I Want His Job!

This guy is bit on the nerdy side (I think I'm just jealous of his job), but in these videos, Rick Steves shows many of the fantastic things that await you in Vienna.

Enjoy!

And here, Rick is in Salzburg. We will take a trip together to Salzburg and see many of these sights.

Really, how did Rick get this gig? Oh well, I am grateful I get to experience Vienna and Salzburg with a great group of students.

Happy International Ferris Wheel Day!

If Valentine's Day isn't your thing, we've got an alternative—International Ferris Wheel Day.

Vienna has one of the earliest Ferris wheels, the Riesenrad (giand wheel). It was built in 1897 to celebrate Emperor Franz Josef I's golden jubilee. It's become one of Vienna's most popular attractions and has appeared in several films such as The Third Man and The Living Daylights.

So, to you and yours we wish a very happy Ferris Wheel Day!

Valentines Chocolates: From Vienna With Love

Before Valentine’s Day is officially over, we wanted to send you a little something to let you know what kind of Valentine’s chocolates you could find if you were in Vienna right now. Best of all, these chocolate delights are available in Vienna ALL YEAR ROUND.

Creamy Chocolate Eis at Tichy’s—simply the best!

A giant bowl of chocolate goulash. (Oh, yes, it really does exist. And we’ll take you there.)

 

A slice of the famous Sachertorte from Café Sacher. Add a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream, just because.

Chocolate-covered pastries from the Naschmarkt. Is the salesman telling Katie she's crazy? Crazy for chocolate?

Vienna’s signature “Manner”cookie—melt-in-your-mouth wafers with layers of hazelnut cream.

The chocolate selection at your local Viennese grocery store.

Here's a poster I saw in Vienna, and I say, "Sign me up!"

Café Culture

An essential part of any trip to Vienna is a culinary tour through some of the city’s landmark cafés. More than just restaurants, Vienna’s cafés have been gathering places for the famous—Mahler, Freud, Klimt—and for the notorious—Hitler and Lenin. Today, Vienna’s cafés are the perfect spot to meet with friends, read the newspaper, or play chess, all while enjoying the pastries of your dreams. During your stay in Vienna, we’ll introduce you to some of the best spots where you can absorb Vienna’s café culture. Sit back, relax and say “Ahhhhhhhh.”

Impressions of Vienna

Not only is this a cool video, I love the song ("Vienna" by Matt Costa). In fact, I'm going to download it from iTunes right now.

Enjoy!

The Modern Sound of Vienna

Vienna Central

Welcome to Vienna Central!

Imagine yourself at the end of a transatlantic flight, landing at Vienna International Airport. You leave the plane, collect your luggage, and prepare to sleep through the shuttle ride to your hotel.

But Vienna isn’t that kind of city.

No matter how jet-lagged you are, we never want to sleep once we arrive in Vienna. After you arrive, we’ll take you downtown and introduce you to the most magnificent “inner city” you will ever encounter.

 Beautiful downtown Vienna—something to discover around

every corner!

Vienna is laid out like a giant wheel, with the city center at the hub, and circled by the famous Ringstrasse. Even though Vienna is a large city of nearly two million, the city center feels very “knowable.” After just a few times downtown, you’ll be confidently strolling from the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) to the Stefansdom (cathedral), meeting friends at the Rathaus (city hall) for a brief walk to the LDS Institute, bouncing back and forth between Tichy’s and Schwedenplatz for your daily dose of Italian Eis, and picnicking to accordion music accompaniment in the Burggarten (palace park).

The open air Vienna Film Festival runs all summer long. You

Can enjoy nightly films outside the beautiful Rathaus; best

of all, it's FREE! And with the money you'll save, you can...

...splurge on a fiaker (carriage) past the Hofburg.

So prepare to meet your new favorite city. Vienna is bound to become just like a second home, only more monumental. And with better bread. (More food blog entries to follow.) See you in Vienna!

Worth a Thousand Words

Let’s be honest. It would take far more than one-thousand words to describe the artistic riches you’ll discover in Vienna. From Rembrandt and Rubens, to Klimt and Kokoschka, the best of the best is here. Who wants textbook illustrations and Power Points when you can see the real thing?

Let Them Eat Cake

If a culture can be judged by its baked goods, then the Austrians are at the top of the food chain. Vienna’s cafés, centers for culture and conversation, are also a pastry-lover’s dream come true.  Sink your teeth into the chocolate ganache of a slice of Sachertorte, or let fresh, warm Apfelstrudel dissolve on your tongue, and you’ll wonder why you ever liked Twinkies.

Just a Little Summer Getaway

Once the domain of the Habsburgs, Schönbrunn Palace is your playground now, from its tree-lined avenues and formal gardens, to its grand and gilded staterooms that once entertained the likes of Mozart. Isn’t it nice to live how the other half lives?