Time to Say Auf Wiedersehen

This morning several of us took an optional visit to Bratislava, Slovakia (formerly Pressburg until 1919).  It's about an hour from Vienna and a wonderful town.  The tour started at St. Martin's church, which is far below Bratislava Castle, and a Holocaust memorial.

Next we walked up several of the small old town streets to see the palace where Mozart played his first concert at the age of 6 in 1762.  We also saw St. Michael's Tower and gate, as well as several unique bronze statues placed throughout.

The tour ended up at the Opera House where there was somewhat of a Christmas market.  I tried a Lokse (a potato-crepe filled with jam and topped with poppy seeds.  Pretty darn good!

We returned to Vienna and I headed for the Christmas market at Schonbrunn Palace.  It was disappointing but still enjoyable.  Took a couple of metro changes but still didn't take long to get there.   Schonbrunn is a beautiful place.   Left here and went back to the market at Karlsplatz and decided I'm marketed out.  Yes, I know that's hard to believe.  But had to get back and decide how to get this stuff home.

Tomorrow morning it's home for this girl.  Bring on Mexican food!!!!!!!

Vienna Oh Vienna

We're in the city of 38 Christmas markets - Vienna.   As soon as we arrived we were taken to the main Christmas market at Rathausplatz for shopping until our brief city tour.  I found the ornaments I wanted to get!!!  Plus a few things more.  Our guide, Trudy, took us on a walking tour through the museum quarter, to see the Hofburg Palace, the Spanish Riding School, the stables of the Lipizzaner performance horses, Burg Theatre, the Votive Church, and Karlskirche.   The driving tour took us around the Ringstrasse and to see the diplomatic district.  We then headed to check in at the hotel, which is very convenient to the U-bahn (just around the corner).  Dropped by bags in the room and headed for the U-bahn to go into the city center, Stephensplatz to exchange money.  Next I hit the market at Karlsplatz, which was mainly glass, wood, jewelry, and candle artisans.  Woohoo!!!   Can  you say awesome!!!!     Tomorrow we go to Bratislava, Slovakia for a morning trip and then I plan to hit the markets at Schonbrunn and Spittelberg.

The Hills are Alive With the Sounds of Salzburg

Salzburg is where we landed today.  A bus ride through the German countryside to just across the Austrian border sits a magical town of 150,000 people.  The Hohensalzburg Fortress can be seen from almost everywhere.

Our time here started with snow flurries and super cold weather.  Today was two pairs of socks, Uggs, thermal undergarments, jeans, two shirts, gloves and a heavy hooded coat.

A walking tour of the pedestrian Old Town took us to St. Peter's Church, St. Peter's Cemetery (the one replicated for The Sound of Music), Mozart's birthplace, the main shopping street in Salzburg, and back to the Christmas market.  

So far, the best one of all!!!!!   We begged our tour director to delay dinner and give us more time in the market.  Got some of the neatest things - one is a snow globe but made like an old television.  Had to have it!!    

There were horse carriage rides and choirs singing in front of the church.  There were also musicians performing throughout.  

I have a feeling that the Austrian markets are going to be the winners - can't wait to see what Vienna has in store.