Just a quick intro– since we only got our Schengen visas 2 days before our Eastern European trip, I never really had the time to do research about the places we were visiting. I didn’t purposely research in advance since I didn’t want to get disappointed if we don’t get our visas on time. Haha… So moral of the story - apply for a visa way in advance. For the record, we applied 3 weeks before the trip so maybe 1.5 months ahead would be ideal.
Our first stop in our Eastern Europe tour was Vienna, Austria. Our flight route was Manila to Bangkok via PAL– 3:20 hours flying time. Bangkok to Zurich via Swiss Air– 11:45 hours flying time! And Zurich to Vienna via Swiss Air– 1:20 hours flying time. Total flying hours was 16:25 hours but including waiting time in airports, it’s almost 24 hours!
We arrived in Vienna on a Sunday and our first agenda was to hear mass so we asked instructions from the front desk on how to get around. We found the train station but we weren’t sure if we were on the right track since the front desk personnel said we can buy tickets from a vending machine at the station but the only vending machine there was a beverage vendo!
We bumped into a local guy and asked him for instructions but he couldn’t speak English. But somehow, though he was speaking in German, we understood each other. We were able to board the right train but the problem was we still didn’t have tickets! I found a vending machine inside the train but it only accepts coins and not one of us had any Euro coin. But since we noticed passengers come and go without stopping by the ticket vendo, we just assumed we’ll be ok even without tickets. Haha…
Following the map, we had to switch to another platform once we reach the Opera Station but this time, we were able to find a ticket vending machine which accepts Euro bills so we got 24-hr train tickets each.
Getting off at Stephenplatz, we finally found our way to St Stephen’s Cathedral.
Getting off at Stephenplatz, we finally found our way to St Stephen’s Cathedral.
The beautiful cathedral was built from 1368 to 1433 (total of 65 years!). Its roof is so steep that rain alone is enough to keep it clean and is seldom covered with snow. It was also here where Ludwig van Beethoven realized the totality of his deafness when he saw birds flying out of the bell tower when its 23 bells tolled and yet, he could not hear the bells.
Just outside the cathedral, there are men and women in period costumes selling opera tickets for as low as 18 Euros. I asked our tour guide the following day if they were legit and he said that they are, except that the opera performances were held not at the Vienna Opera House but some nearby place so it’s still best to buy at the Opera House.
The plaza was also brimming with festivity. There were local performers dancing a folk dance. We wanted to stay longer to watch the festivity but dark clouds were looming so we decided to go back to the hotel before it rained.
On the way back, we found out that apparently, there are ticket inspectors who randomly check for train tickets and if you are caught without one, you will have to pay a big penalty! Whew, lucky us!
While in Vienna, we were also able to visit the Schonbrunn Palace (meaning “beautiful spring”).
The palace was huge – it has 1,441 rooms but only 42 rooms are open to the public. The ceiling and walls were intricately decorated with real gold trimmings (too bad, picture-taking isn't allowed).
We learned a little about the life of Empress Marie Therese (who had a 40-year reign over Austria) and of royalty in general – how they had to marry first cousins to preserve the balance of power within the family. They also showed us this bedroom where the female royalty gives birth (and where the rest of the family and other important people witness the actual delivery). As soon as the child is born, the infant is handed over to the nanny who ends up raising the child (in short, the child has minimal contact with the mom – how sad!). No wonder, in most movies, princesses and nannies usually seem closer to each other. In one room of the Schonbrunn palace, Marie Therese's nanny and her mom's portraits are even displayed side by side!
We learned a little about the life of Empress Marie Therese (who had a 40-year reign over Austria) and of royalty in general – how they had to marry first cousins to preserve the balance of power within the family. They also showed us this bedroom where the female royalty gives birth (and where the rest of the family and other important people witness the actual delivery). As soon as the child is born, the infant is handed over to the nanny who ends up raising the child (in short, the child has minimal contact with the mom – how sad!). No wonder, in most movies, princesses and nannies usually seem closer to each other. In one room of the Schonbrunn palace, Marie Therese's nanny and her mom's portraits are even displayed side by side!
Other interesting facts about the Schonbrunn Palace: it was here where Mozart played his first concert at age 6, for Marie Therese in the Mirror Room. Napoleon lived here between 1805 - 1809. During WW II a bomb fell through the ceiling in to the main gallery but amazingly did not explode. Kennedy and Khrushchev met here in 1961.
We also visited the well-manicured gardens of the palace.
It had a beautiful rose garden. Look at these pretty, long stemmed roses.
One evening in Vienna, we also had dinner in a town called Grinzing where we enjoyed some music from local performers. As main course, they served us Pork Schnitzel – which is similar to our breaded porkchop.
For the entire duration of the trip from Austria to Germany, Schnitzel (whether chicken, pork or fish) is what is popularly offered from fastfood centers to restaurants.
Check out what they served us for drinks - 1/4 liter of wine and water in a small glass. What a ratio of wine to water! Haha…
Here's the view from our window at Hotel Bosei in Vienna. It reminded me that I haven't been to a driving range in a long, long, long time. Tsk-tsk....
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Some more useful tips when visiting Vienna, Austria:
Local currency: Euros
Electrical Plug: 2 pin (round type)
Cost of meals: 10 euros in fastfood centers and about 30 euros in restaurants.
Cost of bottled water: 1.50 to 3 euros for 500ml when you buy in vending machines and restaurants. But it you buy in convenience stores or grocery stores, 1 liter only costs 1 euro.
Cost of meals: 10 euros in fastfood centers and about 30 euros in restaurants.
Cost of bottled water: 1.50 to 3 euros for 500ml when you buy in vending machines and restaurants. But it you buy in convenience stores or grocery stores, 1 liter only costs 1 euro.
Flight tips:
If you have interconnecting flights with different airlines, make sure to tell the check-in counter in Manila to check-through your luggage to your final destination.
Luggage weight allowance is only up to 20 kilos for check-in and up to 7 kilos for hand-carry (translation - very minimal shopping since a medium-sized luggage with clothes already weigh about 18 kilos).
This trip is part of a 12-day European package tour covering Austria, Poland, Czech Republic and Germany. Tour cost is approximately USD3,700 per pax including airfare, accommodations, land transfers, breakfast and dinner, Schengen visa fee, travel taxes and travel insurance.
If you have interconnecting flights with different airlines, make sure to tell the check-in counter in Manila to check-through your luggage to your final destination.
Luggage weight allowance is only up to 20 kilos for check-in and up to 7 kilos for hand-carry (translation - very minimal shopping since a medium-sized luggage with clothes already weigh about 18 kilos).
This trip is part of a 12-day European package tour covering Austria, Poland, Czech Republic and Germany. Tour cost is approximately USD3,700 per pax including airfare, accommodations, land transfers, breakfast and dinner, Schengen visa fee, travel taxes and travel insurance.
