A Day in Vienna

...is definitely NOT enough!  Maybe three would be better.  Or four?  So much to see and do here, especially if you start out like we did.  The tram conductor told us to take #49 and we did--in the wrong direction.  Next thing we knew we were at the end of the line out in the suburbs.  Ahhh--let's turn around and go back....
So we were back on the tram, to Spanische Reitschule, the Spanish Riding School. They were only practicing with a full performance not scheduled until the weekend.  Still, the horses are so beautiful and the riders so composed and graceful, it was still a treat.

The next stop on our Red Bus Tour was the Schoenbrunn Palace, a ways outside the city.  It is the former imperial summer residence of the Hapsburg monarchs.  The palace has 1,441 rooms, huge gardens and a zoo and is one of the most important monuments in the country.  We didn't see all the rooms and we couldn't take any photos but, trust me, it is amazingly ornate and those Hapsburgs knew how to live!  The entrance to the palace...

A small view of part of the garden...

A bit later, we noticed the Hotel Sacher and realized a visit to Vienna would not be complete without stopping by for sacher torte! 

 Delicious and served in the most beautiful dining room...

We finished the day with an amazing concert of music by Mozart...

Altogether, an amazing day in Vienna.