PALACES, PUDDLES AND PONIES

"Man at Work" statue in Bratislava

Its always interesting to learn about events that mold a nation.  Slovakia has had a chequered history but with the fall of communism in 1989 and the Velvet Revolution that split Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, positive changes started to take hold in this small nation.  Talk to anyone on the streets of Bratislava and they will tell you that in spite of all these tumultuous events it was Slovakia’s victory over Russia in the 2002 World Hockey Championships that unified the nation.  We understood perfectly.

Leaving Bratislava after a morning walking the cobbled streets of the Slovakian capital, we set sail for the Austrian capital of Vienna, just fifty miles away.  

 

Palais Pallavicini Reception Room

Arriving in Vienna that evening we were feted at the Palais Pallavicini, a privately owned palace across from the Hofburg. Welcomed with a champagne reception to the strains of Mozart and Strauss we were struck by the ornate interior, high ceilings and sparkling chandeliers. The scene was absolutely stunning.

Our violinist, cellist and pianist continued to entertain while dinner was served and wine flowed into the exquisite crystal glasses at each place setting.  Operatic performances and dancing followed.

They certainly knew how to put
on a performance.

The gardens of Schoenbrun

Schoenbrun Palace still stately
in the rain

The next morning we were greeted with grey skies and steady rain. 

All on MS Treasures hoped the rain would have a positive impact on the desperately low Danube water levels.  

We didn’t mind a seriously bad hair day.  

Our morning was spent enjoying the apartments and gardens of the Habsburgs summer palace at Schoenbrun.  A mini Versailles, the interiors are original but despite the rain, it was the gardens we were drawn to, expansive, colourful and symmetrical in their design.

Sacher Torte has its own food group

Returning to town it was time to indulge in a Viennese specialty at one of the landmark Vienna coffee houses, Café Sacher.  Never mind the rain, we luxuriated in chocolaty Sacher Torte accompanied by a double espresso and Apple Strudl as back up. Oh those calories, but what a delight.

A horse drawn carriage trots past the Hofburg Imperial Palace - how magical is that!

Time for a little exercise we walked to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a 14^th Century landmark.  Beautiful exterior, but a little gloomy inside, the dreariness of the day not helping matters. 

Strudl pastry being prepared
at Cafe Demel

One of the antique chocolate cabinets

Returning to the Hofburg we dropped by Café Demel to watch the pastry chefs in action - the strudl pastry a good six feet in length.  

The front of the house was another matter. Every seat taken, the aromas of coffee and chocolate palpable. The displays of intricately decorated cakes and strudl impressive and the array of chocolate not for the faint of heart.

The highlight of the afternoon was our visit to the Spanish Riding School and the stables of the Lipizzaner stallions.  The tack room amazing, the stables and their stars magical.

Lipizzaner stallions perform in the
Winter Riding School arena

Immaculate Tack Room

A little on the damp side, we decided to take the subway back to our riverboat.

We reflected that despite the miserable day it really hadn’t mattered.  

We had had a brilliant day.

Photographs not allowed in the stables, this fellow watched us from the courtyard