Austria

[SField]

Originally Posted by gnatty8

Just curious, is there a particular reason you are more interested in Austria? Its beautiful, and certainly a perfectly acceptable destination, but if given a better idea of what attracts you to Austria in the first place, you may get more targeted recommendations in terms of places/things to see.

Because going to Austria rather than the usual backpacking destinations makes him sound like less of a college aged white middle class american stereotype.

 

[nootje]

just do amsterdam conne... the red light district is being "cleaned" up, so better go now before the opportunity is gone

 

[Musiclover]

Originally Posted by SField

Except that it's in Salzburg.
Check... www.mozarthausvienna.at Mozart is from Salzburg, but the Mozart museum I visited is in Vienna. It's close to the church in the center of town and the residence where he wrote some of his most famous work like The Magic Flute. Sounds like SField has never been to Vienna.

 

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by SField

Yes, but a great jewel of that country is Graz. It can be really beautiful, it's also the main university city in Austria. Have a Sachre Torte at the famous hotel. I believe that's the one Oprah has shipped to her weekly to add to her generous posterior. Salzburg is beautiful. Vienna is nice and compact which allows you to see a lot. I'd definitely go to Innsbrook to see Hofburg.

Sacher Tortes = seriously overrated.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Musiclover

Check...

www.mozarthausvienna.at

Mozart is from Salzburg, but the Mozart museum I visited is in Vienna. It's close to the church in the center of town and the residence where he wrote some of his most famous work like The Magic Flute. Sounds like SField has never been to Vienna.

Sounds like you're a ******* moron.

Mozart lived in several places, and his house in Salzburg is what most people would think of in any case. When the mozart festivals happened two years ago, most of it was in Salzburg, which as you know is the most prestigious summer music festival in the world. Keep in mind that he didn't live very long, and that a lot of his work was written in Salzburg. He wrote quite a few of his most performed works before he got to Vienna. In fact, he went to Paris first.

And yes, I spent quite a bit of time in Vienna.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Sacher Tortes = seriously overrated.

Never been big on deserts, even having Gale Gand's place nearby.

Seems fine to me.

 

[Douglas]

My best Vienna tip is to go see an opera at the Staatsoper. If you are willing to "rough it" just a bit, the opera reserves some standing-room-only tickets for day-of-concert sale. You may have to google the specifics, but essentially if you show up at 5pm or so and wait for a few hours for them to open the ticket booth. If you're early enough in the line you can get a "parterre" place which is right behind the best seats in the house. You'll stand through the whole opera, so you may want to skip out on any Wagner, but for something like 2 euro you'll be witnessing opera as well as it can be staged and performed and from a fantastic vantage point. Take a tie or scarf as you'll need it to mark your standing "spot" on the rail.

 

[redcaimen]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Sacher Tortes = seriously overrated.

+1. Unless they have gotten better since the 70's its just a dense so so chocolate cake. They used to come in a pretty cool wooden box. Not sure if they still do.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Douglas

My best Vienna tip is to go see an opera at the Staatsoper. If you are willing to "rough it" just a bit, the opera reserves some standing-room-only tickets for day-of-concert sale. You may have to google the specifics, but essentially if you show up at 5pm or so and wait for a few hours for them to open the ticket booth. If you're early enough in the line you can get a "parterre" place which is right behind the best seats in the house. You'll stand through the whole opera, so you may want to skip out on any Wagner, but for something like 2 euro you'll be witnessing opera as well as it can be staged and performed and from a fantastic vantage point. Take a tie or scarf as you'll need it to mark your standing "spot" on the rail.

You can also see the Vienna phil for shockingly low prices. I think 8 euro? Usually you'll be seated at the last minute, basically as they're tuning.

 

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by redcaimen

+1. Unless they have gotten better since the 70's its just a dense so so chocolate cake. They used to come in a pretty cool wooden box. Not sure if they still do.

They still do. Still also taste mediocre. There are much better chocolate delights in Vienna.

 

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by SField

You can also see the Vienna phil for shockingly low prices. I think 8 euro? Usually you'll be seated at the last minute, basically as they're tuning.

Another great tip. You really must see some classical music in Vienna.

Avoid the silly Mozart show they do though. If you see people dressed up in old-time clothes trying to sell you tickets to a show, that's the one. It's tourist pap.

Though some of the girls selling said tickets are quite cute.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Douglas

They still do. Still also taste mediocre. There are much better chocolate delights in Vienna.

There's a particular place I can't remember the name off just a few meters from the palace where they have a lot of really fantastic pastries. People spend a long time agonizing over what to get for the day. Again I don't have too much of a sweetooth but I did think they were much better than what you find in the average bakery stateside.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Douglas

Another great tip. You really must see some classical music in Vienna.

Avoid the silly Mozart show they do though. If you see people dressed up in old-time clothes trying to sell you tickets to a show, that's the one. It's tourist pap.

Though some of the girls selling said tickets are quite cute.

Or just go to the conservatory. Many great studios are in Vienna including Oistrakh's and Kuschnir's.

 

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by SField

Again I don't have too much of a sweetooth but I did think they were much better than what you find in the average bakery stateside.

Well, yes, this goes without saying. But what you get at the average bakery anywhere in Western Europe is going to be much better than what you find in the average bakery stateside.

Like you, I'm not necessarily Mr. Sweets, but for being world-famous, the Sacher Torte is a pretty major letdown.

 

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by SField

Or just go to the conservatory. Many great studios are in Vienna including Oistrakh's and Kuschnir's.

Sounds like you've never been to Vienna.