Trains, Trains, and More Trains

On Saturday (5/25) we took three trains from Vienna to Innsbruck, then Innsbruck to Verona, and then Verona to Venice. We went along the same route back to Salzburg to get to Innsbruck so that was cool. Then we went through the Alps and saw all four seasons. On the way to Innsbruck it rained, on the way to Verona we went through the mountains and it was snowing! We felt like we were inside a snow globe. All of us oogled at the snow like children and we really thought it was fake. It was so magical. While I was in my Chacos warm in the train it snowed outside and then we crossed the Italian border and it was like night and day. It was sunny and there were vineyards growing. There were gorgeous rivers flowing alongside the train in aqua blue. I felt like we were traveling through a book. Traveling by all those trains from 10 am to 9 pm it felt like we were in limbo all day.

Finally we arrived in Venice at 9 pm and it was absolutely pouring rain. Venice gave us a proper wet welcome. Fortunately we figured out the water bus system and were able to get on one to get to our hotel on the island Lido. The water bus took an hour to make its stops until we got to Lido. Venice by night was gorgeous with buildings sitting on the water and silhouettes of gondolas. Then we had to walk to the hotel. By that time it was pouring down and Anne and I were a little hysterical about how wet we were. Mark stayed cool the whole time and navigated us somehow. We were absolutely drenched and it was so hilarious. I’ve never felt so soaked. When we got into the hotel I think the man who checked us in thought we were crazy hooligans. But we got into the room and threw our stuff everywhere to get it dry. The room is nice and Venice by day was even more magical…and dry!

Hello Italy!

City of the Lipizzaners

I really got my horse fix today! We began the day with a delicious continental breakfast provided by the hotel. There were cheeses, breads, cereals, yogurts, jams, toast, cold cuts, and so much more. The guy at the reception desk was so darling in his Ray Ban glasses and perfect English. He helped us get to the main part of the city.

We headed down the street to see the famous Spanish Riding School. We got to see the Lipizzaners working in the morning exercise to music and it was absolutely amazing. The horses were so muscular and looked like they were dancing on clouds as they picked up their feet and placed them with precision. Everyone was mesmerized and gave appropriate claps when the riders got their horses to perform fancy dressage moves. They were all decked out in their uniforms of long coats, Austrian hats, and tall boots with spurs. Each horse was different and seemed to be in a different level of training. I loved every minute of it.

We then went to Cafe Mozart, on my parents recommendation, and enjoyed goulash soup and delicious desserts! We ate way too much and had to go walk around to walk some of it off haha!

We headed to Hofburg Palace next and it is so big and has several museums in it. Since we're under 19 we got in free too! We went to a section that had sculptures from the city of Ephesus. It was really cool seeing the columns and pieces of the architecture. Then we went to a museum of musical instruments which was beautiful. Then we moved on to the best part, the armory! I got to see lots of horse armor, saddles, spurs, and knights all decked out in their attire for fighting and jousting. It was really cool to see since I'm reading Game of Thrones right now and it's all about knights and kings, etc.

After the palace we moved on to the Austrian National Library which was out of a fantasy it was so spectacular! There were walls and walls of books with ladders, different levels, globes, and statues everywhere. I was at home for quite some time there snapping away with my camera as you will see later :). (Think Belle's library in Beauty and the Beast.)

We began to get tired but we wanted to see St. Stephan's Cathedral. We walked the famous shopping streets with big names like Gucci, Tiffany, and Burberry, towards the church. One store had live models in it which was hilarious! When we got inside, it was filled with different colors as the sun streamed through the windows. It was magical. Anne and I lit devotional candles too. After a very long day, we headed back to the hotel this afternoon. We have continued to enjoy our Viennese fruit too!

Today I reflected on just how blessed I am to be on this trip. I don't know what I did right to get here but I am so glad that I am. We've seen so much and had so much fun already and our adventure has only just begun. I always dreamed I would get to see the famous horses in Vienna but I never thought I would see them. At only 18 I saw them and it was like they were pulled out of historic Vienna and displayed right there for my 2013 eyes. Traveling is everything I hoped it would be and more.

More pictures await!

The dessert I got in Cafe Mozart.

Really cool pianos in the museum in Hofburg.

Goulash Soup!

Anne and Mark looking at the antiquities from Ephesus.

Anne and Mark again among items from Ephesus.

Me!

Vienna you are so beautiful.

Hofburg Palace

Lipizzaner Stables

City of Vienna

Anne and me

Sweet Swords!

My knights in shining armor

Real horse lover right here!

Mark in the National Library

Anne amazed by all the old books!

I just wanted to touch them all.

A statue in the library

St. Stephan's Cathedral

Inside

Devotional Candles

Mark looking in the Cathedral

The two candles Anne and I lit

We are off to Venice, Italy tomorrow and traveling all day by train!

Very Viennese

I had to post twice today to make up for the lack of Wifi yesterday. We traveled by a three hour train today to get to Vienna, Austria! We had a lot more time to get to the train today and we didn't get lost. When we found our seats we had our own compartment like in Harry Potter! It was really fun. We watched the Austrian countryside zoom by and went through lots of ear-popping tunnels.

Once we got to the station we took the U-bahns again to get to the street our hotel is on. We have really figured out the subway system and it is really easy once you get the hang of it. Our hotel is really cool! We have a giant triple room for the three of us with a little kitchen and actual metal keys to get into the room.

After we dropped our stuff off it was about 1pm and we headed to the Naschmarkt. We passed many cool buildings and museums on the way there. Lots of people ride bikes everywhere and we see cute dogs every time we look up! We grabbed some classic Austrian Wiener Schnitzel for lunch and I got chicken this time instead of pork and it was really tender! After we re-energized we walked along the market and enjoyed the bright fruits and vegetables and all the smells of spices. There were meats, cheeses, fish, pastries, and a flea market. Anne and I bought four different kinds of fruit to take back to the room and enjoy. It is so delicious and fresh! We washed it and enjoyed the European gems of cherries, grapes, strawberries, and nectarines.

Mark is taking his late afternoon nap again haha and then we will head to dinner somewhere. Tomorrow we are going to go the main area of the city where Hofburg Palace is and the Lipizzaner Stallions!

Ta ta for now!

Vienna building

Pickles at the market...bleck!

Where we bought our fruit!

Darling cupcake store across our hotel.

Our fresh Viennese fruit :)

Theatre in Vienna

Museum

Naschmarkt open every day of the week except Sunday all day!

Anne in awe of all the delicious food!