Vienna.  To say the name of this city evokes feelings of romance and thoughts of going to live theatre or the opera.  Well, not this time around.  Having a four year old takes us down a  different path as we travel.  So what we show you is certainly not all Vienna has to offer but it is what we took from this lively city.

First stop was the Naschmarkt.  Approximately 120 vendors and restaurants create a true melting pot of various countries.  It is open every day so the buildings are somewhat permanent.  Several of the dining establishments had white linen and fine China while one next to it might just have standing space only.  There was a mixture of types of people.

I could have spent all day looking at the specialty foods and the different types of people.  I was intrigued by a very colorful booth but couldn’t figure out what they were selling……..until I……..maybe figured out what they were selling.  Smoking devices for herbs, plants…….  Oh well, it makes a pretty photo.

Different types of Vinegar above.  Raleigh’s mouth watered at all the food so we tried some almonds from a vendor.  They had a delicious flavor that was somewhat familiar but I couldn’t identify it.

I tried to convince Raleigh to go on an almond journey and enjoy them one by one. My convincing didn’t work.

It was crowded and the kids’ enthusiasm was fading.  I was excited that it was Saturday because they also had a flea market.  As we left the canopy of fine foods of the market and walked across a sidewalk to the flea market you would have thought we entered a movie of post nuclear times.  In a timely manner the sun dipped behind the clouds and it started to rain.  A man sat against a post with his shoes off and all of his toes were missing.  Other homeless type people stood in this transition area between the two markets.  The reality of the stark difference stomped on the loveliness that I was experiencing.  I continued across the invisible border in hopes to find some neat little trinket but the sadness of these lives was just too overwhelming.  I walked through but didn’t bother with a treasure hunt.

We walked around the city and took in the sights while people took us in for their entertainment.  The girls were asked if they could be photographed while sitting on a bench and then a group started taking pictures of them.  They were embarrassed!  As they were telling me what happened another guy walked by video taping them.  WEIRD.   While we all sat and relaxed another person started taking pics so I smiled and waved.  When he knew I caught him he smiled and visited with us a bit and told us what a nice family we had.  After he left I got up to see what everybody was staring at and took my own picture.  Yep, they are pretty cute.

You never know what you’ll see on the streets of Vienna.

As we moved back towards the city center we found that it was the weekend of the Buskers Festival!  A three day event that brings 100’s of artists, performers and vendors from neighboring countries to entertain people of Vienna.  Wahooooo!  We were so happy to have the events of our evening planned.

This clown was so sweet to make Raleigh a sword, and then later a belt for his sword when he saw Raleigh walking around with his sword in his shorts.

The breakdancing was amazing to watch.  Raleigh got to pick up a few new moves to practice too.

 

There were a lot of dogs, dreadlocks and smoking at the festival.  So very entertaining.

The Vienna Opera House is big and beautiful.

St. Stephen’s gothic cathedral was huge and beautiful and dark and lonesome inside.

How can I throw a picture of two homeless guys right in the middle of the cathedral and a horse drawn carriage?  Because they were thrown at me in the middle of my day.  Heart stomping, isn’t it?  And we walked on.