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Brno, Czech Republic - Capuchin Monastery

I spent a long weekend in Brno, Czech Republic (Brunn to German-speakers) in May. It just so happened that the Czech Republic's national ice hockey team won the world championship that weekend (Playing in Vienna). It was a good time to be in town. Brno is a nice little place where most everything is cheap. The food is good, lodging is easy to find, people are warm and friendly, and there are some nice sites to see.

I'll get some more photos from Brno online this week, but I'll give you these three to start out. These are photos of the Capuchin Monastery and Crypt, in the town center, close to the main rail station.

The church looks pretty plain from the outside.

The crypt underneath is a little more interesting. I believe these are the skeletons of monks who served at the monastery.

This is a masked mummy. Look at the right shoulder and you can see some of the skeleton's bones underneath the elaborate costume.

Schloß Belvedere (Belvedere Palace) Photos

I rambled over to the Belvedere Palace in May because I'd heard that they were keeping cows on the grounds as part of a Gedankenjahr (Year of Remembrances) exhibition. Vienna (and the rest of Austria) was occuppied for 10 years by the English, French, Russians and US Americans after World War II. Fearing a Russian blockade of Vienna (such as the Berlin blockade of 1948), the other allies turned many of Vienna's parks and public places into agricultural centers. Cows were kept on palace grounds and vegetable gardens were planted in parks. Unfortunately, I didn't find any cows that day, but I still got a few nice pictures of the palace.

The baroque Belvedere Palace was designed by the architect Lukas von Hildebrandt for Eugen, Prinz von Savoyen (Prince Eugene of Savoy).
 

The palace consists of two main buildings, called the Upper and Lower Palaces. Most of the pictures in this post are of the larger Upper Palace, which was mostly used for entertainment and reception.

This is a photo of the Lower Palace, Prince Eugene's residence.

Upper Palace - On the left, workers are setting up a stage in preparation for a free concert.

Lower Palace - Eugene was born in France, but became an important Austrian military leader.

Upper Palace - He helped turn back the last attack of the Turks on Vienna, in 1683.

Upper Palace Reflection Pool

Sodazitron (Unsweetened, Carbonated Lemonade)

Sodazitron
Soda = soda water,  Zitron = lemon

n.

1.     Drink made from soda water and lemon juice. Sour, carbonated, unsweetened lemonade.

Notes: Some restaurants and cafes use fresh lemon juice in their Sodazitron. Others use bottled lemon juice, which isn't as good. Sodazitron is my favorite drink. I'll let you know in my restaurant reviews which places do it right. Sodazitron is also the URL of an interesting blog belonging to a nice acquaintence of mine who also lives in Vienna.

Burggarten Park & Palmenhaus Photos

The Burggarten Park was founded in 1820 by Emperor Franz I.

Located just behind the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the park was originally intended for the use of the imperial family and its guests.

The Burggarten (Castle Garden) was opened to general public access in 1919.

Included on the grounds is the Palmenhaus (Palm House / Greenhouse).

In which the Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House) is located.

The building is an impressive example of Jugendstil (Young Art / Art Nouveau) architecture in glass, metal and stone.

The higher, central portion of the Palmenhaus is home to a pretty chic cafe with excellent outdoor seating that is in demand when the weather is nice. It's a little pricy, but I recommend it, even if you simply order a coffee, beer, or refreshing Sodazitron (unsweetened, carbonated lemonade).

Miscellaneous Vienna Photos

A few more shots from around Vienna. These were taken in May.

It's not an uncommon site to see ATV's cruising around the streets of Vienna.

This is the front portico on the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State or Crown Opera House).

Bird Feeder in Resselpark

Statuette in Leopoldstadt

Modern apartment building in Leopoldstadt

Lugeck with Gutenberg statue

Heldenplatz - Eugene of Savoy Statue

You may recall my post on the fake-brick shells erected around the two statues on Heldenplatz earlier this year.

The shells were removed in May.

These pictures are of the Franz-Eugen, Prinz von Savoyen-Carignan statue, just in front of the Hofburg Imperial Palace.

Eugene of Savoy, as he is known in English, was born in France, but served as a general in Austria's army during the late 17th century.

Prince Eugene built and inhabited the Belvedere Palace, also in Vienna.

Mariahilferkirche Maypole Photos

These Maibaum (Maypole) pictures were, surprisingly, taken in May. Maypole construction varies around Austria. Almost every town builds its own official Maypole. Larger cities have multiple maypoles, and some are given as gifts from one town to another. There are a few more maypole pictures in my post on the Grundlsee, in the Salzkammergut.

This maypole was a gift from Schwertberg, a town in the Mühlviertel (Mill Quarter) section of Oberösterreich  (Upper Austria).

The maypole was given as a gift to the people of Mariahilf, Vienna's 6th district.

The Platz (Square) in front of the Mariahilferkirche always has something going on.

The statue in front is a likeness of Josef Haydn.

Ein Hoch des Brauchtum.

Li's Cooking - Asian Dining at the Naschmarkt

Li's Cooking is one of the many restaurants that have sprung up in the Naschmarkt over the last few years. Prices are reasonable, with most main courses costing less than €10. (The website seems to be down as I write this post.) Li's offers a vareity of Asian dishes, including traditional Thai, Malaysian, Chinese and Japanese foods, as well as sushi. The staff is friendly and mostly bilingual.

I arrived pretty early for lunch, and was one of the first guests.

I sat outside under the big red awnings. This is a photo down Naschmarkt's restaurant row, taken from my seat outside.

The Cripsy Duck Salad was delicious. Mango, greens, duck and a light vinegar dressing.

My only complaint: The Sodazitron was made with canned lemon juice.

I had stir-fried seafood and vegetables with rice, also excellent and filling.

The interior is small, modern and tasteful.

Busy in the open kitchen.

Dessert comes with your meal. It's a coconut milk concoction with various fresh fruits and berries. Yummy.

Wienzeile Architecture Photos

These photos were taken back in May. There's lots of interesting architecture along and just off of the Wienzeile.

Clown Face Door

Colorful Buildings

Strange Roof

Another Strange Roof - this building is bizarre. I can't figure out the architectural style. It looks a little Chinese.

Low Rent Apartments

Everyone has his own balcony.

The Boulevard Hof is a little more traditional.

Miscellaneous Vienna Photos

Another quick series of photos from around Vienna. These were taken in May.

Keep on biking, buddy...

Suspended high above the Graben.

Reflection of the Hofburg Theather in the window of a new Mercedes.

It looked like these guys were having a pretty heated discussion. They are standing just outside of an international call center, where many immigrants make cheap calls back to home. The yellow poster on the building advertises a Fallschirm (Parachute) Shop.

Watch out for ticks! If you plan to spend lots of time outdoors in Austria, get your Lyme Disease vaccination. Do as I say, and not as I do. I picked up a tick in the grass this day.

Traditional Austrian dress in Vienna.

Mariahilferkirche in the evening.

Time for a nap.