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| Vienna’s First District |
My favorite moment in Vienna came about through happenstance — a side note as we went about our day. We had decided to go to the zoo at Schönbrunn for the day, but we wanted to grab brunch before our journey. Amy suggested that we stop for lunch near the Graben. Paul and I, having no idea what that meant, shrugged and gave our assent.
As we emerged from the U-Bahn station into Vienna’s First District, my breath was absolutely stolen from me. The beautiful plaza filled with people and pigeons, surrounded by high end stores and gorgeous, old buildings….and the wonder-filled sight of 12th-century cathedral Stephansdom. Now THIS was Europe.
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| Stephansdom |
We grabbed a sidewalk table at Cafe Aida amid tourists and gypsies and Wieners (Vienna natives), still in the looming presence of the Stephandsom. Heavenly. (Literally, I suppose.) At the cafe, the three of us ordered enough food for six people. The waitress gave us a funny look as we kept ordering more and more food, but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sample as many Viennese pastries as possible. I ordered a sachertorte based on orders from my friend Emily, who listed eating a sachertorte at a sidewalk cafe in the First District as her top Vienna recommendation.
After brunch we took a close look at Stephansdom. As I approached the cathedral, the bell started tolling the hour, and a flock of pigeons took flight just feet in front of me. Right at that moment, I was Audrey Hepburn in a classic movie. Bliss.
Now that you write this, I think this is one of my favorite moments from your trip, too. The weather was so perfect and it was perfectly timed for the noonday tolling of the bells as we finished our pastries. Thanks for capturing it for us and making pigeons sound picturesque.