2. A belated 30th anniversary trip finally got underway: Vienna for 5 nights Hotel key, very heavy and very big. We left it at the hotel during the day!
3. 5th floor meant we took the (tiny) elevator, but what a staircase!
4. Cozy, no AC, but big windows, and conveniently located!
9. And to think this was BADLY damaged by bombs in WWII
10. On to the Hofburg, winter palace of the Austrian Imperial family There are many buildings in the “museums quarter” One museum held just china, silver, and candelabras!
11. These people had wealth. Spanish Riding School is here, home of the Lipizzaners (look at sign )
12. Marine acquaintances were also in Vienna at that time! They were on a Danube cruise and we arranged to meet for dinner. Rachel & George Gibbs, Sr. We enjoyed an “original” Bud.
47. Winding our way back down Andrassy ut. Oh look, a café! This was one recommended in Fodor’s guide book, whose advice and paths we followed quite often. While Joe enjoyed his beer, I ordered a latte and “palacsinta” which are like crepes, several stacked and spread with jam, chocolate, and fruit.
48. There is a rich, and sad, Jewish history here. People were kept captive in this synagogue in WW2. Those who died had to buried there (against Jewish law).
50. The fascist Arrow Cross party led their gov’t in the mid-1940s. Thousands of Jews were murdered, as much as Raoul Wallenberg tried to save them all. Cast iron shoes make a memorial to those who were shot facing the river so they would fall into the Danube.
51. Let’s move to a lighter topic… Hair color, streaks, highlights… while “older” women avoid the gray
52. There are enclosed markets and many friendly dogs. 200 forints per kg ~ 50 cents/lb.
54. To save money, fake marble was invented. You’d never know! The cigar holder. How short the cigar became was a gauge of how long/good the speech was.
