Europe Tour 2013 Part-2 #यात्रा

In the last blog on our Europe tour Part-1 journey up to Prague was covered. This blog part-2 covers journey between Prague to Vienna & Budapest

Blog Part-1 : Day 1: Delhi-Moscow-Munich (by air), Day 2 Munich-Nuremberg-Prague.
Blog Part-2 Day-4 Prague to Vienna Day 5 Vienna to Budapest.
Blog Part-3 Day 7  Budapest -Melk- Salzburg Day 8 Salzburg- Munich
Blog Part-4 Day 9 Munich to-Zurich (By Train) Day 10 Zurich -Lucerne-Mt Titlis-Zurich. Day 10 & 11 Return to Delhi via Moscow

Hotels where we stayed:
Night-1 :NH Munich airport
Nights 2&3 : Hotel Barcelo Prague
Nights 4 : Hotel Kavalier Vienna
Nights 5&6 : Hotel Mercure Budapest (Buda)
Night 7 : Hotel Ramda, Salzburg
Night 8 : Hotel Ibis Parkstad Munich
Night 9 : Hotel Walhalla Zurich

Prague to Vienna :

This blog covers journey from Prague to Budapest. Most of the details has vanished from my memory but I am trying to recall what ever I can.

Day -4 : After visiting the magnificent Prague palace we visited the old town square before departure to spend some time at river front.

Stand Still Palace Guard Prague	Saroj with Local guide at Prague

On DAY-4 We traveled towards Vienna and had enchanting views on way.

Cosmos Bus	Scenes on Way

Just before border between Czech and Austria we stopped at a store near a petrol bunk for last minute purchase with Czech Koruna as well use the wash rooms. We found that use of wash rooms were free for those making certain purchases or else it was chargeable. After arrival In Vienna we were joined by a local guide.

History :

Vienna has a long history. Brief list of historical events are given here. It was a military out post of Holy Roman Empire and in 11th Century was capital of Babenberg dynasty. In 19th Century it was seat of Austrian and Austro Hungarian Empire. Habsburg dynasty were the most important royal family of Austria. Although from 1438 until 1806 (with the exception of 1742–1745) a member of the House of Habsburg was also Holy Roman Emperor, the Empire itself was not considered a part of the Habsburg Monarchy.  Thought Habsbrg male line ended in 1740 with the death of Holy Roam Emperor Charles IV, it continued to function as Austro-Hungarian Empire or the Dual Monarchy and in 1914, the Habsburgs ruled an empire that encompassed not just Austria and Hungary, but Bohemia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, large parts of Poland and Romania, and even some of Italy.During Nazi rule it was annexed in 1938 as part of Greater Germany. After WW II it was occupied by 4 allied forces.In 1955 occupation ended after a Austrian State treaty. First place we visited was Shwedenplatz.

Near St Stephen's Cathedral	St Stephen's Cathedral
Way to Cathedral	Vienna City Hall

Though I had visited Vienna earlier during an official visit but it was just a brief stop over on way to Voestalpine steel plant at Linz. Shwedenplatz is in Central district of Vienna and most of the attractions of Vienna are nearby. After alighting from bus we walked to St Stephen Cathedral, the seat of Arch Bishop of Austria. It has very tall spires. One of which was damaged during WW-II. Horse carts rides are a huge attraction but the droppings of horses makes the street dirty. It was too cold and we quickly searched for a restaurant for some warmth. Korean food we ordered was had large quantity. Keeping our Indian tradition of not wasting food we ate everything. We started feeling bad almost immediately. We also visited Swarovski store near by and made few purchases. Next we took a bus ride through the city mostly parallel to Danube and saw many places of interests we also alighted from the bus at couple of places and moved around clicking and clicking and enjoying the views.

Austrian Parliament	Palace of Pallavicini

Former imperial palace now serves as official residence of President. There is a Museum with small entrance fee. We walked to some of these historical buildings, but felt the time was too short for such historical city. We noticed several columns called Plague columns probably in memory of those who perished due to Plague out breaks in Europe.

Imperial Habsburg Palace	Plague Memorial

DAY-5 :

This day was spent visiting schonburnn palace which was main summer residence of Habsburg rulers. The palace have over 1400 rooms and is the is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country. Since 1955 it is a major tourist attraction and serves as museum now. A mansion called Katterburg was purchased in 16th century by Holy Roman Emperor Maxmillan II and was originally developed as recreational hunting ground. During 1740-50 it was re built in its present form by Empress Maria Theresa. Franz Joseph the longest-reigning emperor of Austria, was born at Schönbrunn and spent a great deal of his life there. He died there, at the age of 86, on 21 November 1916. Following the downfall of the Habsburg monarchy in November 1918, the palace became the property of the newly founded Austrian Republic and was preserved as a museum. Nepolean stayed here twice and his room is preserved with his picture as a child. this room served earlier as bedroom of Franz and Theresa. After French victory over Austria, Schonbrunn served as HQ of Napolean. After WW-II it served as office of British Delegation. Meeting between President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev also took place here in 1961. 

We purchased tickets and went inside the museum with a museum guide and saw the artefacts and decorated rooms and chambers as per tour plan of the museum. We were not allowed to take photographs inside for most of the chambers. Few photographs were taken by mobile phone and some of them are given below along with one over all view of the back garden. There was some time left for the bus to arrive when we finished our Museum tour. We spent this waiting time viewing several sculptures in the front court yard and in having snacks and moving around in the Ester fair which was going on in the front court yard.

schornburnn palace	Easter Fair in the Front court yard
Easter Fair -Front of Palace	Inside a Palace Chamber with guide

Roof Decoration	Back Side Garden

In the after noon we traveled to the beautiful city of Budapest and reached there in the evening. We checked in Hotel Mercure-Accor on Buda side. Budapest consists of twin cities of Buda and Pest on the 2 sides of Danube river. We could not stop resist our urge to click photos from our Hotel window since some day light was still there. We were to spend 2 nights and 3 days in this beautiful enchanting city. We took of break fast in the restaurant named Atila - a Hun hailed by the local population as brave king. This reminded me of 2 invasions by white Huns into India during Gupta period though defeated in their first attempt in 458 AD by Skandgupta their second attempt in 470 AD was successful under the leadership of Mihirgul who was also called Indian Atila who carved out a Hun empire in NW India (mostly part of Pakistan and Afghanistan now. He was later defeated by combined forces of 2 Indian kings.

Day 6

We boarded the COSMOS bus for a city tour in the morning and was joined by a Local Tour guide. His English was better than the once we had encountered till now. He had good sense of humor too. We crossed the Danube through the famous Chain Bridge towards the Pest side for a bus tour through the enchanting buildings. We went up the victory memorial and spent some time there. In return journey we were mesmerized by the beautiful Parliament House. After spending some time at the town square We crossed back to Buda side and walked up the hill on Buda side to see Mathias Church and Buda's Castle for a breathtaking view of Pest side and the parliament. The street was lined up with shops selling artifacts and handicrafts. After spending some time on the banks of Danube we went to Hotel to get dressed for a Cruise ride cum Dinner. It was night time and we had magnificent views of illuminated chain bridge and the Parliament building and other structures. No one wanted to spend time inside despite strong and cold wind we all went to the deck to enjoy the views the city had to offer during night hours. After sumptuous dinner and drinks we returned to the Hotel amid singing in the bus by jubilant tourists.

View of Buda Side from Hotel	Victory Memorial

St Stephen's Cathedral	Victory Memorial

Parliament House	Chain Bridge

Walk way Buda Side Bank	matthias church

View of Paliament from Matthias church	Cruise in Danube & Dinner

Handicraft Shop in Town Square	St. Stephen's Basilica

We were so enchanted with this city that given our choice would have stayed at least for a week. Any way on Day 7 we left for Salzburg via Melk after last minute visit to Chain Bridge as if telling the bridge "good bye friend".

Video of illuminated  Parliament House at Budapest as seen from a cruise on Danube.