I waited three years to finally make this trip happen! In 2021 they shut down the Christmas Markets in Austria and Belgium three days before we were going to leave due to a big Covid breakout so they canceled our trip. Last year we had sold our house and in the middle of packing up so we could move the day after Christmas so I had to postpone again. 2023 was my year! I didn't know anyone on the tour except for Frances, the tour guide, but I prefer having my own room and having a little freedom so it worked out perfectly for me!
DAY 1--
I flew out of SLC at 2pm on Friday, December 1. I upgraded to a Delta Premium Select seat so I could hopefully sleep on the 10+ hour flight and the 8-hour time difference...
DAY 2--
I arrived in Vienna via Paris on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 2pm. I was happy to travel with the Cluff family as they were going to almost the same places as me but on their own. Our group would be staying at the Beethoven Hotel the next four nights.
Ventured out on my own and found my first Christmas Market not too far from the hotel and walked around the circle for a bit.
Found the famous Hotel Sacher and had to try their reknown chocolate torte. It was a bit on the dry side for my taste but the European chocolate is delicious.
After meeting the group and grabbing a felafel with Frances, I ventured out again to attend an amazing concert at St. Peter's church that played pieces from the masters.. Mozart, Vivaldi, Haydn, Schubert, Bach and Dvorak,
DAY 3--
There were two other members of the church in our tour group of eight so we found the closest church, caught an uber and attended. The Cluffs were there too. Everything was in German but it was fun to sing the hymns in a different language and we did have a translator.
They serve lots of "ale" at the Christmas Markets to keep people warm. I always purchased the "Kinder" punch which was non-alcoholic but just as tasty and warm.
Delicious dinner at the Museum Cafe close to our hotel.
Rode their city metro to dinner...
The rest of the group was going to the most famous restaurant to get Schnitzel that night and then to the same quartet I'd already seen in concert the first night so I got my Schnitzel dinner to go, ate it back at the hotel and made it in time for the 7:00pm Opera.
That afternoon we went to Schonbrunn Palace and went on a tour and then went to the Strudel Show onsite and learned how to make it as well as got the recipe and got a slice.
DAY 4--
Stopped by the Mozart statue on the way to the Sisi Museum at the Hofburg Imperial Palace
Where the Lippazaner Stallions hang out...
Lunch at Cafe Central which was amazing! Good thing we had reservations since the line went around the block. I had a delicious pumpkin soup (the color is strange but it was good!) and a butternut pasta. We also met up with Frances' Austrian friend Maria who took us on an afternoon/evening tour around the city, the largest and most famous Austrian Christmas Market and dinner at a farm to table restaurant (Heuriger Mayer am Pfarrplatz).
The sun starts to set around 4pm each day but all the decorative lights keep the ambiance bright and festive.
DAY 5--
Started our day at the Belvedere Palace with beautiful grounds and another Christmas Market on site.
Did some walking around Vienna's more modern stores like we have in America and then Frances and I took a tour of the Vienna Opera House. While there, I found out they had a few standing only seats left for La Boheme that night (one of mom and Nana's favorite operas) so I bought a standing ticket for 15 Euros.
The standing areas had individual displays with the translation on it and I could hear everything perfectly from the top--just couldn't see what was going on on stage very well. Music was incredible though and I'm glad I took that opportunity to see an opera in the Vienna Opera House.
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