Lipizzane Show

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! A magnificent creature, able to stand on its hind legs, dance, jump in the air and kick the back legs, all while making it look effortless. You can barely detect the prompts of the rider as they criss-cross the arena to wonderful Viennese music. The show started with the younger horses, whose colors range from light to dark grey. Their coats do not turn white until they are mature stallions. The finale starred 8 mature stallions performing all of the moves they are famous for. It was  definitely worth the 53Euros. If you go be sure to sit upstairs in seats 1-10...the best view as you are on the end and can see them entering the arena. Of course, if you attract the weirdos like I do, you'll get some lady who wasn't satisfied with her seat so she came and parked her fat butt next to us.

This afternoon we're off for a tour of the stables.

Viennese coffee houses!!!!! 10 steps above a Starbucks. After the show we stopped in +Cafe Griensteidl for tea and strudel.  Walk in and feast your eyes on mouthwatering desserts or order a meal, or just have a cup of joe, although tee (the way it's spelled here) appears to be the favorite drink. No rush..you can sit all afternoon and not even get a nasty look. The cafe is right across the street from the Riding School.

From 1847 to 1897 pharmacist Heinrich Griensteidl operated a coffee house in palais Dietrichstein. It became a place for thinkers, writers and artists. After his death the building was torn down. Karl Kraus stated "Vienna is being demolished into a big city". In1991 Cafe Griensteidl was brought back to life....the Viennese coffee house is back! (Just a little history...after all this is a 'learning and discovering' sojourn.)

Later...