Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Friday, August 5, 2016

European Vacation - Part XIII

Vienna, Austria

We arrived in Vienna just after dinner and were whisked off to an Austrian Heuriger (wine tavern).  Wine was fairly new and not so good.  There was an accordion player, some singing, some dancing some bread and spreads.  It was not a highlight of the trip.

The next morning though we went on a Hidden Vienna tour that was a highlight for us.  Here are some of the sights.


One of the oldest churches in Vienna.





Plague monument - these got more and more elaborate as we traveled north on the Danube.




 A very whimsical clock.





St. Stephen's Cathedral.  
Our guide kept referring to squirrels and pointing up.  We couldn't see any squirrels.  I asked if he was saying scrolls but no he thought another word for the towers was squirrels but he meant spires.  It messed up his talk after that so we told him to just say squirrels because we knew what he meant.












Down in the subway there is an entrance to a museum that features what remains of a very old chapel.  No written records survive that explain the purpose of this small chapel.  It was found when the subway was dug.  Another church had been built on top of it but none of those records refer to this place.


The walls show fainting paintings of crosses.




 We stopped for a midday snack of apple strudel and coffee.




Back to St. Stephen's this "squirrel" was never built to the height of the other.





We saw Roman remains.


Walked around the Hapsburg Palace but not in this one.









Three clocks on this building.




Back to the riverboat for lunch and then in the afternoon we took a trip to the summer palace.  Subject of another post.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

President Woodrow Wilson's House



President Woodrow Wilson is the only US President to live permanently in Washington, DC after serving as president.  [President Obama will be living 3 blocks from this house when he leaves office but its not known yet if he and his family will make their permanent home here.]


A large flag hangs in the entry way to commemorate Flag Day which became a holiday during Wilson's term in office.


The Wilson House is filled with memorabilia that Wilson received as gifts from different countries.  Now Presidents are not allowed to keep these gifts and they end up in Presidential libraries.


The drawing room of the house is filled with instruments. too.





The library includes only a few of his 7000 book collection.  Most went to the Library of Congress.





Above is the pen Wilson used to take the US into World War I.




Above is a portrait of his second wife Edith.  His first wife died during Wilson's first term.


Woodrow Wilson died about 2 years after leaving office.

Edith lived in this house until her death in 1961.



Edith is descended from Pocahantas.


This is Wilson's bedroom.  He had a major stroke while still in office, but continued to serve out the remaining 18 months of his term.  Historians say now that he was not in good health to perform his duties as president.



This painting reminded Wilson of his first wife.  It has since been identified as the mother of the actress Jane Russell by Jane Russell when she visited the house.




Woodrow Wilson House
2340 S Street NW
Washington, DC
Open 10-4 Wed-Sunday
Admission
Every Wednesday Night is Vintage Game Night