Our bus took us from the Wachau east to Hotel Stefanie, just across the Danube canal from the Ringstrasse. After checking in, making sure of my opera tickets, and getting pointed to a camera store by the concierge, I stopped to get a transit pass at a nearby store, got a replacement camera, and hopped on the subway at Schwedenplatz to the Prater. Rode the Riesenrad, and wandered around a bit, but the Prater is so large that it would require a longer stay. Went back to central Vienna on the subway and got off near the Musikverein. Went into Karlsplatz, and into Karlskirche, which was undergoing some restoration work. An elevator to the upper scaffold, not yet close to the ceiling of the dome, was still too high for my comfort! After this, I wandered back along Kartnerstrasse to the hotel, with a stop at a gelato place nearby. After relaxing a little, I dressed for the opera and had dinner in the hotel restaurant. Then off to the Staatsoper for La Boheme, a Zefferelli production almost the same as the one at the Met. Came back to the hotel when it was over, and had a good night's sleep.
The next day started, after the de rigeur breakfast buffet in the hotel restaurant, with a stop to see Stephansdom, probably the most magnificent church seen on this trip, befitting the capital of an empire. Then on the subway again to Schönbrunn Palace, on the outskirts. Got a ticket for an afternoon tour, and wandered the grounds for the remainder of the morning, climbing past Neptune's Fountain up the hill to the Gloriette, where I had lunch. Came back to the Palace for the tour, which covered most of the important rooms, then wandered around the grounds and gardens some more. Came across a young couple who were kissing, and they let me take their picture. (& one for them with their own camera.) It was getting on in the day, so I took the subway back to Schwedenplatz, for fun got on a tram to the hotel, stopped for another gelato on the way back to the hotel, and rested up a bit. Dressing again for the opera, I left for dinner at Griechenbeisl, then on to the opera for Zauberflöte. An unfortunate Eurotrash production, as so often happens of late, but the music was of course glorious and the singing good. Back to the hotel after the performance, and another restful night.
My last full day, again just for fun, I decided to ride the trams, and took the one close to the hotel to Schwedenplatz where I changed for a ride around the Ring. Got off near the Rathaus, and saw the various government buildings, the Burgtheater, the University, and the Volksgarten. Visiting the Hofburg would probably have required more time than I had, so instead I went across the street to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where I had lunch and spent the better part of the afternoon admiring the collections. Left to wander Maria Theresienplatz, then hopped a tram again to finish my traversal of the Ringstrasse. So many glorious things to see, so little time. Worked my way back to the hotel with the obligatory gelato stop, to relax and refresh. No opera tonight, but I did head out for dinner. Tried for Figlmüller, but it was packed, and I ended up at Zu den 3 Hacken, a wonderful little bistro that once was a favorite of Schubert. For dessert I wandered over to the Hotel Sacher for a Sachertorte, which just had to be done before leaving Vienna. Walked a block to the Ringstrasse by the Staatsoper where a Wagner opera was being performed and projected on to a large outdoor screen to a large crowd, then worked my way back down Kartnerstrasse to the hotel.
The next morning got in a taxi to the airport and flew to Munich, then on a connecting flight back to Boston. All in all, a wonderful trip.