Wien

My husband surprised me with a trip to Vienna… it was a fascinating place.

I was surprised at the dinginess of the outer city ring in comparison to the grandiose and regal inner city. It is very pedestrian friendly and art oriented which I loved.

We stayed at the Levante Parliament which is a beautiful little design hotel. Glass artist Ioan Nemtoi has his creations around the hotel and there were some in the Museum Quartier courtyard while we were there.

I was also surprised with the Schönbrunn Palace grounds (all 1,441 rooms of it + land) – it is immense and never ending with an entire day worth of things to see and do (among them the shrub maze and zoo).

Vienna has the world’s first zoo and it is the best zoo I have ever been to in my life (including better than the highly touted San Diego!)

Another great surprise was TGIFriday’s (the American chain). I am not big on meaty Austrian cuisine and going to TGI’s was great for Americans living in Europe. You can get a real margarita and food like home. I felt like I was transplated to the US and it cured a bit of homesickness for me.

Also you can stop at the Sacher Hotel for a sacher torte – I suggest getting one of the ‘würfles’ a small bite sized piece that is plenty – and you can enjoy it while sitting in a near by park!

Also you MUST go to Hundertwasser – it is so cool. There is also the Hundertwasser Museum near by.