Day 6, 11/29/2011:
Just got into Vienna. I'm exhausted. The entire day was spent flying - a 15 hour flight from Montevideo to Vienna here, and that's not counting the time on the plane before and after landing. It's 11pm local time here and we left the Montevideo airport this morning about 5 am Montevideo time. I'm ready for a good nights sleep and to see the sights of the oldest zoo in the world tomorrow.
Day 8, 12/1/2011:
Yesterday was so busy, I couldn't find the time to blog about it. They say that Vienna, Austria is the city of dreams. I can believe it. Where Montevideo had the highest quality of life for Latin America, Vienna here has the highest quality of life in the world. It's an absolutely beautiful city and I'm in love with it. I could go on and on about the city - we spent more time exploring the city than the zoo actually. But I do have to comment how wonderful last night was. There are many squares in Vienna and they are all decorated to the hilt for Christmas. If, you're like me and still believe in the dream of Christmas, you can't go wrong by walking around the squares at night, shopping (they call it the Christmas Markets) and just getting caught up in the dream of Christmas. The map above is a city map showing the locations of the Christmas Markets.
As I think I've mentioned before, Vienna is the home of the oldest zoo in the world, established in 1752. The name of the zoo is exotic sounding and is called: Tiergarten Schönbrunn. Just like the city itself, this zoo is amazingly beautiful, with exquisite landscaping and panorama views every time you turn a corner. A train runs throughout the park taking you to different locales within the zoo and such places as the Aviary and Aquarium. I'm torn because I didn't spend as much time exploring the zoo as I would of wanted to and if I ever was to do a trip like this again, then this is one place I would definitely return to. Sculptures, medieval buildings, pathways that call out for you to explore. It has it all.
As for today, well tonight, we have arrived safely in Warsaw, Poland. We arrived by rail and it was a great journey. Leaving Austria and the Alps behind we entered into the north European plains. The scenic views never stopped. We'll be going to the Warsaw zoo tomorrow morning and leaving tomorrow night. The wife and I are tired but having the time of our lives. We've been eating some great food as well and enjoying what touristy things we can along the way, but there is just so much and so little space to write.
Day 9, 12/2/2011:
The Warsaw Zoological Garden has some very unique exhibits. The hippo exhibit is probably the most unique exhibit I've seen in any zoo anywhere. Hosting two outdoor and one indoor pool, with some grassy area, we could walk down into the underground structure and view the hippos from under the water in their "natural" habitat. A very unique experience. Definitely the highlight of this zoo, though other exhibits such as the salt-water aquarium that hosts the only sand tiger shark in all of Poland were of note as well. After we finished with the zoo, my wife insisted we dine at Le Cedre Restaurant, a few blocks from the zoo itself. I argued that we should eat Polish food in Poland, but she persuaded me that trying Lebonese food for the first time would be worth it - and she was right.
Warsaw itself is a pretty modernized city. I assume because of the heavy bombardments it took during World War 2. Even the zoo had been struck several times during the war and had to rebuild after the war was over. This was hampered somewhat due to the realities of the Cold War, but since the 80;s it's been thriving.
