VIENNA-ARRIVAL DAY

This trip took place June 2026.

Well, we had thought about this trip back when we knew about it while at FIABCI BARCELONA in December of 2025 and now we here.

One travel tip we learned from Barcelona or the trip before was to arrive a day early and have some down time to rest and recalibrate before the conference and daily explorations begin.

We departed Nashville heading to Toronto with a layover before our 8.5 hour overnight flight to Vienna, Austria. Nashville to Toronto was about a 2 hour flight which gave us time to get through customs as well as find a lounge we could post up in, grab a shower and bite to eat before our long 8.5 overnight flight which for those interested in distance its about 4.320 miles or 6.950 kilometers.

I can’t stress enough how valuable having lounge access is especially for the long flights.

One of our biggest hopes upon arrival at our hotel was that our room would actually be available for early check in.

We had the nicest guy named Lukas Sommer greet us at the check in counter. He was so nice and polite when we asked if our room was available, he surprisingly said “why yes it is!” You have no idea how happy we were and we told him how grateful we were that we could actually get in early, grab a shower early, grab some snacks and grab a nap.

We thanked him several times add said we knew how difficult working in hospitality can be as people can be short and often rude to the workers.

Anywho we had stepped out to get some stuff across the street at the local market and we can back to this sweet card and treat.

When we were checking in he was telling us that the grand daughter of Gustav Klimt had worked exclusively with the hotel in developing this dessert that is exclusive to this hotel.

Needless to say, were really floored as he didn’t have to do at all. We were just trying to not be the pain in the ass travelers that they may encounter on a regular basis.

All the hospitality staff there were very kind, helpful and always had a smile to greet you with.

I would gladly stay there again in the future.

So thank you again Lukas, Yeva, Chef Ahkmed, Chef Marcus and the many others we saw everyday while grabbing breakfast or just helping guests in the hotel.

After getting a chance to rest up and catch some much need rest and naps, we headed out to find something to eat and see what sights we could take in before Leis started her conference the next morning.

Since neither of us had ever been to Vienna before, that first sights and city energy is always a fun experience and a teaser of what would it feel like to live here for a few weeks in the future.

Well, tonight didn’t disappoint.

With our hotel located in the city center, we were so close to a lot of really cool things.

One thing that grabbed our attention was how well and intentional the city was laid out. From bike and pedestrian paths, to utilizing outdoor spaces for dinning areas like this. And we weren’t 20 mins from the hotel so this should be really fun over the next week.

Well anyne who knows me, I’m a sucker for old doors and historic architecture. I’ll have more through out the daily posts but the Jesuit Church (University church) is one of the first we got to go inside.

There is always something about these ornate interiors that brings a sense of quiet and calmness to my soul. And I appreciate all the artists who worked to create such beautiful spaces.

Even just the natural light that highlights the hand-carved, inlaid wood panel elements is something to appreciate in a world that is far to digital to my liking.

We also discovered this while on our way to dinner.

A long list of historical celebrities have an association with Vienna, and many also have a statue, plaque or street name to honor the connection.

One example is a monument to Johannes Gutenberg (ca. 1400 – 1468), who introduced the moving type printing press to Europe. His efforts proved a milestone in history and catalyzed a whole range of crucial cultural, scientific and socioeconomic developments.

The Austrian National Library (which I’ll visit on another day) in Vienna actually owns one of the very few complete bibles printed by Gutenberg. Just pop along with your library card and you might be able to borrow it. (Or possibly not.)

Dom Schnitzel is located right in the heart of the first district, making it an incredibly convenient stop while sightseeing

We order two of their signature dishes: The Duo Schnitzel (mixing veal and chicken), their acclaimed potato salad DOM SCHNITZEL and their burrata salad which none of them disappointed.

This restaurant can typically be crowded due to its central location but we got luck and even were surprised by a wedding that took place at a church right around the corner,

Well, by now the sun was setting, and we were starting fade. Here are some more pix of our leisurely stroll back to our hotel. I can’t wait to get back here and explore this area over the next few days.

While Leis headed back to the hotel (pictured in the background) on her own, I stayed out for another 30-45 minutes to see what else I could find during the blue hour of light.

And I found this. The weather was perfect for some Argentinian Tango out on a bridge that spans the canal that feeds into the Danube.

Tired? Yes! But nothing like a little late afternoon and evening teaser to set the mood for the next seven days here in Vienna.

Tomorrow… Bratislava, Slovakia… another place neither of have ever been to. Stay tuned.