Sacher hotel, Vienna


The world famous Sacher Torte originated in this hotel in Vienna named Hotel Sacher.

It is situated opposite the Viennese State Opera in the heart of the century old cultural and historical city. A few minutes walk from museums, The Hofburg, The Spanish Riding School and across the famous Ringstrasse.

The Hotel Sacher is a favorite meeting place for the city's high society, artists, and politicians. The hotel Sacher in Vienna - opened in 1876 by Eduard Sacher, son of the creator of the Original Sacher-Torte - is an Austrian institution. Histories and anecdotes about the legendary personalities of the Hotel Sacher abound.

The Sacher Torte is a scrumptious dessert made of two chocolate cake layers separated by apricot jam with a chocolate glaze over the top and sides of the cake. You can find it in many european restos in metro manila esp Schwarzwalder.

We tried it the first time we visited Vienna a few years before this trip but I think it was too sweet for me so this time, we preferred to just have a photo :)

The famous Leaning Tower

PISA

The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Cathedral. Its construction began in the august of 1173 and continued (with two long interruptions) for about two hundred years, in full fidelity to the original project, whose architect is still uncertain.

In the past it was widely believed that the inclination of the Tower was part of the project ever since its beginning, but now we know that it is not so. The Tower was designed to be "vertical" and started to incline during its construction.

A year prior to this visit, the tower was under construction since they were trying to lessen the incline lest it falls all over the place.

The main piazza where the leaning tower can be found is a pedestrian place. All vehicles are asked to park outside. Actually this is only the main attraction of the city.

By the way, no one knows who architect of the tower is up to now.

La Cité: The Walled City of Carcassone

carcassone

The Walled City of Carcassonne is known first and foremost as a fortified medieval town; but this rocky outcrop has been occupied by man since the 6th century B.C., first as a gaul settlement, then as a Roman town fitted with ramparts as early as the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D.On the western face of this primitive fortification rests the castle, built in the 12th century.

There is a town centre in Carcasson which is a modern city. If one wants to visit the walled city, one has to watch out for the sign "La Cite". We had been here a couple of times and in the past some of our bus drivers get lost missing the turn. During the time that dad didnt accompany me, I made sure I watched out for the important sign lest the driver leads us to the centre town.