We were excited to get out and explore Vienna as it is our first time in Austria.
What we saw
- First day we headed straight to Belvedere Palace which is an incredible building with even better gardens. I bet you (and we!) thought the Christmas markets were over but there were some at Belvedere!
- Coffee houses are an institution in Vienna particularly and it was a nice way to warm up, after a walk around we went to Cafe Schwarzenberg where we tried the famous Sacha Tort and a marzipan nougat cake. We also spent some time reading and resting in one in the evening before dinner.
- In the afternoon we did a 2.5 hour walking tour of Vienna with a company that do free walking tours (you tip them), it was a very interesting tour and we got to see lots of the historical parts of Vienna including the Opera house and museums. As it gets darker Vienna is very classy and pretty with lots of lights.
- It snowed a little bit in Vienna, it was very beautiful!
- Merryn and Michael recommended a great place for dinner that was underground in an old cellar with great food and live violin and accordion music.
- 2nd day we had a nice morning walking in Vienna and walked up the stairs of the tower at St Stephen’s- a great view but very squishy to walk up and down.
- We caught up with Kirsten’s friend Hannah from work who is also travelling in Europe, we really enjoyed eating a schnitzel with her at lunch time.
- Headed to Salzburg by car. Nathan is becoming a master of the Autobahns (highways) where there are no speed limits on some roads, lots of cars zooming past us. We are staying by a beautiful river 30 minutes outside of Salzburg and had a quiet night at our apartment- watching Sound of music in preparation for tomorrow!
What we learnt
- Our walking tour guide was very proud to say that Vienna is one of the most liveable cities with the main reason being you can drink tap water and don’t have to buy it bottled. Vienna is amazing but we didn’t think that one was convincing enough!
- Choose warmer days to do walking tours (we found Vienna colder than Berlin and any of our recent stops), they do a lot of stopping and talking which really lets the chill set in!
One word for Vienna
We are going with- “Classy.”
What we put in our tummys
Schnitzel of course! Nathan’s favourite meal of all time, and finally we got to experience it at the home of Schnitzel. Nathan’s mum makes a fantastic schnitzel so it is hard to live up to. The Viennese veal schnitzel got a big tick of approval from Nathan (who is usually more of a chicken guy), he named it one of the best meals of the trip and felt vindicated because the Austrians look down on anyone who adds sauce to their schnitzel (Nathan’s preferred way of eating it). Kirsten loved the schnitzel, missed the sauce- she will happily be ridiculed next time they order it to experience saucy goodness.
A Cornettuccino! Cappucino in a waffle cone. Also a recommendation from Merryn and Michael, Nathan declared it the best coffee of the trip and the cone was yummy too.
Brewer Tour 19-20 
Good memories for us!
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And a happy and healthy 2020 to you both. Feel it is going to be a memorable year! Fancy! More Xmas markets!Yes, we loved Salzburg too — but we haven’t been to Munich. Congratulations on all that driving on the “wrong” side of the road, Nathan. You are both becoming culinary experts! And just as well you do plenty of walking! Poppy is OK. No bowls for th last week or so but it has been too hot to play.
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