Vienna, the City of Music is also known as the City of Dreams because it was the home to the world' psycho-analyst - Sigmund Freud. The city's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city, the capital of the Austro-Hunggarian Empire. It is well known for having played an essential role as a leading European music centre, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the eary part of the 20th century.
Vienna is the capital and largest city in Austria. It has a population of 1.79 million within the metropolitan area. It is the cultural , economic, and political centre. Until the beginning of the 20th century it was the largest German-speaking city in the world, and before splitting of the Austro -Hungarian Empire in World War I the city had 2 million inhabitants. Today it is second only to Berlin in German speakers. In 2001 the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We had an uneventfull trip to Vienna. We must be getting this traveling around Europe down.
I loved this big sign used by Austrian air to show departure and arrival flights. Ideal for someone who is now 70.
We arrived at our hotel - The Kartnerhof on Grashofgasse. Great location in the center of the city and close to two metro stops which than can get you anywhere in the city. We had a tour scheduled for the following day so decided to just explore our area and become acqauainted with the city. Sharon studys the map and I follow. I look at the map sometimes but she's so good at navigating I just let her do that and I find the restaurants. Division of labor. The metro here is very easy. Subways ging in both directions leave from the same platform. There are also public toilets available which is great. They cost ,50 euro's to use but well worth it at times!
The first "thing" we ran into was the cathedral - St. Stephens. St. Stephens is one of
Austria's main tourist attractions welcoming over one million tourists each year. During WWII, the building experienced nearly complete distruction. It's reconstruction from 1948 until 1962, proved to be a tremendous communal effort involving the whole of Austria demonstrating the nation's eagerness to restore this former symbol of the country's illustrious past.
There are 18 altars in the main part of the church.
St. Katherines Chapel is the baptismal chapel. The 14 sided font was completed in 1481, and its cover was formerly the sound board above the famed pulpit in the main church. It's marble base shows the four evangelists, while the niches of the basin features the twelve apostles, Christ and St. Stephan. This chapel was dedicated to Wolgang Mozart. He attended church here at the cathedral and had two of his children babtized here.
The main focal point in the Catheral is the High Altar built over seven years from 1641-1647. The high altar represents the stoning of the church's patron St. Stephen.
The Sepulchre of Fredrich III is made of red marble and includes a larger-than-life size statue of the emperor surrounded by coats of arms.
The top of the Sepulchre which you can't see but this picture is on display in the chapel. The Wiener Neustadler Altar was ordered in 1447 by Emperor Frederick III. The altar is composed of two triptychs. When the lower panels are opened, the Gothis grate of the former reliquary depot above the altar is revealed. On weekdays, the four panels are closed and displays a drab painted scene involving 72 saints. On Sundays, the panels are opened showing gilded wooden figures depicting events in the life of the Virgin Mary. Restoration of this piece began on its 100th anniversary, in 1985 and took 20 years, 10 restorers, 40,000 man hours and 1.3 million euros to complete.
The Cathedral has an old organ tradition. The first organ is mentioned in 1344. After the 1945 fire, Michael Kauffmann finished a large electric organ in 1960 with 125 voices and 4 manuals, financed with public donations. In 1991, the Austrian firm of Rieger rebuilt the choir organ. It is a mechanical organ with 56 voices and 4 manuals.
The stone pulpit is a masterpiece of late Gothic sculpture. Long attributed to Anton Pilgram, today Niclaes Gerhaert van Leyden is thought most likely to be the carver. So that the local language sermon could be better heard by the worshipers in the days before microphones and loud speakers, the pulpit stands against a pillar out in the nave, instead of in the chancel at the front of the church.
Beneath the stairs is one of the most beloved symbols of the cathedral; a stone self-portrait of the unknown sculptor gawking out the window and thus famously known as the Fenstegucker ( the gawking German). The chisel in the subjects hand, and the stonemason's signature mark on the shield above the window led to speculation that it could be a self-portrait of the sculptor.
The base of the pulpit. 
The handrail of the stairccase has fantastic decorations of toads and lizards biting each other, symbolizing the fight of good against evil. At the top of the stairs, a stone puppy proteccts the preacher from intruders. 
We decided it was time to stop and taste a Sacher torte at the famous Sacher Hotel and restaurant.
Supposedly this has been the most famous cake in the world since 1832. It is said to have been invented in Vienna by chef Franz Sacher. It improves if left a day or two before cutting. The hotel is one of the world's great luxury hotels.
There were too many delicious looking tortes so we decided we had to try more than just the famous Sacher torte. We were glad we did. They were all delicious.
Wandering around we came upon this little square and saw that the door was open on this buiding so decided to step inside not knowing what it was. What is was - was spectacular.
The church was built at the time of the Counter-Reformation and is rich in baroque embellishments. This was the University church, dedicated to the Jesuit saints Ignatius of Loyola and Franciscus Xaverius.
The "rock" hanging from the ceiling was a bit astonishing! It is called " To be in Limbo". The rock appears menacing, with the spiritual aspect assuming a Damoclean impression at this particular site.
The 26 foot high and 16 foot wide plastic rock can be split into six parts, weighs approximately 1,224 pounds and is suspended at three points on 2mm wire ropes.
Next to the church was this beautiful building.
That evening we ate typical Vienese food - weiner schnitzel and goulash at a delightful little restaurnat called Specht.
The meal began with a complimentary tabbouleh salad. That was my salad on the left. A meal in itself. IT was a great first day. Tomorrow - a tour to the Vienna Woods. 
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