Early start today as we are off to Schonbrunn Palace. Our guide is fantastic as we tour the city on our way to the palace – extremely informative and knowledgeable. The Schonbrunn Palace is magnificent. A smaller version of Versailles, but far less ostentatious. We learnt all about arch duchess Maria Therese who became known as the Mother in law of Europe as she had 16 children in 20 years, 11 of whom grew to adulthood including her youngest daughter Marie Antoinette. She married most of them to other royals in arranged marriages designed to shore up and strengthen her own dynasty. Because she was a woman she could not be recognised as emperor. We have lunch back on board the Pearl and then head back into Vienna for a walk around the town and to have a Viennese coffee.
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Schonbrunn Palace has really lovely well laid out gardens, with a folly atop a hill overlooking Vienna. The fountains near the folly are quite big when you get close to them.
The rooms in the Palace are decorated as close to original as possible, they had most of the original furniture and an artist had been commissioned to paint the rooms, so historians knew how to set up the rooms to exhibit.
Grand Duchess Maria Therese was quite a smart and shrewd woman.
Her daughter Elizabeth (Sissi) was much loved.
After the tour and lunch, we ventured back into the city. Saw a “magic” carpet rider.and souvenir signs saying “there are no kangaroos in Austria”.
Had a coffee and cake in an Austrian coffee shop with the locals.
Near our bus stop was a “beach” set up alongside the little canal, equipped with a few deck chairs and umbrellas and a striped awning-adorned cafe.
Back to the Pearl and enjoyed another sumptuous dinner and wine.
John is not going to Port Talk, instead relaxing in our cabin.
After dinner we had a fun night with lots of laughs and dancing.
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