Vienna, Wein, Sunday

It is January and still cold in Vienna, -6C today, it was -10C last night, normal temperatures for this time of year. We went to the Opera and then later had a late dinner at the Café of the Opera which is open until midnight. Walked quickly to out hotel because of the cold down Kartner Strasse. Today, we visited the Albertina which is located by the Hofburg palace, there is currently an exhibit on native South-African William Kentridge, displaying sketches, animated film projections on various topic, like colonialism, the cultural history of post-revolutionary Russia, Apartheid. I liked the short film on The Nose from Gogol's writing.  See www.albertina.at

From the Albertina view of the Hofburg (new palace wing)

Afterwards we visited a special exhibit at the old Imperial Library built by Emperor Charles VI now known as the Austrian National Library on the 100 anniversary of the Opera Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss, it was first premiered in Dresden in January 1911. The history of this opera which became an instant hit in Europe, beautifully presented in the great hall of the library.

Austrian National Library, Augustus hall, it is part of the Hofburg complex.

There are 200,000 books on the shelves and many more in the archives, all of which is being digitalized, many books are centuries old and very fragile. We saw a map on display from the 5th century of the Imperial Roman Postal system, showing the routes taken to deliver mail throughout the Empire. This is what I like about Vienna, there is always an exhibit, something going on that you have never seen.

Dome ceiling the apotheosis of Emperor Charles VI

The book shelves hide secret doors where more books can be viewed.

Door to the Office of the Director General of the Austrian National Library.

We are now relaxing at our hotel, tonight we take the over night train to Rome arriving at Termini tomorrow morning at 09:15am. Apparently the temperature in Rome is +15C.