Just another day in paradise

  

Ok so it's not really just another day in paradise but I suppose we could call it "just another saturday in Vienna."  But either way I was in my element yesterday (saturday 6/28) as I, again, went into the city to do some sightseeing on my day off.   

But before I got to the actual sights that I was planning on seeing...I happened upon a small little store in the middle of Vienna called Bobby's Market.  It turns out that "Bobby" (whoever that might be)  wanted to look out for the english citizens of Vienna so he opened a British/American market.  In this little market I found things like betty crocker muffin mixes, doritos, oreos, and much much more.  But much to my surprise (and probably anybody else who reads this)  the thing I was excited to see the most was ....drumroll please....the cinnamon poptarts.  I didn't realize how much I liked them until now but putting that poptart in my mouth was like tasting a piece of heaven!  :)

Anyways, after entertaining my taste-buds I eventually found my way to my sight of interest for the week, Karlskirche.  (now this is the part where I should tell Allie, who will be reading this, to go get Joe because this just might be a post he'd be interested in....)  For anyone who doesn't know german, Karlzkirche means Karl's Church.   (and now for the brief history lesson for the history nerds...is Joe here yet? :))   

   -While Vienna was suffering through the plague epidemic in 1713, Emperor Karl VI promised that as soon as the city was delivered, he would build a church and dedicate it to St. Charles Borromeo.  (Borromeo was a former Archbishop of Milan and a patron saint of the plague; 1538-84)  In 1714, Emperor Karl VI announced a competition to design the church which was won by an architect by the name of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. (I dare you to say that name 5 times fast!) The beautiful baroque building (shown in the pictures) was the result.  The huge dome and the portico are borrowed from ancient Greek and Roman architecture while the echoes in the gatehouses and minaret columns reflect Oriental styles.  Inside the building you can find carvings and altarpieces by the biggest artists of the day including Daniel Gran and Martino Altomonte.   The building of this church  took close to 25 years and sadly the designer, Fischer von Erlach, didn't live to see it finished.  he died in 1723, leaving his son to complete the task.  

Oh yeah...and I definitely put my feet in the 'cement pond'  out front.  :) hehe