13 & 14 - The Alps

Day 13: The Alps! Before I begin, I must confess that I am not an "outside person." While the beauty of nature cannot be understated, and the accomplishment that one feels when completing a long hike is important, I was never good at the outdoors stuff. I'm very proud of our classmates who climbed many miles to the top of the mountain, though!!

On the first night I had a bad reaction to changing altitudes so quickly, and felt dizzy and nauseous for much of the night. That was unpleasant.

Ottohaus, as seen through the fog. I hiked here (about a mile from our own lodge.) It was a pleasant morning walk.

The fog rolling in at night.

A classmate and I had an interesting conversation about climate change, in which we reminisced about the California Bay Area and how it used to be cold during summer. Like the famous Mark Twain quote says: "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." The chilly Alpine air reminded us of our childhoods in the Bay, wearing jackets to July outings. But it's not like this anymore -- the summers regularly hit temperatures that one would be used to in the valley, even at night. It was a bittersweet moment between my classmate and I, who mourn the cool nights of San Francisco. 

I took a short morning walk from Burggastof to Ottohaus, about one mile. I was not too interested in hiking to the top of the mountain, so I had some lunch at Ottohaus and returned to the lodge. The air was crisp and the fog was just clearing.

It was a quiet and restful day, but I was happy to return to my room in Vienna.

Day 14: We left the Alps after breakfast and took a tour of Laxenburg, a small town about 20 minutes from Vienna. Used as a summer retreat for the Habsburg family, the small town has original structures throughout. Franzenburg Castle stands in the middle of a beautiful park, complete with lake, paddle boats, stone bridges, and plenty of trees. A lovely place for a picnic - or wedding photos - as we saw two different brides and their parties taking photos in the park!

The entrance of Franzenburg Castle.

Franzenburg Castle, a gaudy replica of medieval architecture, provided an interesting look at what Emperor Francis thought classic life was like! Built in the 19th century as a palace to entertain guests, the castle houses such rooms as the jousting room, prison, and even a chapel. 

The jousting/armoury room, with shields representing different countries in the Empire.

A room with each Habsburg ruler carved into stone. 

Used to house many important artworks, one of the outstanding details of the castle was its stunning stained glass windows. Crafted with a technique that was taken to the artist's grave, these windows show intricate detail and colors.

Click on the picture for a more stained glass detail on Francis II and his sons. Ferdinand I, on the right, suffered from extreme medical maladies and had an enlarged head.

While this "fake castle" was never used for court purposes, it was still quite impressive. While perhaps not as dramatic and romantic as the baroque stylings of the Karlskirche, it provides an excellent look at what 19th century rulers imagined medieval life to be like. Perhaps one day, humanity will recreate a "21st century dwelling" that will be visited by the tourists of the future!