Bruce and I were so tired that part of me wanted to blow off the tour I had already paid for. But I dragged myself out of the luscious bed and started getting ready to go to the Schonbrunn Palace and Garden Tour.
I stepped out on my balcony to check the weather. It was chilly.
As part of our stay, breakfast is included so we had a quick breakfast then the hotel called a taxi to take us to the palace.
It was the summer palace of the Habsburgs and Maria Theresa who reigned from 1740 to 1780, was responsible for the grandeur of the palace.
She was the only female ruler of Austria but still was not given the title of Empress. Maria Theresa had 16 children one of whom was Marie Antoinette. Another daughter married Napoleon Bonaparte and she returned to Vienna with their son, who was a very fragile child. He died a young man of 21.
The palace had 1,441 rooms and is done in the Baroque style.
We toured 22 rooms rich in color and adorned with large portraits and landscapes. One room was painted to look like porcelain.
The large white ceramic stove was the heating element for the palace.
Our guide Nicole from Roso Travel was very knowledgeable and enjoyable with her personal stories of the palace.
She explained the little details in the artwork including Mozart being inserted in the above painting although he hadn’t been born yet at the time this painting was commissioned. Many of these art pieces take years to complete.
After the tour of the house, we proceeded to the gardens. The gardens are not typical English gardens but have a Baroque style to stimulate conversation. They are also designed for quiet and privacy since privacy within the palace is limited.
It was a delightful tour and as we were leaving she told us the best apple strudel was at the cafe. We headed over to the cafe to indulge in the strudel.
Back at our hotel, we went to the spa and enjoyed a Finnish sauna and hydro pool.
For dinner, we ate at a little cafe across from a church. I had a chicken wrap and Bruce ate soup. He has been having trouble with his teeth and needs to eat soft things.
We enjoyed a light show at the Votive Church across the street.
It was a beautiful show set to music. Afterwards, bedtime. We are exhausted.
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