Today we spent the morning at the Kunsthistoriches (art museum) where we saw the most beautiful collection of sculpture and objects d'art collected by the Hapsburgs over the centuries- the craftmanship is stunning. The gold salt cellar La Saliere, (see below) the most famous piece from the collection and priceless It was stolen from the museum a few years ago...thief confessed a year or so later and it was dug from an Austrian farmer's backyard where it had been buried!
We then headed for a tour of the Vienna sewers. If you have seen the movie The Third Man you will understand the attraction. Twenty of us donned helmets and descended stone steps (below) the same ones Orson Welles raced down as he was chased by the police through the sewer system- for a really interesting tour of the underground.
Bit smelly and very dark, it was interspersed with clips of the movies and explanations of how the sewer system works - all quite fascinating. Continuing on the Third Man theme, we headed to the Prater, a large amusement park whose Ferris wheel played a role in the movie. We then rode the wheel to see the views of Vienna. Back to hotel and then out for a comfort food Sunday night dinner at Cafe Landtmann-one of the original Viennese cafes - the goulash and apple strudel were delicious! Weather a bit cool here. Good thing I brought layers. Getting tired now...jet lag...eyes closing. Gute Nacht!
Fiona & Carl
Location:Vienna
The museum gold in amazing.
ReplyDeleteKeeping Graham Greene in mind I see!
The sewer trip reminded me of the Andrzej Wajda movie "Kanal" I saw a few weeks ago which took places almost solely in the Warsaw sewers.
Continue to have a great trip.
Dad.