Vienna--Kaisersgruft (The Crypt of the Kings)/Rathaus/Zu den Leiserln

 We were able to get into the Kaisergruft before it closed...the Austrians take good care of their royalty. The crypt is housed beneath a small church--certainly of some significance, but don't know what it is..The caskets were all bronze with intricate (and sometimes huge) statues of saints and other creatures.

 Why so sad, queen?

 Here's one of the most ornate examples--on the casket of King Josef Ferdinand I, husband to Isabel

Someone's beloved is sleeping well here.

 Next we took a cable car on the Ringestrasse (the street that encircles the old town); in part, we chose this to warm up a little...

 Note the difference between these shots (taken only seconds apart), the blue comes from the Rathaus--the building where parliament meets. Tonight it was lit up (in blue/purple) for an iceskating fest.

 Pearl and Georgia REALLY wanted to rent skates and joint the skaters, but it was so cold that we opted to watch for a few minutes.

 There was a dj with a local music station and stands selling food and drinks. (Most of the drink choices were too strong for the kids...the music was techno and euro--Hector loved it!

 We armed up here while we pretended to consider which sausage we wanted (we'd already decided on a restaurant for our first taste of wiener schnitzel) and instead had...

 HOt CHocolate!!! MMM.

 I thought it seemed expensive, but wasn't yet used to euros. When we finished the people at the Kiosk had us place the cups back on the rack and gave us a $15 deposit back! Apparently I'd paid for the mugs.

 Here we are at the Zu den Leisn--a traditional schnitzel restaurant.

 The plate they served up was stacked with all kinds of meat fried in a delicious crust. We tried liver, turkey, beef, pork and other? served with some french fries and really good cabbage/root saladAustrian soda.  Even Brady like the cabbage/roots--and we all know that's saying something.

Initially when we ordered, the kids each selected a main plate and Brady and I decided to share a combination for two. The waiter informed us that the combination plate would be enough for us all. Boy was he right! We saved half of what our first order would have cost, and we were stuffed. Needless to say, thanked our waiter for his advice with a nice tip.:)