The Grounds at Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is a massive estate just outside Vienna, Austria.  The Habsburg family, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, used it for their summer home. You don’t have to go inside to get some idea of the Habsburg’s power. You’ll know just by seeing the grounds at Schönbrunn Palace. Continue reading “The Grounds at Schönbrunn Palace”

A Visit to Schönbrunn Palace

We landed in Vienna yesterday.  After exploring our immediate surroundings, the Inner Stadt area, we had a good dinner and conked out.  Today we’re going to do the typical tourist thing and go see Schönbrunn Palace.  It’s a required activity on any self-respecting tourist’s What-to-See-in-Vienna list. Continue reading “A Visit to Schönbrunn Palace”

It’s All About the Schnitzel

Let’s talk about schnitzel. I had it for dinner last night.  Mmm mmm good.  To be specific, I had wiener schnitzel.  But here in Vienna I could have had any number of schnitzel offerings that are on the menu. My guess is that they’re all good. Continue reading “It’s All About the Schnitzel”

Exploring the Innere Stadt

We’re walking in the area of Vienna called the Innere Stadt.  If we were in a city in France, the corresponding term would probably be Centre Ville.  The idea is that it’s the heart of the city. Based on what we’ve seen so far, it looks like Vienna’s Inner Stadt is the place to be. Continue reading “Exploring the Innere Stadt”

Discovering Vienna

What do you think of when you think of Vienna? Hmmm… classical music, for sure. Strudel, maybe. Vienna sausages? Those don’t count. I don’t know much about Vienna at all. That’s about to change, though, because we’re going to spend a few days discovering Vienna. Continue reading “Discovering Vienna”

Brunelleschi’s Machines

Florence, Italy’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a.k.a., The Duomo, dates back to the 15th century. Construction of the massive church took fifteen years. Its architect and designer, Filippo Brunelleschi, invented a number of specialized machines to support the construction effort.  Without Brunelleschi’s machines, the Duomo might date back to the 16th century instead of the 15th. Continue reading “Brunelleschi’s Machines”

The Biggest Dome in the World

In the 15th century, Florence, Italy was becoming a center of wealth and power. And what do the wealthy and powerful often like to do? They like to build something to show it off.  What better way for 15th-century florentines to strut their stuff than to build a gigantic church having the biggest dome in the world? Continue reading “The Biggest Dome in the World”