For hundreds of years, Vienna served as the home base of the Habsburgs. Habsburg family holdings grew large enough to earn “dynasty” status. The Western world hasn’t seen many families rich enough to be called dynastic. How did the Habsburgs do it? Let’s pick up the story where we left off last time. Continue reading “How to Build a Dynasty II”
Category: Danube Cruise
River cruise down the Danube, starting at Vienna and ending at the Black Sea.
How to Build a Dynasty
We’re in Schönbrunn Palace, just outside Vienna, Austria. The palace was the summer residence of the Habsburgs. In the 19th century, the Habsburg dynasty’s holdings were vast. How does a family build a dynasty of that size? Here’s how the Habsburgs did it. Continue reading “How to Build a Dynasty”
The Grounds at Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is a massive estate just outside Vienna, Austria. The Habsburg family, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, used it for their summer home. You don’t have to go inside to get some idea of the Habsburg’s power. You’ll know just by seeing the grounds at Schönbrunn Palace. Continue reading “The Grounds at Schönbrunn Palace”
A Visit to Schönbrunn Palace
We landed in Vienna yesterday. After exploring our immediate surroundings, the Inner Stadt area, we had a good dinner and conked out. Today we’re going to do the typical tourist thing and go see Schönbrunn Palace. It’s a required activity on any self-respecting tourist’s What-to-See-in-Vienna list. Continue reading “A Visit to Schönbrunn Palace”
It’s All About the Schnitzel
Let’s talk about schnitzel. I had it for dinner last night. Mmm mmm good. To be specific, I had wiener schnitzel. But here in Vienna I could have had any number of schnitzel offerings that are on the menu. My guess is that they’re all good. Continue reading “It’s All About the Schnitzel”
Exploring the Innere Stadt
We’re walking in the area of Vienna called the Innere Stadt. If we were in a city in France, the corresponding term would probably be Centre Ville. The idea is that it’s the heart of the city. Based on what we’ve seen so far, it looks like Vienna’s Inner Stadt is the place to be. Continue reading “Exploring the Innere Stadt”
The Waltz King
We’re in beautiful downtown Vienna, Austria, home of the Waltz King, Johann Strauss II. We arrived earlier today, rested up, and now we’re out and about, just starting to explore the pedestrian zone of the Innere Stadt. Continue reading “The Waltz King”
Discovering Vienna
What do you think of when you think of Vienna? Hmmm… classical music, for sure. Strudel, maybe. Vienna sausages? Those don’t count. I don’t know much about Vienna at all. That’s about to change, though, because we’re going to spend a few days discovering Vienna. Continue reading “Discovering Vienna”
