Imaginations turning into images

I always imagined how it would be to walk down the streets of Vienna.

As a kid, I almost started to believe that I have been there. It felt like it. I was a gobbler of Christine Nöstlinger's children's books which are all set in the city at the Danube.

It would take almost twenty more years until I actually strolled down those streets, taking snapshots, imaginations turning into images.

I always imagined Vienna to be wonderful. Five reasons to prove this assumption:

1. art nouveau

The best way to start your walk through Vienna is to go on a guided tour which brings you to all the beautiful art nouveau architectural highlights. The Secession  Building is probably the most famous and most impressive monument of this time. The Secession movement included painters, architects, and sculptors (Malerei - Architektur - Plastik) and their first president was Gustav Klimt. In the basement of this architectural treasure built by Joseph Maria Olbrich (who also designed many houses in my hometown for the Darmstadt Artists' Colony) they keep Klimt's famous "Beethoven Frieze".

2."Die Burg"

Please note the passing tram in the back - as Viennese as possible.

As a theater-nerd I always dreamt of going to see a play in the Burg Theater. As it is said to be one of the most important German language theaters in the world expectations where high. They were fulfilled. Best theater experience ever. (We went to see "Twelfth Night").

3. Habsburg Exorbitance

There are no words to describe this. Sissi and Franzerl had a nice home. I personally believe that there is no better time to visit Schloss Schönbrunn than in the fall. 

4. Austrian Deliciousness

This is what happens if you let a hungry vegetarian chose from 100000000 options.

There are many delicious things to taste in Austria. Mozartkugeln, Kaiserschmarrn, Topfenknödel - and a lot of dishes which aren't too tempting for a vegetarian like me (Wiener Schnitzel!). It was coincidence that we found the best vegetarian/vegan restaurant I've ever been to: Yamm. 

It is a buffet restaurant which had everything I ever wanted to eat ;) It it was delicious. They also had soy "Melange". In Vienna you don't drink coffee you have to chose from a million different options with beautiful names such as Wiener Melage, Einspänner or Kleiner Brauner. Unfortunaltelly, "Café Central" the coffee house I always dreamt of visiting, was too crowded.

5. From Above 

There is no better way to see a city than from above. In Vienna there is a way to do this which is much more fun than climbing the stairs of a church spire or taking an elevator up a large skyscraper: The Prater Turm. It's the world highest flying swing. The seats are lifted 117 meters above the ground. You shouldn't be afraid of heights. I thought I wasn't, but felt kind of dizzy up there. A great experience anyway.