Mia on the Map

Welcome to my second post – long overdue! I can think of no better city than Vienna for the revival of this blog. Every time I come to Vienna, there are new details to notice. Although this visit was a short one, it was packed with plenty of great memories and many (many!) photos!

Admiring Stephansdom

A trip to Vienna is never complete without seeing Stephansdom. When you visit, you are bound to leave with *at least* 10 photos of this beautiful cathedral – from every angle. The Gothic structure with Romanesque and Baroque elements truly speaks for itself. I know nothing about architecture, but boy that sentence sounded cool! Thank you for the architecture lesson, Google. Below are my five favorite views of Stephansdom from this trip.

Following the Yellow

One thing I noticed during this trip more than every before is how much yellow there is all around the city. Since last year, yellow is my favorite color, so I figured this topic deserves its own, dedicated section. I love the way the yellow buildings brighten the city; the overcast weather even helped to enhance the shade.

Intrigued by collecting these photos, I did a bit of research on this particular shade of yellow – “Schönbrunn Yellow”, named after the iconic color of Schloss Schönbrunn. For centuries, yellow has been associated with the House of Hapsburg – their flag bearing black and yellow. Let’s dig a little deeper into the history of this specific shade. Ochre is an earth pigment occurring naturally in different shades across all of Europe. With temperature treatments, the tones of the ochre pigment can change. The chemical reaction yielding this famous yellow hue starts with alkaline lime and produces iron(III) oxide hydroxide (FeO(OH)), which oxidizes further. And on that note, I think that is enough science for one day!

If you would like to read about some fun myths on the iconic “Schönbrunn Yellow”, here is the article I found: link.

Around Every Corner

Even on a cloudy day, Vienna’s streets remain vibrant! With each turn, there is something new to see and admire. The inner city’s architecture is a feast for the eyes, and no two streets are the same. Below are some of my favorite shots from walking in the inner city with Oma and Opa!

Down by the Danube

This was a new spot for me – thank you to Tante Martina for showing me around! It is so lovely to see the Danube river up close. I will definitely have to come back to this spot in the summer – perfect for a picnic. The swans showed up and stole the scene entirely; they are effortlessly graceful!

Reuniting Once Again

It is always great to spend time with the family since we cannot see each other too often. Luckily, another trip is already booked and in the calendar. Here are some family photos from the last few days!

Food Section, As Always

Some of you reading this will be surprised to find out that I did not have a single soup this time in Vienna. Next time! The fresh bread from Opa’s morning bakery run is hard to beat – simple and delicious. I wish the Kipferls would make their way to the United States! My favorite desserts from the visit were the Topfenstrudel and the Walnusstorte (a new one for me). Vienna is the perfect place for my sweet tooth ❤

Thank you for reading! More to come from this trip – next stop: Brussels, then Marrakech!