We spent most of yesterday getting here, and our reward today was the most glorious sunny weather. So we went to the Schoenbrunn, the opulent summer palace of the Hapsburgs and a regular destination for us on trips to Vienna. Still never actually been inside the main building, because when I was younger I wasn't interested, and now because tiny children + priceless furniture & artworks == bad mixture.
It's totally worth the trip for the gardens, though. Also, the cake. My Austrian colleague, bless him, e-mailed me a pictoral guide to his favourite cakes before I left, giving us whole new avenues to explore in this land of magnificent pastries. Today, we had our first encounter with Kardinalschnitte and I'm 100% certain it will not be the last.

Humuhumu, clutching her green jelly baby, running along the pavement toward the front gates of the palace.

Granny and Humuhumu on the U-bahn on the way to Schoenbrunn.

Humuhumu and jelly baby in front of the palace.

Essential cake and coffee stop. Today's cake: Kardinalschnitte.

Humuhumu welcomes you to the gift shop.

Lamppost and Humuhumu.

Humuhumu runs up the garden path.

Humuhumu runs down the garden path, clutching a "very special stone". (Stone was exactly like 1000000 other stones in the grounds of the Schoenbrunn.

Granddad and Humuhumu under the cherry tree.

Having a little sit-down with Granny and Granddad on a bench. Keiki is asleep in the pushchair with Humuhumu's sun hat over his face.

Bloke, Keiki and Humuhumu walking through vine-clad and still leafless arches into another area of the gardens.

Getting lost in the hedgerows.

One of many fountains, and probably the least grandiose.

There are rows upon rows of statues lining the garden walkways. For some reason Keiki was very taken with this one, pointing and babbling excitedly. Perhaps it was the hats?

Portrait of Mummy by Humuhumu after our return "home".

This is a flavour combination that I would never have predicted would be a hit. Humuhumu has a raspberry lolly in one hand and a chunk of very spicy sausage in the other. A plate of sliced cucumber sits between her and Keiki. (Keiki is offering me a slice of cucumber.) Both of them were enthusiastically alternating between those three things.
The EGU conference begins in earnest tomorrow, so we may not get to do a lot of sightseeing again until Friday. I may not be posting much between now and then. Although I may do a daily cake update as I make my way through my colleague's list. Because CAKE.
It's totally worth the trip for the gardens, though. Also, the cake. My Austrian colleague, bless him, e-mailed me a pictoral guide to his favourite cakes before I left, giving us whole new avenues to explore in this land of magnificent pastries. Today, we had our first encounter with Kardinalschnitte and I'm 100% certain it will not be the last.

Humuhumu, clutching her green jelly baby, running along the pavement toward the front gates of the palace.

Granny and Humuhumu on the U-bahn on the way to Schoenbrunn.

Humuhumu and jelly baby in front of the palace.

Essential cake and coffee stop. Today's cake: Kardinalschnitte.

Humuhumu welcomes you to the gift shop.

Lamppost and Humuhumu.

Humuhumu runs up the garden path.

Humuhumu runs down the garden path, clutching a "very special stone". (Stone was exactly like 1000000 other stones in the grounds of the Schoenbrunn.

Granddad and Humuhumu under the cherry tree.

Having a little sit-down with Granny and Granddad on a bench. Keiki is asleep in the pushchair with Humuhumu's sun hat over his face.

Bloke, Keiki and Humuhumu walking through vine-clad and still leafless arches into another area of the gardens.

Getting lost in the hedgerows.

One of many fountains, and probably the least grandiose.

There are rows upon rows of statues lining the garden walkways. For some reason Keiki was very taken with this one, pointing and babbling excitedly. Perhaps it was the hats?

Portrait of Mummy by Humuhumu after our return "home".

This is a flavour combination that I would never have predicted would be a hit. Humuhumu has a raspberry lolly in one hand and a chunk of very spicy sausage in the other. A plate of sliced cucumber sits between her and Keiki. (Keiki is offering me a slice of cucumber.) Both of them were enthusiastically alternating between those three things.
The EGU conference begins in earnest tomorrow, so we may not get to do a lot of sightseeing again until Friday. I may not be posting much between now and then. Although I may do a daily cake update as I make my way through my colleague's list. Because CAKE.

From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
Splendid photos.
From:
no subject
Deeply unfairly (heh) I was made to remove rocks from my pocket until I could in fact stand up again. They were all Very Special Rocks, and I was loath to leave any of them behind...
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
Mmmm, cake.
From:
no subject
Sweet+fruity+spicy sausage is kind of a mainstay at one of the restaurants here, in which you can get a sweet cherry-chipotle salsa to put on your spicy sausage. Cucumber cools the mouth, so I can see where it fits in. Your kids have good taste.
On a side note I experienced a stroopwaffel the other day (it was an airplane snack) and thought of you.
Those are seriously good.
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
It was great seeing you today! :)
Maybe we'll run into each other during the rest of the week! See you!
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
I have hopes for Humuhumu's photography interest and ability. :)
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
And HUZZAH for stroopwaffel!
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
Thanks for meeting up with me and abetting me in obtaining NASA swag. Humuhumu was delighted with the calendar and the puzzle. I hope you're having a great conference. :)
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject