Last Friday I packed my bags and headed off for Vienna, Austria. To be honest, I knew nothing about Vienna, except for Billy Joel's song "Vienna" (which was in my head the 
entire time I was there). Vienna is an old city and was home to one of the most powerful monarchies in the history of the world, the Hapsburg Dynasty. To give some reference, Marie Antoinette, the final French queen who was beheaded in the French Revolution, was part of the Hapsburg dynasty. By far, the most impressive feature that Vienna offers is the city's beautiful architecture. Most of the city is done in an ornate, baroque style which is stunning. The most classic piece of baroque architecture is the Schonbrunn Palace, which the Palace of Versailles was modeled after. The palace was huge and the gardens were beautiful, as the picture on the right shows. Of course, Vienna is also known as the birthplace of classical music as m
usicians such as Mozart and Beethoven both lived in and composed many of their pieces in Vienna. The city had a distinctly different feel than any other European city I have visited, and I think this might have to do with the fact that it is so close to Eastern Europe. In a way, Austrians are very similar to Germans because they speak the same language, but more importantly, they make delicious desserts! I had some of the best chocolate cake I have ever eaten in Vienna! After three days in Vienna, I had seen everything there was to see: the Opera house, the famous St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Crown Jewels of the Hapsburgs, the Town Hall, Karlskirche Church (pictured on the left), and of course Schonbrunn Palace. Vienna might be far away from other major European cities, but it is worth a visit...if nothing else, you'll get great chocolate cake!
entire time I was there). Vienna is an old city and was home to one of the most powerful monarchies in the history of the world, the Hapsburg Dynasty. To give some reference, Marie Antoinette, the final French queen who was beheaded in the French Revolution, was part of the Hapsburg dynasty. By far, the most impressive feature that Vienna offers is the city's beautiful architecture. Most of the city is done in an ornate, baroque style which is stunning. The most classic piece of baroque architecture is the Schonbrunn Palace, which the Palace of Versailles was modeled after. The palace was huge and the gardens were beautiful, as the picture on the right shows. Of course, Vienna is also known as the birthplace of classical music as m
usicians such as Mozart and Beethoven both lived in and composed many of their pieces in Vienna. The city had a distinctly different feel than any other European city I have visited, and I think this might have to do with the fact that it is so close to Eastern Europe. In a way, Austrians are very similar to Germans because they speak the same language, but more importantly, they make delicious desserts! I had some of the best chocolate cake I have ever eaten in Vienna! After three days in Vienna, I had seen everything there was to see: the Opera house, the famous St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Crown Jewels of the Hapsburgs, the Town Hall, Karlskirche Church (pictured on the left), and of course Schonbrunn Palace. Vienna might be far away from other major European cities, but it is worth a visit...if nothing else, you'll get great chocolate cake!