Finally made it back to Vienna after 2 previous failed attempts (once for locking ourselves out of the apartment, which required us to ask a neighbor to please call a locksmith). The day we went was about as gorgeous of a day as it gets in Vienna. Perfect.
The Schönbrunn Palace is where royals used to live and the surrounding gardens definitely portray this. The palace and grounds are so expansive that we could have spent all day exploring those areas alone. But we thought Skye would enjoy the zoo (the world’s oldest) more, so we started out there and never had to time to do any of the other million things they offer there (marionette shows, concerts, strudel show, touring the palace itself, etc).
I thought the zoo was really big, but Benjam thinks that Hogle might be bigger. I haven’t been to Hogle in ages, so I have no idea. All I know is that it kept going and going and going. (They’re actually just about even at ~42 acres.)
I was bummed we missed the tree-top trail and train ride, but there wasn’t time and probably not enough space with the stroller. But we had a lot of stuff to do and see. The panda’s and “ice bears” were of course cute, as well as the elephants. There was an insect exhibit that gave me the heebie-geebies. I really liked the bird exhibit where the birds are not closed off from patrons, but just flying all around you. We made some “panda-cow” buttons for Skye (according to Skye every animal makes the sound of a cow). I also had my first experience (and hopefully last!!) thinking Skye was lost. Aaaand of course had more frankfurters.
Vienna looks yet again awesome! In the zoo, is there a higher percent of english speaking people? Or is your Slovakian getting better?
Wow – it is soo cool – beautiful – I was surprised to see pictures – Benjam had said that Skye broke the camera – glad to see you could still get the pictures – but I guess you don’t have to open it to get them off – silly me – thinking of the olden days. Yes the whole -” Lost a child ” thing is very scarry – but it happens to all of us – welcome to yet another phase of parenthood. – I keep forgetting to ask – Is Skye’s hair getting darker or is it just the angle of the last few pics? Looks darker to me. We will have to go to Hogle when you all get home – winter is a good time to go.
The zoo there has cooler animals then we do it sounds like. It all looks beautiful. Especially the amazing garden archway, that looks breathtaking. I’m glad you made it there successfully. Sorry you had a scare with Skye. I think we all go through at one point in time. Glad she is okay.