Trip to Europe: Vienna, Austria

We left Pflach early on 1/7, and headed for Munich, Germany, to return our rental car. In preparation of our upcoming week in Wien (Vienna), we decided to take it easy and simply rest. The next morning, on 1/8, we took the train to Vienna, where we met up with Toli's parents, Nicholas and May Lerios. Never mind the impossibility of this, it was a fact that those two are youngsters relative to us old foggies: they walked our feet off around town, and rivaled us on the dance floor of the WU (Wirtschafts-Universität; Economics University) Viennese ball. Or was it a Vietnamese ball, as Christine would often mis-speak? And was it Economics or Witchcraft, as Toli wanted to pretend that Hofburg was Harry Potter's Hogwarts? Anyway, our time at the posh Hotel Regina on Roosevelt Platz (where Toli's parents put us up) was limited to just sleep and quick outfit changes. And munching away on the yummy goodies Toli's parents brought for us from Greece.

1/8
Our room, Hotel Regina
The spires of the Votivkirche (kirche is church) on Roosevelt Platz.

1/9
KHM (Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien; Vienna Museum of Historic Art)
A closeup of one of the paintings showing the faint and vague reflection of the painter by the reflected window.

1/9
KHM
A closeup of one of the paintings showing the reflection of the painter.

1/9
KHM
Cat mugs, reminiscent of the cat sculpture by Austin's Charles Umlauf; Christine had just finished working at the Austin Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum before we took off for our trip.

1/9
KHM
Cat mugs.

1/10
Gardens, Schönbrunn Palace
The snowy palace gardens (an accidental shot, as you can probably tell).

1/10
Gardens, Schönbrunn Palace
Toli and Christine, with the Gloriette in the background.

1/10
Gardens, Schönbrunn Palace
May and Nikolas in front of the palace.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Lobby, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas, Christine, and May.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Lobby, Hofburg Palace
Christine, Toli, and May.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Festsaal (festival hall), Hofburg Palace
May and Toli waltz.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Festsaal, Hofburg Palace
The Festsaal.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Festsaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Toli.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Festsaal, Hofburg Palace
Toli and Christine waltz.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Festsaal, Hofburg Palace
Christine and Toli waltz (near the left edge).

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Festsaal, Hofburg Palace
Christine and Toli waltz.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal (ceremony hall), Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and Christine dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and Christine dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
Christine and Nikolas dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and Christine.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May dance to Latin music.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Zeremoniesaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal (knight hall), Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas boogie.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May boogie.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas boogie.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May boogie.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas boogie.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May boogie.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Rittersaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas boogie.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Lobby, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas and May.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Lobby, Hofburg Palace
Christine and Toli.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Lobby, Hofburg Palace
Nikolas, May, Toli, and Christine. There are two generations of Lerios' as well as tuxedos here. Toli got his as a hand-me-down from his father who had worn it at his wedding in 1966; his father was wearing the tuxedo he got from his father-in-law after he passed away in 1993.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Metternichsaal (Metternich room), Hofburg Palace
Toli and Christine dance like its 1969.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Metternichsaal, Hofburg Palace
Toli and Christine dance like its 1969. This is Christine's impression of Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Metternichsaal, Hofburg Palace
Toli and Christine dance like its 1969. This is Toli's impression of Kevin Arnold from The Wonder Years.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Metternichsaal, Hofburg Palace
Toli and Christine dance to the oldies. And this is real oldies, not '80s (which is still hip music according to Toli)!

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Metternichsaal, Hofburg Palace
Toli and Christine dance to the oldies.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Metternichsaal, Hofburg Palace
Christine and Toli dance to the oldies.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Metternichsaal, Hofburg Palace
Toli and Christine dance to the oldies.

The WU-Ball, 1/10
Festaal, Hofburg Palace
May and Nikolas boogie.

1/11
Stadtpark (city park)
May and Nikolas in front of the Johann Strauss, Jr., statue.

1/11
Stadtpark
Toli and Christine in front of the Johann Strauss, Jr., statue.

1/11
Stadtpark
Christine, Toli, and May in front of the duck pond.

1/11
Stadtpark
Christine and Toli in front of the duck pond.

1/11
Karlskirche (St. Charles's church)
Nicholas, May, Toli, and Christine in front of the newly-restored frescoes up in the dome. Access to the dome is only possible during the restoration; once it's done, the frescoes would have to be admired from at least 60 feet away. It was amazing seeing the detail the artists painted, despite the intended viewing distance.