Wein not whine

Today was Schonbrunn Palace which was much hyped and didn't quite meet expectations.  I waited in the queue to buy tickets for an hour and when at the front of the line I found out that we would have to wait 4 hours to get in to see the rooms inside.  Hmmm!!! We wandered around the gardens which were a mix between white and brown, then some white and brown, then more snow fell and there was a little more white.  We were delighted to wake with more snow and loved it until the wind picked up the dancing flakes that were swirling past and turned them into ice darts that drilled into any exposed skin and found there sneaky way down your shirt.  Grr.  We warmed ourselves with a hot chocolate in the cafe on the hill above the palace and then trained it into the city for lunch and then got back just in time for our tour inside.  It was pretty and extravagant but not unlike palaces we have already seen.  Could I have lived there like the Hasburgs did?  Totally.  Could I understand why the little people didn't like their fancy ways?  Totally.
Out the front of the palace was some winter/Christmas/new year markets.  There were flurries so we finally got to wander through the markets in falling snow.  It was wonderful.  The flakes were perfect snowflake shapes and shining in the lamplight.  Magical!  Kamahl bought some nuts there as he said he wanted to get some in every country we visited.  Mission accomplished.  We then went to an outdoor ice rink and Kamahl and the two kids once skated in the falling snow which they loved.  We came home and ate tea and began sorting/packing.

Dogs are everywhere in Europe - in trains, cafes, shopping centres...  It's a bit scary if they aren't responsible pet owners and let their four legged darlings leave little treats on the sidewalk.  A fine dusting of snow and it is a puppy bomb waiting to explode!  Or should I say land mine.
I love how they handle the bill here.  The waiter takes your order, gives it to you when you are ready and comes over with a wallet to your table so you can pay your bill directly to them.  Handy.  I will miss their train systems too.  Vienna has about as much people as Perth, though more highly concentrated but has an awesome train system.  The lines crisscross over the whole city and we have fully utilised our 72 hr unlimited travel ticket.  Trains arrive and depart every 4 - 7 minutes.  Oh I wish australia had a system like that.
I won't miss the freeze headaches you get just by being outside and the cold burn you get each night after you are cozy inside.  It is so weird. Your face gets hot and a little red as if you got sunburn but it isn't sunburn...  Not that I am complaining which I told myself I would keep to a minimum - just witty banter.  Vienna is written as Wein (pronounced vine not whine).

Well, tomorrow is off to Hungary and a new currency and a new language (one we haven't been practising and is difficult to read - like Czech).  My hope is that English is more common but the price hasn't surpassed Australian type costs.  I also hope for mum that it lives up to my hype - I have convinced her that it is a great, cheap place to spend 8 days.
Another trek to the train station (this time in snow - oh the suitcases...) and that panicked feeling of finding the new accommodation in the new and unknown place.

Again, check out Haylee's blog and Karen's blog for photos.
godfreytraveladventures.blogspot.com.au
brookstraveladventures.blogspot.com.au

Thanks for reading, and for all those who have commented - thanks!