INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
The Belvedere was built in Vienna in the early 18th century as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. Designed by one of Europe’s greatest Baroque architects, Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, the complex consists of two Baroque palaces known as the Lower and Upper Belevedere. The Upper Belvedere Palace (seen here) was completed in...
Vienna’s Karlskirche, or St. Charles Church, was built from 1716-1737 after being commissioned by Emperor Charles VI. The emperor had promised to build a church after his namesake, St. Charles Borromeo, if the Black Plague that was infecting Vienna in 1713 left the city. Borromeo was an archbishop of Milan in the 16th century who was known...
Vienna is known worldwide as a centre of culture and art, but is perhaps most famous for its roots in classical music. A long tradition of classical music attracted many notable musicians to the city. Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven all played music in Vienna. Not all musicians in Vienna moved...
As we cruised the Wachau Valley past small villages, castle ruins and vineyards, I was happy to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. That is until I saw a beautiful blue, Baroque tower come into view. Right away I recognized Dürnstein, the town I had wanted to see most during our visit to the...
After happily saying goodbye to Vienna for the day, I sat on the train eagerly anticipating our final destination. We were heading towards one of Austria’s most beautiful landscapes, the Wachau Valley. I spent much of the train ride lost in thought, imagining the dreamy landscape I was about to see during our Wachau Valley cruise. Since...
Melk Abbey is one of those places I decided to visit solely because it was a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I wasn’t familiar with its history or what treasures we would see on a tour of Melk Abbey’s interior. I just knew it was close to Vienna and that Melk was the gateway to the Wachau...
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Stephansdom, is one of Vienna’s most visited sites. As the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna, St. Stephen’s is the most important religious building in Vienna. The Stephansdom was initially completed in Romanesque style in 1160, but expansions continued until 1511, many which were Gothic in design. The...
One visit to Salzburg’s Old Town is all it takes to realize that the city incorporates the very best of Austria, into one pretty little package. Sprawling mountain views, ornate baroque architecture, pretty palaces, bustling market squares and of course, the music of Mozart, all make Salzburg one of Austria’s top tourist destinations. Our Visit...
I love visiting castles, so it’s no surprise that the first place we headed after arriving in Salzburg was the fortified Hohensalzburg Castle. The name Hohensalzburg translates into “High Salzburg Fortress”, fitting considering the castle’s location atop Festungberg Hill directly overlooks Salzburg’s Old Town quarter. Hohensalzburg Castle is not only Salzburg’s key landmark, but is the...
My favourite spot in Salzburg was, without a doubt, the Mirabell Palace and Gardens. During our two days in Salzburg we kept finding ourselves back in these gardens again and again. I loved being surrounded by the bright, colourful flowers- a definite mood lifter after a string of grey, dreary weather days. It was nice...
On our first day in Vienna, we jumped right in and set off to Schönbrunn Palace, looking to experience the imperial nostalgia Vienna is famous for. Schönbrunn Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Austria’s most visited tourist attraction. For centuries the palace served as the summer home of the Habsburgs, and to this...
When we were in Hallstatt, our short visit meant we had to choose between visiting the salt mines or the nearby Dachstein Ice Cave. Hallstatt is known for its long, prosperous history of salt mining, so I almost felt obligated to go tour the mines. Once I tuned into my instincts, instead of the guidebook...
I must say, I was a pretty lucky girl to get to spend my 32nd birthday in Hallstatt. This little Austrian village, tightly nestled between a lake and mountain range, is a place I have wanted to visit ever since I first saw a photo of it. You know the one… When it came time...
A lot of cities nowadays offer tourist cards, a card you purchase that gives you discounts to popular attractions, activities, and even transportation. We’ve bought these cards in a few places- some are great and have saved us a lot of money, while others have not been such a good deal. For our trip to...
When Mike and I arrived in Vienna, we were three weeks into our five week European vacation. We’d had long days of admiring the intricate architecture of churches and fine furnishings of the most luxurious palaces. We’d wandered through a few museums (which aren’t really our thing) and strolled around many beautiful gardens. When we...
For our honeymoon, Mike and I decided to spend five weeks in Europe. We travelled to six different countries experiencing everything from small lakeside villages in the mountains, to one of the world’s most popular festivals. I’ll admit it, I planned a very ambitious (and detailed) itinerary for our five weeks in Europe. I left...
Last year, Travel Supermarket launched a photo contest for travel bloggers called Capture the Colour. It was so successful, that this year they are doing it again. I had never heard of this contest before and just started our blog a few months ago, so when I was nominated to participate by fellow Edmontonian and...
We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get!
We describe our travel style as "laid back luxe" and enjoy a mix of outdoor adventures and historic sites.
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