PALACES, PALACES, PALACES AND THE VIENNA STATE OPERA

Our time in Vienna is spent enjoying the magnificent edifices for which it is so famous. I had checked out opera, Figaro is on for E120 a ticket on line so we ruled that out. However, on the street there are touts everywhere and discover the booking agency is close by, and snag a couple of tickets at the reasonable cost of E45 each for next day. It's Il Trovatore, which Ted is much keener to attend.

  The weather is sunny and warm at first so we walk around the Imperial Palace grounds one day, The Belvedere the second day, and Schonbrunn the third day. We are surprised to learn that although we had never really heard of Klimt, we both enjoyed his exhibitions. Returning home to write up my travel log, I find my beautiful gold journal design is the Tree of Life by Klimt. Ted is taken by some of his erotic work and the whole exhibition is heavily marketed on "The Kiss"

   In between we find lovely local restaurants with Austrian specialties, but are fast finding they like overcooked meat and no veggies!! Prices are not outlandish til we sample the fruit eat de vie one evening at E7.50 a thimbleful.

  But by now we need to purchase a second umbrella, a good investment as two days later the original bought for a pound in UK falls apart! The white umbrella with Mozart's music all over is much more acceptable in the current environment. Hope it lasts longer.

  Anna Netrebko, the famed Russian soprano, has been singing the role of Leonora at the opera this season. But we hear she had other engagements Sep 8 and 10 and is not singing the night we attend! Sheesh. Her husband is! The opera house is spectacular, our seats not. 

  We are on two high stools at the back (3rd row) of a small box, stuffy and hot with poor sight lines. Two large Austrian women sit in front of us and bob around so Ted can only see about 1/4 of the stage. We fiddle with the seating so he can see more during the second half. We rush to the bar in intermission and grab two champagnes and smoked salmon which all go down well.

  We are above the orchestra so the sound is sublime, the singers are all good, some excellent and the chorus is outstanding. Makes for a fine evening of music and we stop by a cafe on the walk home for sumptuous dessert and wine//beer. A truly romantic evening that we will not soon forget.