Sunday in Enns and Linz and Vienna, Austria {Europe Trip, Part III}

After our wonderful day in Salzburg and a delicious dinner at an Austrian restaurant, we drove to Dirk and Manuelas to stay for the next few days. It was so much fun to meet their beautiful girls!  Last we saw them they only had one little girl a few months old and now they also have 4 children.  Sunday, went to church with them in Linz.  Dirk and Manuela are also members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like we are.  It was a lot of fun to be at church and hear German again!  I must say though, it was difficult for me to understand some of the Austrians speaking German.  After hearing the dialect and then 'Hoch Deutsch' from a German in the congregation, the 'Hoch Deutsch' almost sounded like English to me!  The highlights of church were meeting a 'Pilz' family. 

The Pilzes

 

One of the brothers, who is really into family history was so excited to meet another Pilz who is a member of the church.  We even looked into finding our connection, but my mom figures neither of us has researched far enough back to find it.  I also saw a lady whom I recognized.  I met her and she told me her name and that she was from Germany.  I knew her on my mission!!!  I never served in her area, but she took me and some other sisters on an outing one preparation day.  It was neat to see someone I knew from so long ago in Germany.

Schwester Weingaertner and I

Back at the Erlachers: 

Phillipa took an immediate liking to Kenneth even though there was a language barrier.  She couldn't get enough of him and sat on his lap during the whole Sacrament Meeting

Manuela is a wonderful cook and made us a fabulous Sunday dinner.  She roasted vegetables and made a great salad.  In fact, the roasted vegetables were so good I have made them twice since returning home and am craving them again!  Sunday evening, we were able to go back to the church to watch the Womens' Broadcast.  Too bad I couldn't stay awake for the life of me!  I guess my jet lag was catching up to me when I was sitting still in a darkened room!  We had 'Abendbrot' when we returned from the broadcast- bread, cheese, herbal tea.  The bread and cheeses are so good in Europe!!
Next morning, Dirk, Manuela, little Matilda, Kenneth, and I loaded into the car again for another day of sightseeing- this time in Vienna!  I had been in Salzburg before and the area of Germany where we were, but I had never been to Vienna, so I was very excited!!

Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna.  Incredible!!!

The tour of the inside was incredible!  In one of the rooms, Mozart performed as a 6 year old.  I was so amazed and excited to be in a room where Mozart performed that my rebel husband took a picture of me with his phone.  (No pictures allowed inside.  I'm hoping that if no flash was used it was okay)

 

Here I am in the very room where Mozart played for the King and Queen.

I love the camaraderie amongst tourists- taking pictures for each other!

The palace's grounds are quite extensive.  There is a lot to see and enjoy.

Kronprinzengarten

Some of those lovelies up close!

We got the best of both worlds- beautiful flowers and fall leaves changing!

Another garden on the grounds of the palace- it's a maze.  This picture was taken from the 'treehouse' you get to when you figure it out.  It was tricky!

In another garden with 'games'

The kids got a real kick out of seeing mom play on the playground

Funny mirrors at the playground section

We met up with Dirk and Manuela again after we toured the inside of the palace and a couple of gardens. This is Manuela and I on the backside of the palace.

 

Kenneth with Glorietta in the background.  He is facing the back of the palace.  What a view from the palace, eh?

 

A statue on Glorietta up close.

View of the palace and Vienna from Glorietta.

That's little me there at Glorietta. 

Help!  He's going to throw me in the fountain!

Beautiful roses

Another small garden next to the palace.

Kenneth in another vine tunnel.  I love that sweet little Nun in the picture!

After seeing the Schoenbrunn Palace and grounds, we took the train into the city and got something to eat.  I used to eat Doener Kebabs often on my mission in Germany.  Good times. 

Cathedral in Vienna

Little Matilda was once again a joy

AHHHHmazing icecream!!

Dirk is somewhat of an ice-cream connoisseur and took us to all the best places for gelato- Italian ice-cream.

Enjoying ice-cream with a cool little alleyway behind us- very charming.



Stephansdom in Vienna.  Wow.

Kenneth sometimes has a problem misspeaking when it comes to Austria and Australia, so I made him take his picture with this guy!

Oh the Silver People!  We saw them each time we went to San Francisco, too.  I suspect most every big touristy city has them.  I certainly liked this Viennese pair!

This balloon guy on stilts was also interesting to see- and even more so when the police confronted him!

Beautiful swans on a lamppost outside the Opera Hall

 

Beautiful swans on a lamppost outside the Opera Hall

Heidi in front of the Opera Hall

Look at that detail on the ceiling up there!  So cool.  (Also the Opera House)

 

Look at that detail on the ceiling up there!  So cool.  (Also the Opera House)

I thought the kids would get a kick out of seeing these big bunnies!

I thought the kids would get a kick out of seeing these big bunnies!

We found 2 in our little tour about the city.

We found 2 in our little tour about the city.

Myself and Manuela in front of a very cool fountain.

Ah Europe!  You gotta love it.

Roman ruins dug up in the center of Vienna

Parliament building, I believe

There was construction going on by Pilz and Co. =)

There was construction going on by Pilz and Co. =)

 

More ice-cream.  2 times in one day from the same place.  Yum!  I must say though, my system was not enjoying all the 'junk' food I was eating!

Parliament building again.

I can't remember what this building is, but it looked so cool at twilight.  There was a circus going on in front, also.

Vienna was a beautiful city full of amazing architecture.  It seemed the beauty never ended, it kept going on and on!  We were worn out by the end of the day! 

Salzburg, Austria {Europe Trip, Part II}

After surviving Oktoberfest and literally running to get on an earlier train to Salzburg, Austria we enjoyed looking out the windows and sitting with a car full of ladies in dirndls.  We were impressed with how clean the main train station in Salzburg was- the floors were gleaming marble(?) and it was beautiful.  We walked a couple blocks to get to our hotel, which was not nearly as nice as the one we stayed at in Germany.  But, it was good enough for one night.  When we left the hotel a few minutes later to get some dinner, we realized we weren't in the best area of town, either.  Not too bad, but some undesirable businesses to pass by.  Dinner was pretty good.  Truthfully, I can't even remember what I ate, but it was fun to be on a date with Kenneth all my ourselves. 
Breakfast the next morning at the hotel was similar to the offerings in the hotel in Germany, but not nearly the quality.  It was fine, though.  Mostly, we were just excited to see our friends whom we hadn't seen for 8 years!  They picked us up from the hotel shortly after breakfast and we spent the day sightseeing in and around gorgeous Salzburg.  We had a quick bite to eat in the middle of the day- some yummy bread and an apple.  In the evening after leaving the city, we ate dinner at a traditional Austrian restaurant.  The food was great; the bread to die for!  We also feel we went on this trip at a perfect time of the year- the weather was gorgeous and there were still lots of flowers everywhere.
Feast your eyes:

 

Here Kenneth is with our dear friends, Dirk, Manuela and their fourth child, Matilda.  He walked up through that tunnel to get a view of the old city.

 Manuela's sister came to watch their other three girls so that we could tour around with them for a couple of days- so nice of her.  Matilda was a happy little tourist.  It was fun to have her along. 

Salzburg

The house in which Mozart was born

Manuela and I inside the Salzburg cathedral.  Beautiful.  Many cathedrals are dark inside; this one is white and bright.  I liked it.

The ceiling in the Dom (cathedral)

Salzburg Fortress.  Dirk's sister-in-law grew up living there!  Her father took care of it.

Beautiful architecture, hills and clouds

Much of the old city is built right up to the mountain.  It is very cool to see.

The outside of the cathedral- notice the tour group on the Segways.

View of the Fortress with the he chessboard and cool golden ball. (Statue on top- not a real person)

After we left Salzburg, we went to Hellbrunn Schloss- a palace just a little way outside the city.  It was a summer palace of one of the Archbishops/ rulers of Austria.  There was a conference going on while we were there- some meeting between Asia and Europe to encourage trade.  There was also a wedding going on.  It was a happening place!  In conjunction with all going on, they had these cool Audis out front.  Kenneth had a hard time deciding which one he would take home.

Look at that smile.  Nice cars will do that!

The king and queen at their palace.

The grounds of this palace have trick fountains.  The archbishop was quite the trickster and loved to surprise his guests.

Gorgeous gardens.  We were so lucky to have such incredible weather, too.

This is an incredible mechanical theater all powered by running water.

We really enjoyed the tour- even if we did get a little wet!

With Dirk and Mauela on the grounds.

View of the palace and grounds with the fortress in the background to the right.  So gorgeous. This picture was taken from the Museum that is up on a hill nearby.

Listening to the audiotour inside the palace.

View from the long road leading to the palace.

"You are sixteen going on seventeen."  Yes, this is the very pavilion from the Sound of Music.