Exquisite Art and Home Cooking

Exquisite art and home cooking

The Belvedere is the palace built by Prince Eugen after he led the Hungarian/Austrian forces that won a decisive battle over the Ottoman empire. The Prince lived well in his retirement. His ornate palace was the center of opulent festivities. The gardens are in winter, but it is easy to see how beautiful they will be when warm weather returns. 

Today, the Belvedere is the main art gallery in Vienna. It houses paintings from the golden age up to contemporary videos. As we tour , we enjoyed a room of Klimt paintings. Next a gallery displays (in one room) Monets, Manets, Van Goghs, Reniors, Rembrandts and more … priceless!

We walked down the hill through the gardens back to central Vienna for lunch. Through a narrow entryway, we pass by the pastry kitchen of Demel’s, a 200 year old restaurant and bakery. Or lunch is typical Viennese fare. The tiny tables are tended by waitresses that are fussy and exacting in their service.

Susan shops central Vienna as I take in the Austrian Military Museum. 

The museum is on a scale we have become accustomed to this week. It has huge galleries with columns, statuary, broad staircases and carved cornices and frescoes.  At one time it had over 70 buildings. Most of the exhibits showcase military from the Ottoman wars. The uniforms are colorful and intricate… not very practical in battle.

One small room is dedicated to WWII. A small display case holds photos of Hitler, SS Troopers, Jews in camps and a selection of German uniforms and weapons. I have the feeling that the Austrians made a token effort to mention WWII. I guess the losers are less likely to be enthused with codifying the results.

The busses take us to an authentic Austrian restaurant on the outskirts of Vienna. A buffet of Austrian home cooking is spread and we dig in. We are told this is food one would see in a typical Austrian home.  A guitarist and accordion play folk songs and those in our group who speak German join in. As we look around the room, the tour group who met a few days before are in animated conversation.  Back to hotel full of fried food and strudel.