Schonbronn Palace, Maze, Zoo, and some Schnitzel

Today was a good day.  

The plan was to spend it at the Schonbronn palace complex.  We were a little worried because we have the ViennaPass, which got us in to the palace, but didn't give us an assigned ticket time.  So we got up and out early so that we didn't have to wait for hours.  

The main palace.  Couldn't fit the wings in the frame.

Thankfully, the timing worked out perfectly so that we could spend a little time in the gardens beforehand, but didn't have an interminable wait for the palace itself.

In the private garden.

In the Orangerie

Beautiful child in a bush,

It's hard to mean mug in a Vienna tourist hat, but I think he managed to pull it off.

They don't let you take any pictures inside the palace itself, which is a real bummer.  But it was really super beautiful.  We saw a number of the rooms used by various royalty for various things.  We walked for about an hour and saw maybe 1/3 of the palace?  It was very impressive.

After that, we went to see more of the grounds.  Jax was especially excited about doing the labyrinth.  It looked easy, but was actually a challenge.  Pete and Jax did make it to the center viewing station before Lea and I did though.  

At the start of the maze

Shoot.  They beat us.

There were two other not-mazey labyrinths that we did after that.  Not quite as fun, but still pretty cool.

Mirror trickery in one of the mazes.

We then head to the zoo, which is the oldest zoo in the world, founded some time in the 1750s.  It was surprisingly large and very cool

Rhino

Pelican.

Lea (front right) and some buffalo

The original ROUS - the capybara

A snoring tapir.  Adorable.

Lions

Panda butt!

By this point we were all very very tired, having walked quite far, even though we were on the palace grounds the whole time.  However, I was still hoping to see the Gloriette, which was a "little" building set on a high hill that afforded a lovely view of the palace and much of Vienna.  So we hopped on a little tram thing that took us up (and thankfully back down).

Children Humoring Me: A Series

View of the palace from the Gloriette

The little building where one of the Hapsburg queens like to breakfast. 
Just like our breakfast nook at home.

By this point Jax's watch was indicating that he had walked 5.5 miles, and we were all ready for a break.  So back to the apartment for a little rest before heading to Figlmuller for dinner.  A touristy place for sure, but they advertised having served schnitzel since 1905.  Thankfully I had made a reservation, since when we arrived there was a line down the street.  

Schnitzel.  It was quite good.  And not small.

Jax went with steak.  He was happy with his choice.

I didn't get pictures of dessert, but the apple strudel and chocolate cake had for dessert by the children was excellent.  Then back again to get ready for our last day in Vienna.  Tomorrow is more palaces and an amusement park!