Today, we went to the Schonbrunn Palace. This is the former residence of several Austrian emperors. Of the 1,400 rooms, I only got to visit 40. I suppose this is just as well, as an audio guide for everything might have taken me a lifetime. I did manage to learn some interesting facts though. Let me tell you, Maria Theresa was quite the girl. She was the last of the Habsburgs and reigned 40 years. She had 16 children, the girls were named Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria...little did Mom know, she didn't have to think of 5 girl names, Kristy would have sufficed for all of us. I'm not sure how Mother Maria T. kept track of them. I mean, if she called for Maria, there had to have been 12 different responses. But keep track of them she did. Each Maria was married off for political reasons with the exception of Maria Christina, the fav. It's unthinkable for a parent to have a favorite, I know, but with 16 children it's bound to happen. The favorite was the only one allowed to marry for love, thus, she did not have to suffer the unlucky fate of others, such as Maria Antonia (Marie Antoinette). After Maria Theresa there came several other emperors such as Franz Joseph, who married the so called "Princess Diana of Austria", Elisabeth or Sisi. The audio guide kept calling Franz frugal; I was quite perplexed and failed to see anything frugal about the palace. The audio guide certainly made Sisi out to be a sour stickler. While her husband loved her more than life itself, she had all sorts of negative views on marriage and refused to dine with the family. However, you can't help but feel sorry for her. She met her death from a man with a file. I can only imagine what it would do to your nails if you got a hold of one. All in all, she is beloved here in Austria. So now you know a bit about Frugal Franz and Scary Sisi. Despite strange stories, Schonbrunn is a spectacular place.
PS- though I haven't uploaded my pictures, our group took hundreds, literally. We have several nice shots with a group of exotic Indian men. It must have been my love for Bollywood that attracted them (well they were more creepy than exotic but that's my luck for ya).
PPS- something I forgot to mention, I saw the head bust of Napoleon's son and the bed he died in. Apparently he was confined to the Palace all his life. They never let him speak to anyone. I think he died in his early 20's, with only a bird for a friend. Tragic.
PPPS- The Palace peeps accidentally gave my director some tickets for 18 year olds. Those who could pass as such were elected to use these tickets. Yes, you've assumed correctly. I was the first chosen. I guess when people mistake you for your 15 year old sister's twin, I should see things like this coming. Did I mention I'm one of the oldest on the program?
What do you think? Could I pass for a teenager?
Maybe I'm just old looking :) It's always better to look younger than older!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, the reclusive Sisi. I have heard she was rather a nutcase. She suffered from anorexia and would never open her mouth at the dinner table. I did not know she was stabbed with a file. I thought it was a knife. What a terrible ending for her. I did hear that her husband loved her to distraction. The palace is supposed to be spectacular. I'm so glad you got to see it.
ReplyDeleteYou do look young. That will be great for you in 20 years so don't complain.
It's nice to look young, should make you age well.
ReplyDeleteI liked Frugal Franz but I have never read much about Sisi, but what kind of file kills? I am absolutely going to the palace and getting all the facts from the audio guide.
I hope you were friendly to the Indian men-I've been trying to get invited to an Indian wedding for at least 6 years!
As far as favs go, Jordan has always been a bit of a golden child, remember how mom would always buy treats and frozen burritos when he was home?
So true.
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