Palaces, princes, parks and pandas

A full day the the Schonbrunn Palace and the gardens.  In glorious weather. So much to see that chosing the blip has been almost impossible.  Even saw a baby panda suckling.  But the blip is of the eye of one of the elephants in the zoo.  They were in a good enclosure but even so the space looked limited.  In Edinburgh they did away with housing elephants years ago.  I'm old enough to have sat on the back of one when they were there and I was a child.  But it is years since I have seen one in the flesh. 

The Schonbrunn is a wonderful spot and the history is extensive.  Napoleon's son lived there until he died aged 21 from a lung disease - he was housed there away from his mother after the defeat of Napoleon to neutralise his political status.  

Indeed, many of the stories are tinged with sadness where politics impacted on personal life.  The Empress Elizabeth - Sisi - seems to have been "quite a character" and of very independent mind but she wrote of the sadness at her daughters being married off to maintain political alliances.  This was a Hapsburg tradition - one of the daughters from an earlier generation was Marie-Antoinette and her life was cut short in a brutal way.  Vast rococo rooms and luxurious boudoirs.  An interesting visit and thoroughly recommended.

Then lots of walking round the park which has been open to the public even since the time of Mairie-Therese- and the zoo which claims to be the oldest in the world.  There is apparently a debate between Vienna and London over which was first.  First private collection?  Or first open to the public? Wh cares?  It's been there a long time!

Last night in Vienna so finished of the day with some night shots.  2 extras to give a flavour of the day - the Schonbrunn palace from the top of the Gloriette  - the building where the Empress Marie-Therese used to breakfast; and the New Rathaus - the Town Hall at night.

A hot day forecast tomorrow at 30oC with our flight not until mid evening.  so still some sightseeing to do before work onTuesday.