Schönbrunn Zoo

Last Thursday, I went to the world's oldest zoo, Schonbrunn Zoo, with a coworker's daughter named Emilie.  It opened in 1752.  The zoo was also voted Europe's best in 2009 and 2010.  

(Not to be snobby, but I think the zoo in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is MUCH better!)  You can read more about it here.

I made Emilie pose in a bunch of my photos, and she was fine w/ that.  :)

Look what was right beside the entrance!

I restrained myself and didn't go in.  :-P

A bird house or a greenhouse, I'm not sure which.

Chowin down on bamboo

Emilie wants to be a panda!

Zoo train sign

Zoo train, a random dude, and the palace in the background

A cafe in the middle of the zoo

I didn't get many good photos of the buildings, but for the most part, the buildings all had this color and structure throughout the zoo.

Not sure what this was because we didn't go in it, but I thought it was kind of pretty.

 Emilie's also a penguin!  

(I made her pose for this one!)

A sure sign we're headed for the elephants.  :)

This is the most beautiful monkey exhibit I've ever seen!

How do monkeys merit such pretty architecture?

Flamingos are my favorite animal!

These looked bright red instead of pink.

Across the street from the zoo is a ritzy-looking cafe that is named after the zoo.  

We didn't go in because I'm sure there would have been nothing we could have afforded.  Instead...

...we got cheapo desserts at McDonald's!

It's now nearly the end of my last day of my week off of school.  I had a wonderfully relaxing break last week, and I hope you enjoyed my photos of it.  :)  (It snowed on Friday, so I didn't really leave my apartment, which is why there isn't anything exciting after these zoo photos here.)

My Spring Break will be in a month, at the end of March/beginning of April.  I'm fairly certain I'll still be in Vienna during that time, so more photos to come later!

My random Wednesday

I had a very random day today.  Each day that I set out with an agenda for exploring ends up changing completely, for whatever reason, and today was one of those days.

Here are several photos of my day (if you care) :

A nightclub

This is a store that sells porcelain that's created in a factory at the Augarten, by my house.

What is this supposed to say - free will, or free Willy?

The Albertina, where concerts and other artsy stuff happens

Pretty steps

I wanted to try this out for size, but it was closed for renovations.

Austrian National Library

People have said it's like the library in "Beauty and the Beast", but you have to pay an entrance fee.

Spanish Riding School for horses inside the Imperial Palace

When I do go to Starbucks once in awhile, I prefer this one for the ambiance.  It's across from a palace, on a cobblestone road, and you can hear and see (and smell) horse carriages going by!

A carriage is passing through the palace tunnels and in front of what is now an entrance to the apartments in the Imperial Palace.  You can also view the royal silver collection and a museum dedicated to Empress Sisi.

I had wanted to see the Imperial Treasury today, but it was closed for a few more days b/c of renovations.

Instead, I went to something called Time Travel, which was a 

5-D experience through Vienna's history.  It was a tour through a musty-smelling monastery.

Completely kitschy, but I had fun. 

Did you know we have literal English?
Did you know any of these phrases to say "to die"?  
I didn't.  
I guess I don't know my literal English.

A noncreepy robot of Empress Sisi

 A statue of an official who signed 

the Austrian State Treaty in 1955

For 10 years after WWII ended, each district of Vienna was taken over by 1 of the 4 Allied groups.  (The 1st district, the white one in the middle, was self-governing and neutral; it's where most of the palaces were, including Parliament.)

I live in the 2nd district, and my school is in the 22nd district.

You can read more about this here.

Outside view of the monastery/museum

Side view of St. Stephan's cathedral

Live Cuban music is coming!

I found this coffee shop that I wanted to check out today, but it was WAY TOO SMOKY inside, so I literally just turned around and walked out.  :(

The virgin Mary and baby Jesus on a building

I'd wanted to eat here for lunch, but it was closed, too.  :(  :(

I ended up going to McDonald's for lunch and then had a girl friend over for a healthy dinner.  It was a fun but cold day.  :)