::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.