Vienna in November is a great idea (WillTravel on the scene)
Nov 24th, 2008, 06:24 AM
#21
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The restaurant I really enjoyed has a website here:
http://www.salmbraeu.com/indexen.htm
http://www.salmbraeu.com/indexen.htm
Nov 24th, 2008, 10:53 AM
#25
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I think there may be Klimts on the top floor, but we didn't get there. Of course there are a lot of Klimts in the exhibition at Lower Belvedere, but as I said, we didn't go inside.
Amazingly, I don't think I saw any painting before 1900 on this trip (except in Karlskirche), certainly not before 1890.
I know Vienna has been at or near the top of the most livable cities in the world list, and I would have to concur. Of all the cities in Europe I have visited, and I have enjoyed lots of places, I think Vienna would be one of my top choices in respect to actually living there.
Amazingly, I don't think I saw any painting before 1900 on this trip (except in Karlskirche), certainly not before 1890.
I know Vienna has been at or near the top of the most livable cities in the world list, and I would have to concur. Of all the cities in Europe I have visited, and I have enjoyed lots of places, I think Vienna would be one of my top choices in respect to actually living there.
Nov 24th, 2008, 08:04 PM
#26
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On Sunday, Nov. 23, I got my flight to Copenhagen, on Austrian Airlines, without incident. I was lucky enough to have the row to myself, and I dozed for part of the flight, which I needed.
I looked out the window and could hardly believe I was lucky enough to get a brilliantly sunny day for my few hours in Copenhagen.
With this being an intra-Schengen flight, there was no passport control.
I had a choice between metro and train to get to the center of Copenhagen. I decided to go with the train, as I am very familiar with the area within a few blocks of the train station, and wanted to get my bearings.
I did not have Danish currency. I looked at the train ticket window, and saw that they did not accept credit cards without chips. So I thought I had no alternative but to go change some money, or withdraw some money. Either way, for the small sum, I would take a hit. For 25 Euros, I got 152.50 DKK - by the interbank rate it should have been 186.30. But my bank withdrawal rate is $5 per transaction + 2.5%, so it was almost even either way in this particular situation.
When I got to the train ticket window, I saw a much less prominent sticker that they accepted other currencies. Obviously, if I had known that, I wouldn't have gone to the bother of changing money. Anyway, I got a two-klip card good for a roundtrip ticket to/from Copenhagen Central Station. So I validated the ticket once on the way out, and then coming back.
That left me with 92.50 DKK to spend in a carefree manner. I got to the train station, and walked out, and promptly slipped on one of the shiny metal grates. You know how if the temperature is below freezing, it can be icy and slippery? I found this out. I was also carrying around my laptop, and two books, and my purse.
Luckily, I wasn't hurt by falling down, but I did feel ridiculous. This shook me up, and so I did not do nearly as much exploration as I might otherwise have done. Plus, my laptop was really feeling heavy and I was pretty tired from so little sleep. Nonetheless, I walked over to Hotel 27, to see how it had changed since I had stayed there when it was the Mermaid Hotel. It looks like a nice, fashionable place to stay.
On Radhusplasen, I noticed a restaurant that served a buffet for 59 DKK. I made a mental note to possibly have lunch there later.
I then proceeded to walk through the streets - slowly and carefully. I went through some residential areas. People were out for Sunday strolls, meeting up and chatting.
Eventually I wended my way up to the Stroget, a long pedestrian shopping street. At first, although I have been on it many times, I hardly recognized it, as it was so quiet. I walked along for a few blocks, and then decided to read my book, while still observing. Again, people were meeting up, parents were taking their children for walks - it seemed like a pretty happy time. Eventually, though, I got pretty cold sitting there.
So I walked back six blocks or so to the buffet place. I think the restaurant is called Kempf. You can also get all you can drink (including various alcohol options) for 40 DKK. This is for one hour, as for the food.
The food was OK, but I would not be particularly tempted to overeat here. For lunch/breakfast, though, it was fine. I didn't drink anything.
After the lunch, I decided to go take a look at Tivoli. It's open for Christmas, and there were kids having a great time. I did not pay to go in, so just saw this from the outside. I passed by the Glyptotek, and remembered that on my previous visit, I had been chewed out for carrying stuff that wasn't in a transparent plastic bag. So it would be a bad place to visit with one's laptop.
I then decided to take a look to see if Istegade, as claimed by some, had actually gone upscale.
This is a street in the "back" of Central Station. Following Lonely Planet instructions, a few years ago I went to a laundromat on this street, and had the quite fascinating experiences. I walked along, and saw little evidence of any gentrification. Porn shops and tattoo parlours predominated. There was one, perhaps two, restaurants that looked to be on the hip side. There were a few down and outers.
With 60 DKK for the train ticket, and 59 DKK for lunch, I still had 33.50 DKK left. I walked up from Istegade to Vesterbrogade, and saw an Irma's grocery store. I bought a Valhrona chocolate bar for 32.50 DKK. So now I have 1.50 DKK left (somewhat less than 50 cents).
Walking along Vesterbrogade, I saw some Turkish buffet restaurants offering a buffet for 49 DKK. Looking in the window, these might have been better.
Boarding for my 3:45 PM flight started at 3 PM. But as anyone knows, I have a phobia about being late, so I decided to head back to the airport early. I just missed the 1:03 PM train to the airport. The next train was late, and so I got on the train about 1:22.
I got to the boarding area a little after 2 PM, so clearly I had plenty of time.
On the flight back to Seattle, I got a bank of two seats to myself, and had a great flight, reading my books, and dozing off now and again.
My luggage arrived without incident, I boarded the next available QuickShuttle bus to Vancouver, and was home by about 10 PM.
I looked out the window and could hardly believe I was lucky enough to get a brilliantly sunny day for my few hours in Copenhagen.
With this being an intra-Schengen flight, there was no passport control.
I had a choice between metro and train to get to the center of Copenhagen. I decided to go with the train, as I am very familiar with the area within a few blocks of the train station, and wanted to get my bearings.
I did not have Danish currency. I looked at the train ticket window, and saw that they did not accept credit cards without chips. So I thought I had no alternative but to go change some money, or withdraw some money. Either way, for the small sum, I would take a hit. For 25 Euros, I got 152.50 DKK - by the interbank rate it should have been 186.30. But my bank withdrawal rate is $5 per transaction + 2.5%, so it was almost even either way in this particular situation.
When I got to the train ticket window, I saw a much less prominent sticker that they accepted other currencies. Obviously, if I had known that, I wouldn't have gone to the bother of changing money. Anyway, I got a two-klip card good for a roundtrip ticket to/from Copenhagen Central Station. So I validated the ticket once on the way out, and then coming back.
That left me with 92.50 DKK to spend in a carefree manner. I got to the train station, and walked out, and promptly slipped on one of the shiny metal grates. You know how if the temperature is below freezing, it can be icy and slippery? I found this out. I was also carrying around my laptop, and two books, and my purse.
Luckily, I wasn't hurt by falling down, but I did feel ridiculous. This shook me up, and so I did not do nearly as much exploration as I might otherwise have done. Plus, my laptop was really feeling heavy and I was pretty tired from so little sleep. Nonetheless, I walked over to Hotel 27, to see how it had changed since I had stayed there when it was the Mermaid Hotel. It looks like a nice, fashionable place to stay.
On Radhusplasen, I noticed a restaurant that served a buffet for 59 DKK. I made a mental note to possibly have lunch there later.
I then proceeded to walk through the streets - slowly and carefully. I went through some residential areas. People were out for Sunday strolls, meeting up and chatting.
Eventually I wended my way up to the Stroget, a long pedestrian shopping street. At first, although I have been on it many times, I hardly recognized it, as it was so quiet. I walked along for a few blocks, and then decided to read my book, while still observing. Again, people were meeting up, parents were taking their children for walks - it seemed like a pretty happy time. Eventually, though, I got pretty cold sitting there.
So I walked back six blocks or so to the buffet place. I think the restaurant is called Kempf. You can also get all you can drink (including various alcohol options) for 40 DKK. This is for one hour, as for the food.
The food was OK, but I would not be particularly tempted to overeat here. For lunch/breakfast, though, it was fine. I didn't drink anything.
After the lunch, I decided to go take a look at Tivoli. It's open for Christmas, and there were kids having a great time. I did not pay to go in, so just saw this from the outside. I passed by the Glyptotek, and remembered that on my previous visit, I had been chewed out for carrying stuff that wasn't in a transparent plastic bag. So it would be a bad place to visit with one's laptop.
I then decided to take a look to see if Istegade, as claimed by some, had actually gone upscale.
This is a street in the "back" of Central Station. Following Lonely Planet instructions, a few years ago I went to a laundromat on this street, and had the quite fascinating experiences. I walked along, and saw little evidence of any gentrification. Porn shops and tattoo parlours predominated. There was one, perhaps two, restaurants that looked to be on the hip side. There were a few down and outers.
With 60 DKK for the train ticket, and 59 DKK for lunch, I still had 33.50 DKK left. I walked up from Istegade to Vesterbrogade, and saw an Irma's grocery store. I bought a Valhrona chocolate bar for 32.50 DKK. So now I have 1.50 DKK left (somewhat less than 50 cents).
Walking along Vesterbrogade, I saw some Turkish buffet restaurants offering a buffet for 49 DKK. Looking in the window, these might have been better.
Boarding for my 3:45 PM flight started at 3 PM. But as anyone knows, I have a phobia about being late, so I decided to head back to the airport early. I just missed the 1:03 PM train to the airport. The next train was late, and so I got on the train about 1:22.
I got to the boarding area a little after 2 PM, so clearly I had plenty of time.
On the flight back to Seattle, I got a bank of two seats to myself, and had a great flight, reading my books, and dozing off now and again.
My luggage arrived without incident, I boarded the next available QuickShuttle bus to Vancouver, and was home by about 10 PM.
Nov 27th, 2008, 07:40 AM
#27
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Here's a link for the exhibition, A Question of Evidence:
http://www.tba21.org/program/current...tegory=current
http://www.tba21.org/program/current...tegory=current
Dec 1st, 2008, 07:07 AM
#28
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My pictures, which I had to take by cellphone:
http://tinyurl.com/vie-cph
http://tinyurl.com/vie-cph
Mar 31st, 2009, 06:01 PM
#31
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YK, here is the website for the walking tours:
http://www.wienguide.at/epages/index.php
I went on the tour "1000 Years of Jewish Tradition in Vienna".
At Musikverein, I had a seated ticket.
http://www.wienguide.at/epages/index.php
I went on the tour "1000 Years of Jewish Tradition in Vienna".
At Musikverein, I had a seated ticket.
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