Imperial Palaces

Austria : Schonbrunn
Winter 2011

Awaiting my hubby-Prince by the Great Parterre in Schonbrunn
(Feb-2011)

Journal Entry... Once upon a time... a beautiful lass is saved against all odds by the handsome Prince, and they lived happily ever after in a castle in a far, far away land. 


21-feb: Day trip to Schonbrunn...

Dwarfed by a lamppost
in Schonbrunn Palace

At Schonbrunn Palace, one can't help role playing a fairy tale. The part where the beautiful lass steps down from a horse-drawn carriage to walk up the palace steps to the Throne Rome, where the majesty King and Queen await, and the beautiful lass holding on to her newfound Prince's arm as the townsfolk usher them inside the palace amidst claps and cheer.

On Palace steps

I looked behind me for good measure no one was watching my silliness that day. When I saw a lady, with her own male companion, eyeing me out for inspiration. Before the lady could get ahead of me with my idea, I linked my arm to hubby's arm and up the palace steps I went in my Princess' strides giggling to my heart's content to the embarrassment of the hubby-Prince. Reaching the Grand Ballroom... was where I remembered, "It's a sin not to dance the waltz in Vienna!" Did a crazy version to the waltz amidst onlookers who did not mind it a bit.

"The hubby-Prince & I" - Two Peas in Schonbrunn

Vienna has its own fair share of royal palaces, namely, the Schonbrunn, the Hofburg, and the Belvedere, so far as we've managed to see on the trip. What stood out from all three royal palaces in Vienna was the Schonbrunn Palace. It is said that Schonbrunn Palace was built to rival, if not exceed, the Sun King-Louis XIV's Chateau de Versailles, in France. Instead of a Grand Canal down the chateau, the Schonbrunn Palace extended to a Gloriette up a hilly part in the vast grounds. Schonbrunn Palace is also remembered for Empress Sisi, the lady who had lived in the palace renowned for her exceptional beauty and grace, flowing hair and svelte figure. (Empress Sisi's bed chamber on public display at the palace included her exercise equipment.)

Schonbrunn Palace, the Habsburg's summer residence

Schonbrunn's Gloriette

Unlike a happy ending in most fairy tale stories, Empress Sisi might not have lived so. For said stories are only true to what they are called, a fairy tale. Out from the palace was a backyard to an uphill walk to Schonbrunn's Gloriette. From Gloriette's end is a panoramic vista of the palace grounds, like a pop-up from a fairy tale book I have listened to... once upon a time not so long ago.

A panoramic vista of Schonbrunn Palace grounds

oOo
PHOTOSTITCH

#Austria #Vienna #winter2011

At Schonbrunn Palace...

At Belvedere Palace...