have a sign.. “will work for pastry”. It is fun to wander the streets. I find myself taking loads of pictures, and for someone who’s not a big coffee fan, I have been loving Viennese coffee, and will miss it, but Fede’s summer concoctions are wicked good too so it won’t be so bad. 🙂
Look at those desserts Kemkem! Glorious. I knew Vienna had a rep for fab sweets but I can taste the dish from here. Chocolate. Yum. Rocking post buddy.
Yep Ryan! Glorious is a good way to describe them. Their reputation is well deserved in our humble opinions. Thanks for the comment and for reading.
Heading to both Vienna and Prague this summer, so will have a chance to compare. We have friends who visited Prague, Vienna, and Budapest earlier this year and Prague was their least favorite. Loved hearing your reaction.
Oooh…that is so interesting to hear, especially because it seems to have been a unanimous decision. To me it seems like people are almost afraid to say they didn’t love Prague. You almost feel like something is wrong with you. Having now been to all three, for me it’s Budapest, Vienna and then Prague. I felt the same about Amsterdam. It’s okay..but just that. Thanks for chiming in :-).
Well, we need to do them all so you’ve whetted my appetite, literally and figuratively with this post. (However, I need to lose 10 pounds before I go from the looks of the food photos!) I love being able to change one’s mind half way through a trip and detour to some new interesting spot!
Glad to see your appetite has been whetted 🙂 . Haha! You can always walk off the pounds you would surely gain from all that dessert. We certainly did our share of walking. Thank you New Balance and Skechers! :-). It was great to be able to pull the plug on a losing streak vacation and go off and do more fun things. We’re back, I still don’t like it, and h absolutely still loves it :-). What a freaking weirdo!!! 🙂 🙂 :-).
Love Vienna – could definitely live there for a while. Really enjoyed going to a heuriger for wine and food.
Awesome place for sure. We loved it too! We did a Heuriger in Grinzing and it had a misadventure of sorts, but it turned out okay 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the Viennese coffee, but sorry you didn’t enjoy the Sacher Torte. It is a true delicacy for us chocolate lovers.
Yeah..the torte was more to Fede’s liking. He adores his dark chocolate like you do :-). Simple me, simple tastes! 🙂 :-).
Vienna is simply breathtaking, Kemkem. I am planning to explore it soon and taste that delightful Sacher torte! 🙂 How many days would be enough to see all the highlights Vienna has to offer?
Hi Lydia. It really, truly is a beautiful place with more facets than l thought. You and Fede can have the Sacher torte :-). I think 4 days would do it justice. Our week was a leisure pace, but we would have liked to tour the opera house too and do a couple more things but l truly felt the prices for museums and palaces were really high..so..nope for us :-).
‘Lovely post KemKem. As is Vienna!
I took Frank there for his significant birthday and he loved it of course! And being that Austria is just next door to Germany, thy speak the same language, and all the Germans love the Austrian mountains!
I didn’t find it expensive really. It was just as I expected, and prices are similar as they would have been in Munich! As for the Family Vo Trapp. Of course! MInd you, it was illegal to watch it in Germany for years, ‘cos of the Nazi insignia which is illegal over here…
p.s. You really are my soul sister as I don’t like chocolate either.
Or coffee! So we’ll have to part ways!
Oh Frank must have really enjoyed it. It’s wunderbar being able to speak the same language when you travel. I felt the museums and palaces especially were pricey. I can understand maybe like €15 per person, but €30 (discounted day pass) or like €50 if you buy separately? per person? Add 3 palaces and etc..etc..and it jumps. I agree that the food was not as expensive as l thought. We’re still soul sisters, I like coffee, but don’t love it. 🙂
I visited Vienna about 15 years ago, in the dead of winter. It was magical in the snow. ❤️ A highlight was going to the symphony.
I’m planning a return visit in early autumn and am eager to experience it anew, including some of the joys you highlighted. Love your post!
Finally, how is it possible that Fede doesn’t know The Sound of Music??!? 😂🤣😂
I can picture Vienna in winter time, it must have been so nice. I was extremely shocked at how much l enjoyed the city. I’d heard so much negativity (cold,sterile etc.) but actually found it a really great place. I can’t wait to hear your take on it after so much time has passed.
I don’t know anyone apart from Fede who doesn’t know about the Sound of Music..haha!It’s true that they don’t showw it during holidays in Europe, but really..you would have thought he would catch it at last once in the States.. he does hate musicals though :-).
Thanks for reading and for the comment!
“Federico has never heard of the movie and doesn’t care to either.” I laughed so hard, and Max said his already high opinion of Fede has gone even higher!
Back to the topic at hand… I went to Vienna (and Prague) years ago with my sister on her first trip to Europe. It was winter, cold!, and majestically beautiful. The winter balls were on and we even got to peek in a few windows to see how the other half lives (dances?). We saw the Vienna Philharmonic in their dazzling venue, then afterward we got two of the best street vendor sausage sandwiches you could imagine.
The entire trip was wonderful.
Haha! I think both Federico and Max are weird then! I mean really?? One hasn’t really lived till watching that movie…hahaha!
Your memories sound magical. I love the city because it offers something no matter the weather. I would have loved to peek into those windows. I am drooling at the thought of the sausage sandwiches. Oh my, it’s really stirring my desire to revisit. I’m so glad we both had wonderful trips:-).
Next one Salzburg!!! 🤣