Vienna

Google Analytics Conference at the Schönbrunn Grounds (and testing full-frame format)

written by Mae

The leaves around Vienna turned red, brown and yellow and it’s my perfect excuse to be out and about and take photos of nature’s changing colors. It’s also my first time to test the new camera, so I had double the excuse. ^_^

What perfect spot to take photos of than the Schönbrunn palace and grounds? Well, I had planned to visit anyway because I learned that Google will be conducting a conference, about analytics – what a blogger like me should learn about more. Sad to say, aside from not having a regular nanny to take care of the kids, I can’t really shell out a big amount of money, just like that. Tickets cost for early birds: € 290,- 1 day / € 580,- for both days. (List Price: € 390,- / € 680,-) !!!

So yeah, I went but perennially late me came up to the lobby only to get some information about the day’s event and what could be tomorrow’s. So lame!

conference hall

October 8, 2012 0 comment

Austria Europe Vienna

Time Lapse, Vienna’s Horizon

written by Mae

We’ve been spending less hours of sleep lately, thanks to this time lapse project that the hubby initiated. :/

We got a hold of the Canon 5D Mark II — much to his delight. I’ve barely learned how to tinker with the 7D so I’m not so thrilled at beginning to learn a new one. I haven’t tried it that much, perhaps a shot or two but the full-frame format looks promising.

night sky

October 6, 2012 0 comment

Austria Europe Vienna

Vienna’s Spanish Riding School

written by Mae

Why are horses so attractive? I don’t really know. Like moth to a flame, my kids are drawn to these mighty, spirited creatures whenever they got the chance to be near them, which is; rarely. Time spent at the Praterstern’s horse-drawn carousel over the weekend prompted a visit to Vienna’s Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School). It was not to actually ride a horse but to watch their regality and performance in classical dressage.

mighty but gentle

September 8, 2012 0 comment

Austria Vienna

Wednesday Window #18 – Wiener Rathaus

written by Mae

Congratulations to Geca for winning from our last pool! Please send your paypal email to viennakirsch@gmail.com. Join now to get a chance to win 5$ too!

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Side Windows

July 13, 2012 0 comment

Austria Vienna

Wednesday Windows #16 – Yellow Ochre

written by Mae

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Congratulations to “Musings on Meanderings” for winning last week’s pool. Join us today for a chance to win 5$ too!

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I’ve featured the Schönbrunn Palace countless times and I won’t tire…hope you don’t too. For the nine years that I have been in the city, there’s no year that I would visit and it’s always a pleasure no matter the season. Last month, a friend got married and I had the privilege to take the photos for the ceremony, we then went to the palace grounds to do more shots.

Being renovated.

June 11, 2012 0 comment

Austria Europe Vienna

Wednesday Windows #10 – Schönbrunn

written by Mae

First off, congratulations Imriz for winning last week’s pool (…of two, lol). Join us today and win 5$ (sent to your paypal account).

Today’s post features the interior partly of the entrance hall of the Schönbrunn Palace, one of the most important cultural tourist attractions in Vienna that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inside Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace

The Schönbrunn (beautiful well) Palace used to be the summer residence of the emperors, empresses and their families. It has been then expanded to a tourist spot with a grand garden, labyrinth, zoo and aquarium, palm house, gloriette and more.

P.S. That’s my son kneeling on the stairs…

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To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog. Win 5$ too if you join this week!

April 20, 2012 0 comment

Austria Europe Vienna

We’ll be having a Staycation

written by Mae

Every year before summer vacation starts we plan a trip to either a city near Vienna or endure more hours of flight to a farther country. It takes careful thinking and budget consideration when one chooses international travel for a vacation. For a family of five with kids under 10, insurance for each of us is a must. This is why staycations is also a good choice, we’re insured here even if we stay in a hotel to enjoy their pool along with bed and breakfast.

Vienna offers a lot of fun things for the kids to do. Once in a while I bring the kids to a painting class. In the summers, that could be 2 days in a week. On other days that follow we go visit one of the palaces and take photos and eat Apfelstrüdel, doughnuts at the nearest cafe for snacks. The kids are also given discount/free passes for museums, sports clinic and other activities like horseback-riding, baking, tennis, mini-concerts and theater shows.

View Albertina’s collection and have the kids participate in a painting session.

There are also many different cuisines in Vienna, different restaurants that serve local food that we’ve yet to try. We’ve been mostly to Japanese and Thai restaurants, we’d surely like to try Vietnamese that I’ve seen sprouting in the city too. Greek, albeit not the kids’ choice is also a must for me. Since it’s summer, we’d be hopping from one ice cream shop to the other, taste gelato here and there, discover the different flavors of bubble teas and find the yummiest frozen yoghurt. ^_^

It would be really nice to visit another city but staying in Vienna to know the city it more is also a wonderful choice. Unless hubby buys our ticket soon, we’ll be having a staycation.

Think hard about where to go on vacation or which palace to visit next.

March 31, 2012 0 comment

Austria Europe Vienna

Wednesday Windows #5

written by Mae

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While on our way to watch Batman Live at Vienna’s Stadthalle, I saw these two kids by a window. I’m assuming they’re inside their apartment playing – the boy hiding behind the curtains.

Apartment window, Vienna

To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog.

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February 15, 2012 0 comment