Next, we went right next door to the Hapsburg Treasury to see their collection of jewels. We sprung for the audio tour and although it was very informative, I got a little audioed out. The jewels were quite ridiculously amazing. I really don't understand why I can't just have one baby diamond of there kabijilloon.
We headed back to our biesel (a restaurant) from several nights before, and had some weiner schinztel. Liz and I aren't really fried meat kind of girls, but we knew we had to try some in Vienna. We tried it and (luckily) did not like it, so you know - checked that one of the list. We then took a several mile walk over to the Belevedere, where Gustov Klemt's The Kiss, Judith, and The Family live (and a bunch of his other art.) there were also lots of other paintings and rather interesting bust collection. Photography was not allowed, but of course I couldn't leave you all sans pictures. Luckily my iPad is sneaky.
We were getting pretty museumed out by this time, so off to a cafe we went. A cappuccino and some topenstreudel (a cheese pastry) got us back into shape (as much shape as a pastry can get you into) and we were ready for dinner. Yes, all we do is eat.
Dinner was Italiano and we found ourselves a very nice waiter. He brought over some after dinner alcohol on the house. He obviously knew the way to our hearts- free stuff. So we pretended like we knew what we were used to this kind of classy thing and sipped it slowly.
I had been craving hotel Sachar's Sachar torte since we had first tried it, and I insisted on going back. Elizabeth, however, was convinced it wasn't the only good one in town (since every pastry shop copied Hotel Sachar and has their own version), but I adamantly refused. Elizabeth insisted. Sachar-tort off it was.
We then pastry-shop hopped to try out some Sachar torte. The first place was Aida and I did not like their Sachar torte. The second place was some little pastry shop and again, not good enough. So finally Elizabeth let me get the one I'd been waiting for! Since the first shop had given us a to go box, we had half of the first and half of the second torte in it, so Elizabeth then gave me a blind taste test with Hotel Sachar's in the lineup. She basically shoved humongous spoonfuls into my mouth and asked me which was the best. Obviously I couldn't taste the difference, so I might have guessed wrong. I made her do a rematch and after the 2nd bite, I still had my mouth open waiting for the last taste when Liz said she had already given me all 3. This is when I realized I was torted out. The rest of the night my belly hurt. Looks like I don't like anyone's Sachar torte anymore.
Our final activity of the day was watching the ballet (La sylphidia) outside the opera house. They have a big screen streaming the show outside the opera house (which is where the ballet is performed) and so we got to hang out in chairs and get a free viewing. We liked this one better than the opera, but again could only maintain an attention span until intermission.
And so then we walked ourselves home, for the last time in Vienna. One thing Vienna has not been lacking, is good exercise. I don't normally think walking is good exercise, but when you walk 3 hours a day, it counts.
Here's a bunch of photos:
1-3 The Treasury 1. Largest emerald in the world 2. Elizabeth with the royal crown 3. Elisabeth with her own paper royal crown.
4-6 From the Upper Belvedere 4.The Kiss 5.The busts 6. The Family by Klimt
7. The ballet
8-12: tour de torte
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