cafe.sperl

cafe sperl, one of the really down to earth and non pretentious viennese cafes.  it did draw a lot of tourists when you're there.  perhaps it's the weather, you pumped into the same people that you saw earlier at leopold or mumok.

 located just at the parallel street from where you lodged. it makes a handy side adventure and not having to walk a long distance in a wet and cold afternoon/evening.

 the interior is still very art nouveau, a little wear and torn, but the atmosphere is not affected, it's still very lively and public living room to you where people sit in group or alone reading newspaper on saturday afternoon.

 the cake that you want to try is sold out, so you settled for this which you don't even recall the name. it's really sweet with a lot of chococolate paste in it.  it's just way too sweet to your liking and to your sweet life too.

 this is his choice  - salzburg cheese cake, but it looks like cheese strudel to you with the filo sheet on top of it.  this is way better, sweet and savory, custard texture, more of your liking.

 and you only learned it that satruday that a true viennese cafe will always serve the tea or coffee on silver tray, the drinks always accompany by a glass of water. you seen this in all the cafes you visited, but the real authentic cafe will put the teaspoon like that on the water glass. this apparently is a tradition and comes with a history.

you could just sit back, observing the interior and the features, let your mind wandering away....
love viennese cafe culture.

===
you have been working really looooong hours since you return to london. somehow you are able to cope with the workload and the pressure. you see the light at the end of the tunnel. you know you just have to hold on and remain very focus for the next few days and run your workshop next monday to wednesday.  you are eager to put an end to what you are doing since august. it's almost seem like never ending but it's really just a few days to go. on that lighter tone, you don't mind what you are going through now and you will be the first to reach the milestone.
you just pray that you will remain healthy and not catching any bug flu and do your very best.
===

leopold.museum

leopold museum is located at the MQ. museum quarter is just a stone throw away. you plan it for your last full day here because the weather is going to be cold and wet.

today you spent most of your time here at MQ, in both leopold and mumok museums.  at leopold, 7 floors of art with multiple exhibition themes.

 japan is one of the key exhibitions that graciously express the oriental beauty.

the naked men is rather provoking with the history and the evolution of naked men portrait in arts and paintings.

 the art nouveau has a rather big influence in viennese art.  the furniture displays are beautiful with clean line, that look almost as modern as today's furnitures...

you wish you could have one of these for your home...

the view at the higher floor are great too! you were hungry and decided to have your lunch at cafe leopold. one thing disgust about Vienna is the fact that smoking is allowed in the restaurant even with the zone segregation, you still can smell the cigarette.

you're finally seated. it's lunch hour and perhaps due to bad weather everyone decided to go museum and so the crowds were here.  camera musing while waiting for your food, this is a reflection of the non-smoking section.

sipping your white wine, resting your feet while waiting for your food...

 your lentil with dumplings is great light lunch

but his risotto with duck is too sourish for his stomach and hence you have to swap to rescue. you find the risotto is too sharp to your liking.

leopold is a great museum, only if you have more time to browse through each exhibition.  many arts and installation are rather provoking but that's arts after all.
from leopold you head to mumok, which thankfully has a much lighter food for thought and focus mainly on light.

cafe.sacher

cafe sacher, right in the city center.  frankly speaking is a bit over crowded with tourists and a bit pretentious.  you prefer other more down to earth cafes.  then again, this is supposed to be original bakery for "sachertorte" that you didn't even bother to try given the mixed reviews.  it's certainly an old fashion cake that doesn't fit today's palate. well, this is purely your humble opinion.

 you have to wait in the line to be seated. even it's way past the lunch or peak hours. while waiting, there's almost an argument with a german speaking lady in front of you, who despite of asking you to wait after her, claimed that the cafe is "closed". you figured out, she has used the wrong word.

the interior.  all vienna cafes are in  similar styles. bold and darker shade wall with chandelier hanging as center piece and cakes on display

 you're given a patio seats, although you do prefer sitting in the proper tearoom but then again it's not a choice with the crowds.

 the menu card in a mini newspaper clipper, with brief history of the sachertorte and the menu card...

 locals do come here. there is a choice of 3-tier for two people, just like what this family is enjoying... but that's just too much for both of you

 his old fashion cake

your cheese strudel...

 the sachertorte from the other table.... literally for your eyes only ^^. you are actually happy with your cheese strudel...

the signature S chair...
been there. done that.  given the choice, you would rather go to other century old cafes. then again, it's you who like to try new things ^^.

===
writing this, you are back to london, back to life, back to reality. but you have disconnected. you have rested (well, in a way) and you are really for the amount of work you need to get through this and next week. the fact that a short dis-connectivity is good to your. good for your well being. the work situation hasn't change at all, but by God's grace, you are able to embrace your work.
that itself is already an achievement.
===

goodbye.vienna

tasting the sacherwürfel, and your last cup of melange at vienna international airport, you know your trip has come to an end.  you seize your last chance to soak in the cafe culture, even this is a modern cafe but the culture and values remain the same.

you have never thought you would fall in love with this city, yet you refuse to go as you have not live in the public living room aka viennese cafes enough, neither have you check out all the glorious architecture or all the art museums, let alone the musical performance.

usually you are eager to go home at the end of a trip but this time you really wish you could live here for awhile, so that you can truly experience the coffee house culture, sampling the viennese cakes. 

sacherwürfel is a tad too sweet for you. it's certainly moist with a distinct apricot jame and a layer of chocolate.

it's just such an addictive thing to do, sitting in a century old cafe with a history, sipping your coffee and watch the world goes by. sampling a punt of cake as you wish or even a light meal if it please you. you could only do one cafe a day, taking it really easy. and you just fall in love with vienna. you always thought it's a city to tick off, never expect that you do want to be back for a second or perhaps third time not as a tourist but one who can experience the way of life.

you know you are not going to finish the sacherwürfel.  but you know you are willing to try on anohter austrian cake if given the chance again.

but for now, it's indeed time to bid farewell to a wonderful city.  it's time to go home and then go to where you belong. and that's not vienna but london, at least for now.

goodbye vienna!

mumok.lights

it's museum day. you spent most of your day in museum quarters, and momuk is the second museum you visit. a modern arts museum. the current exhibition is about 'light's by  dan flavin which you find the content a bit too light as most of the floors are occupied by the light display.

 having said that the light did bring up a certain expect of you. you cannot define it as happiness but certainly some sort of elements of happiness.

 you behave like a kid under the different light.   you jump!

 you posed happily.

green, yellow, pink and bluet light. compare to leopold, mumok is so much easy to absorb while leopold comes with the history and the personality of the artists that you got to read, process in order to understand their work better.

 these lights must have some effects on both of you...

 you cat walk? hahaha...

 and you imagine these are windows, while the other half is actually the reflection of the light from the glossy floor...

 bright green

sensual yellow.  certainly a sensual aura.
you didn't really read or try to understand what the dan tries to convey.  it didn't bother you because you are happy and light in your mood.  you had a good time interacting or appreciating the lights. and that's really matter!

::belvedere::

you know it's a good 40 min walk from where you lodge to belvedere.  you don't mind walking to burn off additional calories with all the cakes and calories laden austrian food.
it's worth the walk, you explore the city and architecture more. and by the time you approach upper belvedere, you are exhausted not from the distance but from the cool temperature and damp air.

 the palace is massive and elegant.  really elegant to your liking. you love it here more than the palace schonbrunn that you visited yesterday.

 the sights are

it's too cold that you need to rest your feet and have a drink to warm yourselves up before checking out the exhibition.  the cafe at the corner is just perfect.

lovely red wall paper, with franz joseph and sisi portraits hanging across the wall, chandelier hanging in the center.  of course you will setting nothing less than a vienna melange.

 inside the museum, photography is prohibited. but you still couldn't resist this hall way with the out look to the french garden

 and this fully painted ceiling and wall.. to some extend this is palace schonbrunn to you. only this is more approachable and livable.

 some classic paintings, these are fine but it's not the reason you are here for.  gustav klimt is the reason you are here and you absolutely love what you see here and understand the painter better.

the outlook of the french garden from upper belvedere.  it's facing the lower belvedere and the city.  you wonder how much money and effort is needed to maintain such a garden. nonetheless, it's really a pleasant sight, despite the cold autumn weather.

as you walk toward the lower belvedere, you take time to enjoy the scene. a look back, you still find the upper belvedere extremely charming to your sight.  you wish you could slow down or rather just sit on the bench and soak in the grand atmosphere.  but it's just too cold to linger...

another glimpse of upper belvedere, you're not only in love with the building but also the gustav klimt 150 exhibition in there...

 the other corner of the french garden, equally beautiful.  you made a mental note and you know you should really be here in september, so that you can really enjoy the garden to the fullest....

and approaching the lower belvedere, you didn't go in for the extra exhibition which calls for different entrance fee.  you leave this elegant palace, wonderful exhibition in upper belvedere and head back to the city center.
you feel that you've live the time in the past. the entire experience is like a transportation back to the golden era. words cannot described how you feel but certainly this is a very fine and pleasant place that has a special part in your traveler's heart.