Day 2 in Vienna

Our first official day in Vienna was quite enjoyable. We first went to Schonbrunn Palace, home of the Habsburg royal family. We toured the insides estate rooms, but no photography was allowed. The Palace has a long history dating all the way back to 1311, when a watermill was on the property. It is also one of the first places where Mozart officially played a concert for Queen Maria Theresa. These days you won't see any royals lurking around, but you do see many tourists! It was packed with Christmas market festivities and school children enjoying field trips. The food at the Christmas market was delicious and we could have stayed there all day munching on different sweets. After the Palace we went around town looking at the different sites. Here are just a few of pictures from this day.

At Schonbrunn Palace enjoying some spiced wine.

Ben getting ready for a drink.

Ben in the back of the Palace.

The morning mist and snow made the view beautiful.

Schonbrunn was the main Palace of Austrian royalty until 1918. 

It's not everyday you get to eat lunch at a Palace.

Enjoying a sweet pretzel.

The front view of the Palace.

Around town--a statue of another Habsburg royal.

"I kill you" -- motto of the Habsburg Empire. 

Downtown Vienna.

Give your kid a pony ride through downtown for being good.

Saint Stephen Cathedral.

The Swarovski crystal display in the store was unbelievable.

This old Mercury looks a bit out of place in the streets of Vienna.