Imperial Treasury

Samstag, 20 April

It's Mueseli time! Went to breakfast at Corn & Pops with some apartment friends:

Then, walked over in my new heels to the Hofburg's Imperial Treasury:

Supposedly the largest cut Emerald in the world. Fashioned into a box.

"Unicorn" horn. Narwhal, really.

A nail from Jesus' cross.

Imperial crown and scepter.

 Then, visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum to do some sketches for class. Some favorites:

Wiener Philharmoniker

Freitag, 19 April

Finally ate at the Cafe Museum:

Goulash.

Live music! I came on this time that Friday hoping to hear some music. The waiter wasn't sure if there would be at the time, but sure enough, he got my attention a little while later to point out the live pianist.

...before a fine performance:

Hey, Vienna Phil. They played an unusual program of Beethoven 1, Hindemith, and Poulenc.

Home in Vienna: CityBike and Arnold Schoenberg

Donnerstag, 18 April

Zipped around exploring Vienna on CityBike:

 

Also visited the Arnold Schoenberg Center with my class:

Scheonberg's working area, reconstructed. Apparently he was very thrifty and crafty, and would make his own tape dispensers, pencil grips, and staff line drawers (five pencils tapes side by side).

Home in Vienna: Kunsthistorisches Noch Einmal

Mittwoch, 17 April

Went on yet another tour with my art class through the Kunsthistorisches Museum (oh, the horror!):

Peter Ruben's wife, Isabella, striking Venus pose. He painted her repeatedly (even into religious commissions, sometimes) since he along with many found her the most beautiful woman in all of Germany.

Ruben's self portrait. Now, if professor McGonagall were a man...

 Later, went Balboa swing dancing:

Home in Vienna: Frohe Ostern (noch einmal?)

Dienstag, 16 April

After all that excitement, not too much excitement happened today, except for seeing this pastry concoction at the market:

Hey baby lamb, do you miss your Easter mama?

Home in Vienna: Dorotheum

Montag, 15 April

For my internship class today, we toured Dorotheum, the oldest auction house in the world:

Barcelona: Goodbye! Rigoletto: Hello!

Sonntag, 14 April

Another 6am flight, and watched a beautiful sunrise:

Catalan pine nut pastry. GO GOOD.

 Back in Wien, Steiermarkt fest!

 Finally, Rigoletto. Phew! Phenomenal.

Barcelona, Day 3: Wanderings

Samstag, 13 April

Buenas dias, Barcelona!

Wandered to the Port Olympia beach, but liked the nearby parks best:

 Then wandered La Boqueria's impressive collection of goods:

At long last, I found it: the infamous "Teta de Mona" (Boob of Nun).

Time for the Running Bean Guided Tour of the Gothic District (for free!):

Perfect timing, Mr. Classy Biker.

Herro, there.

On these said steps, Columbus presented gifts from the New World to the Queen. So they say.

The smallest and the largest croissant I have ever seen.

I next head off to tour the Music Palace, through this lovely Triumphal Arch:

Arabic inspired.

I love how these musician muses are sculpted on top, and mosaics on the bottom.

 And then I wandered:

Interesting choice of grass cut?

 Time for a nice seafood filled dinner.

When they said "Paella Negra" they REALLY meant black.