Gaby's Master's Graduation

The reason for our visit to Vienna this time was Gaby's Master's graduation from Vienna university. The ceremony was held in one of the halls of the University and was quite grand, with a speech by the Rector and Faculty Dean, live orchestra, a ceremony master, hymns and oaths.

It was an occasion for me to wear my latest dress, which I intended to photoshoot in the university, but had neither the time nor the opportunity, so I'll wait for better weather these days and take a few pictures of it in our area.

The speeches were, of course, in German, and I have probably never listened with such attention to an official speech, as this time, trying with my limited German to catch the gist of the address.

All graduates made an oath to uphold the honour of the University and to use their knowledge for the benefit of humanity.

Our happy girl, now a Master of Science  :)

After the ceremony there was a delicious cocktail with champagne and sandwiches

Vienna University is one of the oldest in Europe and its building is really beautiful and impressive.

We had some free time in the afternoon and the four of us went for a short tour in my probably most favourite of Vienna's plentiful museums - the Museum of History of Art.

I'm a big fan of their Dutch masters collection and only wish I could visit this museum more often :)

Christmas Vienna 2

After Belverede, husband and I hopped on the U-Bahn and then a bus and in no time were at the Gloriette of Schönbrunn. Last time I was in Vienna I found this approach to the park much better than the one from the central entrance, especially when one came from Belvedere, as the connection is very short and quick.

We took the winding alleys of the park down to the palace and met with Gaby and her boyfriend there.

Amazing tree pruning :)

The days of December are very short and the sun was quickly getting lower on the horizon. We had a delightful walk through the alleys at the lower part of the garden. Every time I come to Vienna, I think of visiting some new place, but I keep returning to the two palaces and their gardens, that stayed in my heart from our first visit to this beautiful city. A trip to Vienna feels incomplete, if I haven't been to Belvedere and Schönbrunn:)

The Christmas market in front of the palace was probably the biggest we visited.

The thing that amazed me most - instruments out of chocolate, it's hard to believe it this is not metal!

From Schönbrunn we went back to the city center and had some more mulled wine and orange punsch at the market at Stephansdom:

Vienna's Christmas lights are really worthy of their fame:

Christmas Vienna

Husband and I were shortly in Vienna for Gaby's Master's graduation. Now I've seen Vienna in the summer, autumn and winter and I love this city in every season! 

We were very lucky weather-wise and had a calm and sunny Sunday, which we spent walking around the major city attractions, while visiting the numerous Christmas markets.

Karlskirche is probably one of my most favourite buildings in the city and this time we went inside it as well. The interior architecture matches the exuberant facade - it's glorious and impressive.

The big organ above the central entrance

The advent wreath

 

Then we went for a walk in the gardens of Belvedere. When we started for Vienna, I had no fixed plans for our stay there, as I imagined cold and rain all the time. It was really amazing luck, that the Sunday was so sunny and warm and we could spend it comfortably outside.

It was just time for lunch and we had to try the famous vienniese wurst and mulled wine at the Belvedere Christmas market.

and something for dessert, of course :)

I liked a lot of things at the market, but these colorful globes were probably my favourite

The mulled wine here was white wine - my favourite! I'm not a fan of crowds, but I really like Christmas markets - there's an atmosphere of joyfulness and community there, that easily gets you into the Christmas spirit.