A Super Bowl Love Story

Arrived in Vienna and took a taxi to the hotel. Lucky we decided to do this, because the city twists and turns in the most amazing ways. It took about 25 minutes to get from the main station to the hotel. We stayed at a Marriott partner using points, The Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel. The room was great and they have no problem at all it seems, anywhere in Europe adding another bed. However, we do think that they welcome dogs more than children almost everywhere.
We have seen twice now, dogs in restaurants, dogs in grocery stores and dogs march right in to any hotel they want. Everyone looks lovingly at the dog, but have a boisterous moment with your child and everyone gives you the stink eye. They are big on Harbo gummies everywhere in Austria and Germany, they must be manufactured somewhere near here. They had great vases of Harbo gummy bears at check in to help your self to. On Easter Sunday they changed all those vases over to chocolate Easter eggs and chicks. We discovered on our second day that we could upgrade to the club level for 37 euros. As they served treats most of the day that would do for dinner and breakfast we decided to buy in. It also allowed us free internet access – almost unheard of in any hotel in Europe.


The first afternoon, we tried to get ourselves figured out around town and eventually managed to kind of get the gist of things. They have about 5 different kinds of public transportation, so it is difficult to know whether you are going to a subway station, tram, etc. And they do kind of expect that you will get it! Here is Haley out in back of the hotel. The hotel is on her left, the station on her right and a church owned by the Russian Embassy is behind her. We found a very convenient street car on Renweg street, the 71 that took us right down town to the ring strasse. This was the historic center of the city, the ring strasse was originally the city’s fortification walls. So on the one side is the old city and on the other is the “newer” extension of that city. We bought an hour tour on a hop on hop off bus and went once around the ring. While we were waiting, we talked with a guy outside of the Statsopera – Vienna State Opera House about attending Swan Lake there the following evening. He sells cancellation tickets and would have them the following morning.


After out tour, we headed back to the hotel and cleaned up a bit and got ready to go to our concert at the Schonbrunn Palace, Organerie. It was an orchestra, two ballet dancers and two opera singers. The first half of the concert was Mozart music and the second half Strauss. Our tickets allowed us to sit about half way up. About midway through the Mozart half, I had a fit of coughing and had to get up and go out.

After I finally got myself settled, I went and sat in the back. Frank said he fairly had to hold Haley down to keep her from going out after me to see if I was okay. In the end we all ended up sitting in the back and enjoying the concert immensely anyway!

The ride to get there was a bit confusing as we had to change trains. Getting on the right trains never seemed to be a problem, but finding your way to the next level and the next platform sometimes was. When we changed, at Landstrasse, we were starving and needed to find something quick to eat on our way. We walked all around, but as it was Saturday before Easter, everything was locked up tight. We found a stand selling pizza and we bought three pieces and a pop to share. It, surprisingly was delicious and we wolfed it down before hoping onto the next train toward Hottledorf and eventually Schonbrunn.

After the concert, we headed our weary selves home and slept like the dead.