So, as some of you may know, I just had an awesome weekend in Paris with tiapia and sokky, but I shan't post about that (yet)! There is a method to the madness and an order to the chaos.
Vienna
So, in Venice we caught an overnight train to Vienna and when we arrived it was *cold*! So, the first thing we did (after checking into our hostel) was go and buy coats. The rest of the day was also spent doing "necessary things" and we sent off a big parcel to NZ (our Venician glass etc). It's always a worry when we post stuff home, but so far we've been lucky and they've arrived. We also got in contact with a particular Austrian, some of you may remember her from such events as New Years 04/05!
Anyhoo, our Austrian is now studying in Vienna and was very pleased to meet up with us and do some touristing with us. She did have to go to university though, so we went to Schloss Schönbrunn, the Summer Palace of the Hapsburgs, without her. It was neat! Fancy decorations (and wobbley fake candles) on the inside, but the garden was cool too, with multiple mazes and a great play area. We also went into the kitchens there and had a demonstration of how to make Apple Strudel. Be warned, I shall be attempting this back in NZ!
We meet Austrian for lunch and then headed to the catacombs of St Stephen's (many bones) and the the Hundertwasser Museum. Totally got my photo taken over by the toilets. Austrian met us again, this time for dinner and we went to the University Brau Haus and I had schnitzel. Mmm.
The next day we went to the market and the St Karl's Church in the morning. Then, met up with Austrian, had Sacher Torte at the Sacher Cafe, then went to the Sissi Museum and the Schatzkammer (royal treasury). In the evening we grabbed a quick takeaway meal, then went to the Volksoper (People's Opera House) and saw Madame Butterfly. Austrian had picked us up standing tickets in the morning (only 1.50 euro each) and we were prepared to stand in the gallery, but luckily the theatre wasn't too full, so we got to sit down.
After the Opera, we went back to her place and her flatmate had made us Apple Strudel! Austrian also had some local wine. Nomnomnom.
Good times Vienna, good times.
Budapest
Budapest was a bit of a random choice for us. We didn't plan to go there until I was reading in the Lonely Planet about getting to and from Vienna and saw that there were cheap and quick (3hrs) buses to Budapest. Also, it was cheap to get a double room there! So off we went, checked in, did laundry (travelling is all glamour) and went out for dinner (mmm goulash). The next morning, I got a text from my Dad telling me a couple of family friends were now living there! I called them up and arranged to meet them for dinner. Had not seen them for 20 years! Was awesome, these people were really important in my life when we lived in Pakistan.
We did other stuff in Budapest too of course, highlights have to be the Széchenyi baths (huge bathing complex with outdoor and indoor baths of various temps, some even with whirl pools), another St Stephen's (this time with bonus *hand*) and Castle Hill (with Castle and Matthias Church, with beautiful "asian" influenced painted walls).
Prague
Prague was great! Took lots of photos for the Mage Game of course. It is a really beautiful city, so that wasn't difficult at all. Could probably write lots, but this entry is getting too long (too much Vienna maybe), so I'm going straight to the highlights!
- Museum of Decorative Arts
- Wandering along the river
- Alphonse Muchas
- The Cathedral
- Walking tour
- Meeting a local at the "horses tail"
- The Ossary at Kutná Hora
- The Spanish Synagogue on the Jewish Quarter
- Randomly seeing a period movie or TV show being filmed
- Sour Cherry Beer
Point of Fashion: Sadly not Why So Sullen Edward Cullen?
Current Obsession: blogging and photos