I learned of the existence of Vienna, Austria when I was about 10, reading about the life of the composers to these songs that I’m playing from the Music Dictionary. I don’t exactly know the location on the map back then, but I’ve always wanted to go to Vienna. Just for the music. Just to go to this place where Mozart, Johann Strauss, Schubert, Haydn, Liszt, Beethoven and this whole lot of composers that I’ve been hearing and playing their songs were once at.
I did some research on the hostels available (coz hotel cost way too much) and found this awesome place on the hihostel website – Palace Hostel Schlossherberge. I told myself that this is the place I should stay the moment I saw the photos online. And I was right. Not only was the environment of the hostel awesome, the people who worked there had been most helpful in every way possible. The beautiful music of Mozart was even playing at the reception counter when I arrived.
Lovely. 
Ahhh… Amazing don’t you think? An absolutely breathtaking view. Cost per night with breakfast = €23.20.
On the way to the hotel, I saw the amazing Schönbrunn Palace, a place to visit if one is ever in Vienna. It’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its history dating back to the 16th century. That was the first place I went to after checking in.
First thought that came into my mind upon entering the palace gate – HUGE. Second thought once I got into the palace – Why on earth do these people need to have so many different kinds of room? Do they not get confuse? I bet I would. Third thought as I was going through each room – Empress Sisi sure is one tough lady. And she sure diets a lot! Fourth thought as I walked into the garden – My oh my, this garden is amazingly huge. And amazingly beautiful.
This palace is indeed impressive. So much drama has happened in the past. It was kind of surreal for me to be able to stand on those grounds. Glad that I was there. Oh, and I’m happy I successfully walked through a garden maze and saw how Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel) was made. It taste absolutely delicious.
One of the biggest thing in Vienna has got to be Mozart. Mozart is practically everywhere. In a park, in a concert hall, in the grounds of Hofburg, at the Schönbrunn Palace once when he was at the age of 6, playing for Maria Theresia and her family. Mozart was even on a chocolate. Yes, a chocolate; the Mozartkugeln chocolate.
But I must say, this treble clef on the ground is pretty cool. I loike.
Anyway, the one thing I know I had to do if I ever go to Vienna is to go to a Mozart concert. I got to know that there’s this one concert where everyone in the orchestra is dressed up in classical clothing. With the white wig and tights. But there were so many of these concerts I really don’t know which to choose. The guy at the hostel helped us out, picking this group he thinks is deemed one of the best in Vienna and place a booking for us. And we were in luck, coz they will be playing at the Musikverein that very Saturday night. It’s like some really super fancy dancy place!
The music of Mozart has never sound more amazing. It was as though Mozart was there himself. Every note that flowed out of every instrument on that very night was breathtaking. There’s really no one word to describe it. You’ve just got to experience it yourself. It’s superb. It’s… Well, it’s just it. I love it. Every moment of it. Worth every penny of my €42.
Since Vienna is all about Mozart, I thought it would be great to go see the Mozarthaus. In search of that place, we got a little lost. I asked one of a passerby and the first thing he said to me was “I can tell you that the Mozarthaus is not here in Vienna”. I was a little confused, coz according to my Lonely Planet book, there is a Mozarthaus in Vienna! He then continued and say, “The real Mozarthaus is in Salzburg. I know coz I’m from Salzburg.”. That part is true. Mozart was born in Salzburg and came to Vienna after he grew up. “But Mozart IS everywhere”, he said as he helped me figure out where the place is.
Not only did I find the Mozarthaus, but I also found the location where the photo on the front page of my ‘Vienna Encounter (by Lonely Planet)’ book was taken.
It’s actually slightly above the door to the Mozarthaus!
Another amazing sight of Vienna has got to be the St. Stephen’s Cathedral. I think my jaw probably drop as I was staring at the architecture of the cathedral. It is so so beautiful. I was most awed by it. There’s some restoration work going on at the cathedral, but that does not stop it from looking majestically lovely. The inside of the cathedral was equally amazing. There was a praying session going on as it was a Sunday morning when I was there. Somehow, there was an overwhelming aura of peace and calmness floating around the inside of the cathedral that morning. Lovely.
Among some of the other places that I visited include the MuseumsQuartier, the Danube River and Stadt Park.
Stadt Park’s pretty awesome. I love the garden clock. It’s so cool. And the park is filled with a lot of different figurines of famous people. Standing with his violin in the pic below would be Johann Strauss. I think Schubert’s in the park as well. Sitting.
Aside from the Mozartkugeln and the Apfelstrudel, another dessert that was mentioned in the Lonely Planet book as well as most websites is the Sachertorte by Hotel Sacher. It was a dessert that was made famous by some emperor simply because it was his favorite dessert or something. And now, Hotel Sacher is said to make one of the best Sachertorte in Vienna. A place that every tourist should go, sit and eat that cake.
Oh, what is Sachertorte you ask? Sachertorte is actually a 2-layer chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam spread in the middle and dark chocolate icing on the top and sides.
So yea, I insisted that I go to Hotel Sacher, sit under the sun at a temperature of 11C and be one of those tourist that comes to Vienna and had to try the Sachertorte. The ORIGINAL Sachertorte. Or so they say. With a glass of hot chocolate.
It wasn’t super duper awesome. Not like a to-die-for-dessert. Not to me at least. But it’s nice. Maybe it’s the environment. The dark chocolate was actually really good. The combination of the chocolate cake with the apricot jam was great as well. Maybe it’s coz I kinda think that the cake is not moist enough. It’s nice. Just not to-die-for. I’m happy I tried it.
Getting around Vienna was super easy. With the buses, trams and subway, it made everything super convenient. People are not generally friendly, but some are helpful enough when you’re kinda lost in between those old buildings.
Would I want to go back to Vienna again? I would, in a heartbeat. No doubt about it. Not just Vienna, but Salzburg as well. I mean, I have to go on that Sound of Music Tour. Really. I just have to. I need to run up those hills like how Julie Andrews did in the movie and start singing in my best possible voice, ‘The hills are alive, with the sound of musicccc…‘.
Okie. I’ll stop singing.
It has been an awesome 4 days. I would love to do this again. To go to Austria.
With you.
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