Children had the day off from school. This is how they spent some of their time.
The Christmas Market in front of Vienna's Rathaus (city hall) was absolutely packed with hordes of children and tourists, and a sprinkling of locals. Its aromas were cinnamon, glühwein, and festivity.
We took a ride around Ringstraße on my first Straßenbahn to Hundertwasserhaus, a unique apartment building in Vienna. From the website and edited by me:
"The Hundertwasser House was completed in 1983-1985...The flats have various [floor] plans. There are one-story and two-story flats. Many apartments have protruding balconies or pergolas and loggias... What was taken away from nature by the construction of the building was restored on the roofs. The living, uneven floor in the public areas of the buildings amounts to a rediscovery of human dignity, which was taken from people in an urban development of flat surfaces. The mosaics on the walls, in the stairways and in the corridors were created by the workers along with the tiles in the kitchens and in the bathrooms, which were laid irregularly to avoid the grid system... With this house, Hundertwasser proved that human architecture more in harmony with nature is possible within the regular construction time, within the financial budget of a public project, and within the current building laws without any special permits."
Afterward, we visited the Hundertwasser Cafe, complete with table toys and real heiße Schokolade.
I'd say this statue is about opulence, but this photo is all about Leinie.
This is the facade of the Secession Art Gallery near the Naschmarkt. The building itself was beautiful with its golden dome, and the Medusa-esque faces above the entryway were cool.
For lunch, we visited the famous Naschmarkt. Amy and Johannes shopped for a few groceries first, and we had the opportunity to browse stands selling flowers, produce, wine, meat, fish, and other goods.
Next, we walked down a pedestrian shopping street, but not before Leinie made friends with another Cocker Spaniel puppy.
This is St. Stephan's Cathedral and these are some people being told not to give free hugs in public.
I told Ben that he looked like the one Winklevoss twin in The Social Network.
Vienna, I feel like we barely scratched the surface. We may have to visit you again in the spring.
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