Puti's and Keiko's journey to Prague and Vienna
APRIL 07: VIENNA
Hofburg Palace
The convenient Sisi-ticket (named after the nickname of the Empress Elisabeth — the spelling varies between Sisi and Sissi) allows us to see several museums displaying the life and environment of the Habsburg dynasty, especially those living during the 1800's. The main sites are the Schönbrunn Palace, the Hofburg Main Palace, and the furniture museum containing the furniture that found no room in the previous two palaces.
The Empress Elisabeth was the spouse of the Emperor Franz Joseph I. Her life has been a tempting subject to film directors. While the films often depict her life as a loving and loved character, the museum exhibition reminds the visitors that her life had more than a mere splash of hardships and sombre moods. She married quite young and regretted it afterwards. She lost children in tragical events. She became anxious and sorrowful, and moved from place to place. Finally an Italian anarchist stabbed her to death with a thin file.
The Emperor Franz Joseph himself was in a way a contradictory character. He was attached to his family, but spent his time working from early morning to late night, actually saying that one should work until one drops with exhaustion. He loved his wife, but did not seem to get similar affection in return — one can only guess whether his drowning himself into work was the cause or the result of the onesidedness.
St. Michael's Church (Michaelerkirche)
The dome of Hofburg Palace entrance
Very expensive rides for tourists
Walking in a park
St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche)
