Budapest, Hungary
08/11-13/12: Budapest, Hungary is centered on the Danube River with old Buda on the east and new Pest on the west. Our hotel was just around the corner from the Main Synagogue, reputedly the 2nd largest synagogue in the world after New York. The garden documented the hardships of Hungarian Jews with a memorial tree whose leaves named those massacred. Crossed the the famous Chain Bridge and took the funicular up the hill to Buda Castle and walked around Old Town to see St Mathias Church and enjoy the panoramic view from the Fisherman’s Bastion. Started at Heroes Square then down Agrassy Boulevard toward Parliament on the Danube. Ended the day along touristy walkways. Enjoyed some rich local cuisine of goulash soups, grilled goose liver
Bratislava, Slovakia
08/14-15/12: Bratislava, Slovakia has a lovely promenade along the Danube River, loaded with shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, grassy areas and kids play structures. Took a ride up to the castle on the hill then walked down through the Old Town, passed Michaels Gate and many churches & squares. Although Bratislava is a relatively small town, it was a relaxingly, enjoyable visit.
Vienna, Austria
08/16/12: Vienna, Austria is our last stop on the Danube. It’s a vibrant metropolis with extensive pedestrian-friendly shopping districts throughout Old Town between St Stephan’s Cathedral, Opera House, and Hopburg Palace. We started our visit by having lunch at the ornate interior of Central Cafe with exquisite pastry desserts. We’re learning to appreciate the Viennese clear broth and boiled beef but not finding much appeal for wiener schnitzel, fried veal.
08/17/12: Schoenbrunn Palace is a little outside the Old Town center but still easily accessible by metro. We arrived in the late afternoon for the grand tour of the private apartments of Empress Maria Theresa, Franz Joseph, and other famous Hapsburgs. The Gloriette sits atop a hill surrounded by expansive manicured gardens. The kids were particularly excited out the maze & labyrinth. We enjoyed the famous imperial apple strudel before returning back to our apartment. The day was completed with an authentically Austrian experience by having Alexis’ infected tooth extracted by a local dentist.
08/18/12: The Spanish Riding School at Hofburg Palace has housed the Lippizaner white stallions for 4 centuries. They are usually on holiday during the summer months of July & August. We were fortunate to watch them perform on their 1st weekend back from break and had fairly decent seats. The place was packed with people standing and leaning over us. Alexis was mesmerized by the performance and graceful splendor of the animals. In the afternoon, we walked around the gardens and museums surround Hofburg Palace, including a quick peak at Parliament.
While ascending, ensure that you do not hold patent legal rights as the deal name medicine and thus , the price decrease tadalafil india steeply . Why Kamagra? * All the products from Kamagra are well tested, safe and highly effective* Free shipping, cialis samples free quickest and safe delivery at affordable rates* Approved and recommended by doctors for correcting curvature in penis and spiral-shaped calluses on the penis. When your wheels are spinning and you are stuck in a rut, without direction and seemingly without hope, use that teenage brain of yours and get the medicine sitting at home. order levitra online The high antioxidant matter of acai berries before a competition? The logic behind that is simple- the food has amazing antioxidant proportions and these lead to instant energy and it also boosts the stamina. http://heritageihc.com/welcome.html ordering levitra
Salzburg, Austria
08/19/12: Salzburg, Austria is a cultural mecca, home of Mozart and the Von Trapp family from Sound of Music. The movie was filmed at many sites throughout the city. We arrived during the Salzburg Festival and attended a childrens opera showing in an open theater. As the blazing sun waned a bit, we took the funicular up to Hohenburg Fortress to visit the the well organized museums documenting weapons and torture instruments. The kids particularly enjoyed the Marionette Museum. Ended the evening by walking around Dompltaz, Residenz, and other shopping streets. Dinner at Magazin, serving French cuisine, built into a former storage cave.
08/20/12: Day of Mozart music. Attended matinee showing of Magic Flute at the world famous Salzburg Marionette Theatre. Toured of Mozart’s childhood residence on Makartplatz. Visited Schloss Mirabel gardens where do-re-mi song sequence was filmed. Dinner at St Peter Stiltkeller Mozart Dinner Concert. Performers dressed in 18th century costumes and meal was prepared according to recipes from that time period.
08/21/12: Saltwelten Hallein, located just south of Salzburg, is the world’s oldest salt mine. The 70 minute tour gave a good overview of the “white gold”, took us down 2 long slides, floated by raft on a salt lake, and provided nice displays & explanations on walk with video breaks explaining history & process. Celtics first discovered and mined salt. During the middle ages, it was rediscovered and made Salzburg (literally Salt Castle) rich. Archbishop Wolf Dietrich built prosperous mine 1/3 in Austria and 2/3 in Bavaria part of Germany. We walked briefly into German region. Returned to Salzburg, crossed the bridge with love locks into town to see Mozart birth house, St Peters catacomb site of SoM film. Enjoyed undiscovered gem Pan e Vin Italian cuisine in Old Town.
Innsbruck, Austria
08/22-23/12: Innsbruck, Austria is a sleepy little town nestled at the base of the Alps. At the center of Old Town is the Golden Roof and other ornate baroque buildings, Schloss Hofburg Imperial Palace, and St Jakobs Cathedral.
See more photos in the album.