Vienna Things to Do Tips by Beograd

30.12.2006. in The Centre

by Beograd

As I mentioned this wonderful city was my dream and goal for years. Finally, it happened! I met the mesmerizing Vienna. Needless to say, it grasped me and it is not very likely that she will ever let me stay away for long.

Often, when I have high expectations, people and places tend to let me down. It was not the case with Vienna. She was all that I expected and much, much more. So don't hesitate to dream about her and fantasize her as a fairy-tale place on Earth because it is! I promise that you will feel completely different than ever before at any other place. Every single detail in the city's very centre is captured in history and it will draw you in.

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1.Bezirk / 1st district: New Year's Eve or "Silvester"

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on Mar 1, 2007

Here in Germany, I was shocked to see that two days after the Christmas, the decoration in shoping malls was being taken off. Like New Year's Eve is not just a few days away! Considering how many different nationalities and religions are living together in this country, one would think that Germany of all Europe would give great significance to New Year's Eve in attempt to unite them (or should I say "us") under one international holiday.

That's why Vienna made me miss home a lot less. It was marvelously decorated and once again I felt that holliday spirit that was gone for years after my childhood. The economy crisis that my country was pushed into and some other private unfortunate matters that took place around this time, killed this holliday feeling in me.

Seeing the city beautifully decorated and lot's of people in the street brought more than just a smile on my face. I felt I was living my dream. Knowing that I will never see Vienna with such innocent eyes as this first time, I tried not to be spastic, but to take a deep breath and absorbe as much as possible. But it was impossible to be relaxed! Like a child in a candy shop, I didn't know where to look first. Should it be the astonishing facades? Street decoration? People?

Unfortunately, our attempts to capture Vienna's glow in "evening gown" were, somewhat, vain. Still, I am determined to share these pictures for they were driven by genuine excitement and they were our attempt to capture as many astonishing moments as possible to be shared later with our family and friends.

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Address: The old part of Vienna inside the Ringstrasse

Stephansdom: St. Stephan's Cathedral

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on Mar 1, 2007

Stephansdom

After getting off the U1 on Stephansplatz it was only logical to see Stephansdom the first. Even in the dark, this place was captivating. Standing so tall and proud with all it's Gothic ornaments, Stephansdom looked like Vienna's protector.

It was built on the foundations of an old Romanesque basilica that was burned in a fire in 1258. The church was rebuilt in Romanesque style, but later elements of Gothic were added to it. Stephansdom is well known for it's 137m high steeple.

The pictures we have made inside are pitch black and it would make no sence to post them and I �will not use anybody else's. On this trip, we have decided that it is time for us to upgrade our camera assets. Hopefully, by our next trip to Vienna we will have a better one and share some interior pictures with you. For now, I am affraid that you will have to be happy with pictures made in the daylight :)

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Address: St.Stephens cathedral

Things To Do: "Albertina"

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on Mar 1, 2007

by Beograd

"Albertina" gallery had exibitions that couldn't be missed. Picasso, Warhol and and Gertsch. Liking them or not, one would make an enormous mistake not to see it if opportunity given. My husband and I are amongst those that are not to happy neither about Picasso nor Warhol. Still, we wouldn't miss the chance. What Warhol used to do, I do not consider art. But I have to say that he had an interesting idea and definitely a new one. His work was interesting but in my oppinion it does not deserve such great place in History of Arts as it seem to be taking. What seemed to me is that he was accepted simply for being around with famous people of his time and puting them in the spotlight even more... They made him big, just to ensure their own immortal life in pictures.

And as for Picasso, I don't mind his "Blue Phase" but later on he just doesn't do anything for me. What was showed on this exibition here, was his work in the final stage of his life. All those "masterpieces" seemed to me like he knew that the end is near and he just had to produce as many items as possible. Not to express himself but to grab as much money as possible. He had no creative ideas and at the age of over 80 he was trying to impress or shock public with explicite and rather vulgare and obscene images of various women. He has certainly managed to shock me but not with the subject of his paintings. I was sadden with his lack of creativity and with, what striked me as, greed. Neither my husband nor I have expected him to vulgarize his work and to bring it so low...

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Address: various museums

Things To Do: Albertina Gallery

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Tickets

Even if there are no exibits advertized, "Albertina" is a must for its permanent exibit. After being very disappointed with Picasso and Warhol, we decided to skip Gertsch and check the permanent one. WOW!!! The first thing that we saw was a Michelangelo's drawing! Can you imagine that?! Not knowing what is awaiting, you enter a room and BOOM! There is Michelangelo!!!! I was so shocked that I actualy said to my husband: "Did you see that?! It's a Michelangelo! A REAL Michelangelo!!!!" Further on you get to see Duerer and many other REAL masters of Art (Leonardo, Rafaelo, Delacroix) that you learn about in school. I will leave it for you to discover it further.

The building of Albertina is itself very unique. But being in "innerstadt" (1st district) it is only expected. Make sure that you visit it!

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Address: various museums

Oper / Staatsoper: Staatsoper

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on Mar 1, 2007

The Opera House gives guided tours in several languages and the schedule is advertised at the entrance. Make sure to stand in line not less than 30mins earlier. Your Vienna card is not accepted here and the price is 6.50EUR. This is one of the rare places where you can make photographs.

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Address: Vienna's Opera

Oper / Staatsoper: The Tour

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on Mar 1, 2007

The Opera building has Vienna signature all over. Why? Well it is elegant and it smells of old and royal times.

The official tour begins at the "Foyer" where is the gathering point for the group. While waiting for the tour to start, the two of was already stunned with the interior decoration. And my husband used the chance to have his photo made with one of the exibited Opera costumes. (See the next picture with this tipp)

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Address: Vienna's Opera
Directions: Opern Ring
Website: http://www.wiener-staatsoper.at

Oper / Staatsoper: The Opera

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by Beograd

The opera house was completed in 1869 but it's constructors, August von Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nuell, didn't live to see it opening. The two of them were under such pressure and critisism that it drove van der Nuell into suicide and von Siccardsburg died of heart attack only two months later.

The Opera was opened on 15th of May 1869 with Mozart's "DOn Giovanni".

Since then, many directors have switched at the position of the main and most responsible person in the Opera. Most of them were renomed composers. The best known director of Opera and the least liked by public (yet the most liked by employees) was composer Gustav Mahler who during his time made the biggest changes in Opera. It can easily be said that he revolutionized the Opera. One of the things that he prohibited and what was severly critisized, was food in the saal. What now seems to us as quite normal, caused boycott amongst opera visitors.

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Address: Vienna's Opera
Website: http://www.wiener-staatsoper.at

Oper / Staatsoper: Details

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by Beograd , 2 more photos

What Viennese architecture and interior decoration have stunned me with were detailes. So many of them and all of them treated with equal attention I have never seen before. i have heared someone making a comment "It's too tacky". Hmm... I wouldn't say that! First of all it was built at the peak of the Monarchy. That means it had to be rich with details and rich with gold. Otherway it wouldn't represnt the royal status.

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Address: Vienna's Opera
Website: http://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/

Oper / Staatsoper: Rich and Famous

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by Beograd , 2 more photos