Vienna with friends

Back to the blog:)
My friends, Kim and Nicole, just left yesterday and made it safely back to the US!

We were so busy while they were here, our days were packed full from sun up to down. And of course, we all took lots of pictures…probably about 1000 pics between all of us! :) It was so much fun having them here and getting to experience Austria together. I am so thankful they were able to come an enjoy this with me.

As I mentioned previously, we started the vacation in Vienna. The first night we attended a ballet at the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna Opera House). For a standing room ticket the cost was only 4 Euro! The story was of "Don Quixote". Viewing a ballet was the first for all of us and a night we will remember always.

The second day was filled with an adventure to the Schonbrunn Palace. While here we toured the palace as well as it's nearby surroundings, including the extremely large courtyard and  a replica of the Roman Ruins.

Palace in the background.

Replica Ruins

After learning much history about the royal family of Vienna, we next visited the Vienna Zoo. It's supposedly the oldest zoo in the world!

The rest of the afternoon was spent wondering the "Ring Boulevard" seeing many sights and shops. That night we ate a recommended Viennese Restaurant where we all tried "Wiener Schnitzel" for the first time!

Kim & Nicole outside of Karlskirche

On the third day we did a "Red Bus Tour" of the city, saw the St. Stephan's Cathedral, more shopping and attended an Opera in the evening. The Opera was at the same place as the ballet- the Opera was "Aida". We were able to have an English translation as well. It was again, a very memorable experience.

St. Stephan's Cathedral (or Stephansdom)

Inside the Cathedral

The Wiener Staatsoper

Kim & I at the Opera.

Kim sneaked a great picture of the finale.