On The Way To Vienna
Our last day on the bus brought us to Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Our guided tour was interesting and thought provoking, not just facts and figures. The guide led us to think about what life was like from the many different perspectives of the guards, the local people, and the prisoners. Our three generations all found the camp moving. Rebecca had just studied the Holocaust in school, so the visit made the history become real. Donna, had previously visited Mauthausen in 1960, remarkably just 15 years after it had been liberated.
Vienna
Vienna was the final city on the tour. We enjoyed a thorough city walking tour, as well as a tour of the Treasury. The guide was very helpful with giving directions, as it was easy to get turned around in the maze of the Hofburg Palace. The rest of the day was our own free time, before a farewell dinner together. We decided to visit the Albertina Museum to see the art collection. The final group dinner was sad. We were sorry to say goodbye to our fun group and leader.
Our trio was staying several extra days to explore the rest of Vienna. We toured the Hofburg Imperial Apartments, learning about the real life fairytale stories of Sisi and the other Habsburgs. We also toured the Vienna Opera House.
Our trio was staying several extra days to explore the rest of Vienna. We toured the Hofburg Imperial Apartments, learning about the real life fairytale stories of Sisi and the other Habsburgs. We also toured the Vienna Opera House.
Schonbrunn Palace
We traveled out to see Schonbrunn Palace. When we were in Paris, our Rick Steves guide, Marie, had taught us very well how to use the Metro system. So, armed with our Paris knowledge, and some help from our friendly hotel staff, we braved the U-bahn and easily made it to the Palace. We enjoyed pretending the palace was our summer home as we wandered through the rooms. The weather was still warm, but we strolled through the gorgeous gardens before heading back to the city.