Day 4, Tues., 8/17 –
Trip to Vienna Woods and tour of Heiligan Kreutz (Holy Cross) Monastery (Cistercian) in the morning. Beautiful old buildings. 40 monks still there. Then a stop in the town of Baden for lunch and shopping. Baden means "thermal springs". Carl took us for a short walk to the beautiful garden park and then on to the shops etc. Hugh & I returned to the Green Market where the bus had parked and had some kind of sausage for lunch, then went back to the garden for pictures. Especially beautiful was the flower clock. We also went into the little church where the wedding scene from the Sound of Music was filmed. Had iced tea at a sidewalk cafe. Great weather; 75 & sunny.

The afternoon was free...we took a nap. Bus to the town of Wagram for a classical Austrian Dinner & VIP treatment at March Felderhoef. We were "properly welcomed" by the entire staff outside the door holding a large welcome banner and rolling a red carpet across the street for us to walk on. They even had one waitress dressed like a police woman stopping traffic for us. It was quite the scene. The dinner was wonderful, with lots of music, singing and laughter. The place was very unique...full of knick knacks & stuff.

We attended a concert of Mozart & Strauss in the evening at the Hofburg Winter Palace...a gala affair in a beautiful ancient hall...a magnificent setting.

Packed suitcases, then went to bed at 11:47.

Today's "options" -
*Vienna Woods Excursion; Heiligenkreuz Abbey & quaint town of Baden ($30)
*Classical Austrian Dinner; a real VIP treat & choice of menu in Wagram ($54)
*Operetta Concert at the Hofburg Palace (Mozart & Strauss) ($53)