Wednesday, November 12th, Vienna

Wednesday morning we woke up and took the subway over to the Naschmarket - which is a big outdoor market, full of the best looking produce, fresh cheeses, spices, olives, fresh flowers, and so on. We got there early so there were very few people, and many of the places had yet to open.





















After walking around the market we went to the Secession Building to see the friezes by Klimt. They take up four walls in a large room, and the only other thing in the room are chairs to sit and admire the work. They are gorgeous, I can't find any photos that do them justice, but they are certainly a wonderful example of Klimt's work, and I am really glad we got to see them. The outside of the building is gorgeous as well, very simple architecture and gold, gold, gold.






Near the Naschmarket and Secession Building is an apartment designed by the Architect Otto Wagner. This building is just beautiful, but I got some better photos of it a few days later in the sunshine.


We took the subway to the Prater - a crazy amusement park, containing the Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel) that is seen in the movie The Third Man. I have a fascination with amusement parks and boardwalks, and this one is the creepiest I've been to. It was almost completely empty, but there were people waiting to run most of the rides, and loud, over bearing pop music playing every where. It was really surreal, and hard to believe that people actually go there during the winter months - but I am sure on the weekends and holidays it does get crowded.














Wednesday afternoon was the first day of the ceremony at the Radeskyschule. When we got there we were introduced to the other people attending, and then we had a tour of the school. There were about 8 returning students, and over 30 people including family members. My Grandmother was one of the oldest at the school in 1938, so no one from her class was there. The returning students had moved all over when they were forced out of Vienna - to England, China, the United States, and Belgium.

Their stories were fascinating, and I know I will never forget them. Not only had what they experienced in Vienna during the 30s been remarkable, but listening to where they went after Vienna and what they experienced was moving.

After the tour of the school we went to a big dinner at our hotel - with all the returning students, teachers from the school, and some of the people from the Jewish Welcome Service. These photos are from their website, I know one of the teachers took them but I have no idea what his name was. I have more photos to add from my father, eventually!