Away from Tourist Central

Walking around Central Vienna is not a lonely experience. Throngs of tourists are around the major sights and of course, it's a big city, with locals going about their business. We walked in a different direction today, and found a different experience. Karlskirche - St. Charles' Chiurch - is a few blocks from our apartment. Walking inside, we were presented with a whole different feeling than going to Stephansdom. Not only were there fewer people, but the Baroque style of the church was open, soaring and flooded with light, as opposed to the dark interior of the Gothic cathedral.

Another unique experience awaited us as well. There was a huge scaffolding structure inside stretching up into the cupola. We were unsure if there was restoration work going on, but they were letting tourists go up into the top. There was an elevator for the first part, maybe eight stories, but then there was a stairway going right up into the cupola, maybe another two stories! And since it was a scaffold, with people walking up and down, it shook a bit. Whoa! We did it. You've got to do these things, right? Went up long enough to take some photos, and then I had to get my feet on solid ground again.

Had lunch today in a student hangout near the Technological University - yes, TU. Nice toasted sandwiches for cheap, which is a big deal here. We are no longer in the land of reasonable prices! In the afternoon, we walked to Belvedere Palace. Huge gardens (not at their best in October), eleborate interiors. The whole thing has been turned into an art museum - actually our first of the trip! We saw Van Goghs and Munches, but the highlight was a roomful of Gustav Klimt. His progression from impressionist to art nouveau was very interesting. We ended the slow museum strolling - always hard on the back - with a great walk through the botanial gardens. Perfect antidote!I

In the evening, we went back to Karlskirche for a classical music concert. It was stunning. The accoustics of the building were perfect. The five strings played selections from what must have been the greatest hits of the 1700's, with a violin soloist and a soprano. Her voice was pure and so stirring... perfect end to a Viennese day.