Climb the Stephans Dom tower with me - a Cathedral in the heart of Vienna

[Mira]

I’m told the Stephan’s Dom is always under renovation and repair. You see the scaffolding. The steps to climb up are "only" 343. I figured I could do this. Was going with a younger male cousin, who was ready to drag me up them or calm me “down” them if necessary.
It was an adventure, I loved it. Going up was a bit cumbersome, but the descent a piece of cake.

Most of the climb is pretty dark, and you have to watch your step.



Every now and then there is a window and you can appreciate your ascent as it’s happening







In the room at the top is the plaque to praise your effort



The vistas, especially on our warm and perfect blue sky day are simply spectacular.





I was told that in the distance to the right of the black boxy building is "Das Riesenrad", it's the Giant Wheel, a famous landmork in the amusement park called "The Prater". It played a role in the film: "The Third Man".



After getting home I zoomed in on my photo and my wonderful Sony A7 had captured it just fine.



There was traffic of upcoming folk so I only have these to show you that I really did go back down. Hope you also enjoyed the adventure.

[question everything]

1. Very impressive

and this mosaic (is it?) in the seventh photo is interesting

[Mira]

2. It's one of the roofs

I forget details about why it was done as this wonderful mosaic inlay. Will ask. The impressions are so numerous and ongoing that I have to constantly collect my lower jaw from somewhere on the floor. I have a photo of the whole roof, it's gorgeous.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Wow, my dear Mira, I'm so glad you went up and safely down those steps!

Because I never would have done that. I am terribly unsafe without guard rails and those steep narrow steps might have injured me, had I fallen.

But your photos are amazing and wonderful and glorious!

Thank you.

[Mira]

9. Thank you!

It will hopefully make me keep posting little travelogues even after I'm home and just remembering. Not sharing is a shame, in my mind. But doing too much of it is boring. So - we hope for a happy middle.

[longship]

4. The Ferris wheel scene from "The Third Man"

With Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles.

An absolutely astounding film.

Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. So long Holly.

See it!

[Mira]

6. Thank you for posting this and recommending the film

I must confess I have had two tunes in my head since I got to Vienna. One is "Wien, Wien, nur Du allein...." - Vienna - City of my dreams,
and then the zither theme from the Third Man. That music will always keep me moving and once it's in my head it's stuck. I must also confess as I went today to see some old brownstone houses where people live in beauty, and no longer see it, I kept thinking of scenes in that movie involving street scenes. One of those houses is one I lived in for a year as a youngster. Two houses down, same side of the street, Beethoven lived a while til the rent money was due again and it's where he composed a part of the Missa Solemnis.
I'm overwhelmed, and I'm making little puddles of photos with themes, not just Vienna at all. Many wonderful places, and the puddles hopefully will turn into some posts for you appreciative friends.

[longship]

11. The Third Man is all about post-WWII Vienna.

The old streets, always filmed darkly at night. As with all film noir, it's the shadows that count in such scenes.

Mein Herr, Ballon?

[steventh]

5. the gargoyle caught my eye

I've been enjoying all your photos and description of your travels. I have a fondness for gargoyles and the one in your next-to-last photo is quite wonderful. I didn't know until I looked it up that gargoyles on churches are not only decorative, they function to direct water away from the building. Your photo is so clear I can see how that works.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/88019/10-fearsome-facts-about-gargoyles

[Mira]

7. Thanks. Glad to know that.

I strained a lot to get that shot, it makes me happy you appreciated it! I felt so funny being right there with it.

[GeoWilliam750]

8. If you are still in Vienna for one more night near the cathedral...

And if they are playing, you should go to one of the concerts in the cathedral playing the Four Seasons by Vivaldi - and pay extra for a seat towards the front. It is very much worth it.

Also, go a couple of streets over to Figlmüller for some truly great schnitzel.

Where to next?

[Mira]

12. WOW - would have loved that.

But tomorrow afternoon I'm off to Prague.The Viennese family members get this glint in their eye and say:Wait til you see Prague. I think they must be crazy. So I wait.

I was in the Peter's cathedral and just in time for an organ concerto - which explained why the church was filled in anticipation. I thought I made a sound movie of some of it, but it did not work. The best part was to sit and listen and have my eyes closed and imagining what they will see when I open them, and then, on doing so, having the beauty and grace and expectation and deep faith around me. Along with the splendor of dripping baroque golden incredulous splendor. And every time I opened my eyes it was all there in abeyance.

I'm coming back. They want me, and there will be flights that are affordable. I have - not only in Vienna - a host of loving folk. I'm very blessed.
I've been eating Schnitzel. And studying many good things to eat so I can get better at reproducing in my own kitchen for my friends.

[GeoWilliam750]

14. I forgot to say...

Nicely done on the photos. I took many of the same ones, but not as well as you did. Also, I took the elevator.

Personally, I prefer Vienna to Prague, but it is good to see both. The main square in Prague is beautiful, and it is a nice place to have a coffee and ice cream whilst people watching. If you can stay at the Hotel Ventana overlooking the square, that is pleasant indeed.

Lots of pretty pictures to take, but you may want to start early before the streets get crowded with tourists.

Also, looking at the trajectory, Dresden (and Weimar) appear to be next. In Dresden, go to see the Opera if it is on - affordable, and very good. Weimar is charming, and filled with history.

And, indeed, travel is always nicer when you know nice people there. I very much want to go back to Vienna, and do the Opera properly. So much music and culture there.

[Mira]

17. Thanks - but what elevator?

Are you clowning with me?

taking all you say into consideration, and sharing those with my traveling companion, we'll head out for Prague tomorrow. I've never been there, which is why I chose it as a stop on our way to Berlin where I will be involved in local stuff and see more places I need to see again for personal reasons.
I'll remember what you are telling me and it will be maybe possible to incorporate it into the next trip, which I plan to make happen.

[GeoWilliam750]

18. There was an elevator for the North Tower

Not sure if it is still operating, but it was about four or five years ago when I went up.

Wishing you safe and enjoyable travels to and in Berlin. I have always liked the city, although I know it not at all well - friendly people. It was a fascinating place right after the Wall came down, and is changing with the recent immigration.

Life is far too short to see even the smallest fraction of all the interesting places in the world, although one could argue that simply getting to really know one's own small home town is just as fascinating.

Again, safe journey, and I look forward to seeing your photos.

[Adsos Letter]

10. All wonderful!

Hard to choose a favorite but I especially like #7, looking down into the courtyard.

[Mira]

13. Thanks! My own favorites are 2 and 3

guess its because I was there to produce them. You know how hard it is to pick how to show what you see and feel.
There are photos I have where I thought of you and how to show them to you. I guess it will all happen in time.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Quick question...

How old is that cathedral?

how sad to see graffiti all over the interior walls. It mush have been such an amazing feeling to know that people were climbing those stairs hundreds of years before now.
Being present at very old places just leaves me slack jawed, and feeling very humble.

[Mira]

20. Check out the answers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Cathedral,_Vienna

Not only were they climbing those stairs hundreds of years ago - there was a 24 hour fire lookout watchman in the top of the tower til the mid fifties and until other systems of detection could take over. I tried to imagine what it must have been like to have that job, and could not get very far.
They had flags to indicate the direction of the fire. I have to read up on it all when I get home. At the moment it's too much to take in. The graffiti are not that objectionable to me, unless they are huge and in color.

[mnhtnbb]

15. What a gorgeous day you had to climb to the top of St. Stephans!

My knees can no longer do it.

You will love Prague. Hope your good weather continues.

One of my shots of the Astronomical clock there won one of our photo contests in the last couple of years.

[Sherman A1]

16. Superb!

Excellent photos.

[Callalily]

21. What a climb!

But looking at the views, well worth the effort!