“Light” Trip to Vienna & Prague

[moish]

Adjacent to the Altneuschul is the Jewish Town Hall from 1560. On the side of that building is an interesting clock with the Alef Bais instead of numbers, and runs counterclockwise.





"design" on the facade of a building. Magen david associated with stacks of coins....


We then went to Dinitz for dinner which was enjoyable. TIP: After you exit the old cemetery, there are stalls on the right side selling all sorts of knickknacks. One of the ones closer to the cemetery sells pocket mirrors. That stall also has 10% off coupons to Dinitz if paying cash. As the credit card machine wasn’t working anyways when we were there, it was great to have the coupon.

[SuperFlyer]

Thanks a lot for the nice report !

[ChAiM'l]

Nice report, thanks.

I don't know the guy in the second to last picture, but I'm pretty sure (given the whole look) that he wouldn't want this picture posted on a public forum.

[moish]

Nice report, thanks.

I don't know the guy in the second to last picture, but I'm pretty sure (given the whole look) that he wouldn't want this picture posted on a public forum.

alright, ill remove it, but i found it to be so funny

[Drago]

imperial just looks old fashioned with gold and such

now a days i think the younger gen doesnt appreciate it as much, and would rather a gorgeous resort with pools and bars all over. just my opinion.

I stopped into the Imperial last year when staying at the Bristol, and it's stunning.
When staying in Vienna, you don't want modern, you're looking for that royalty feel. It suits the city very nicely.

[moish]

I stopped into the Imperial last year when staying at the Bristol, and it's stunning.
When staying in Vienna, you don't want modern, you're looking for that royalty feel. It suits the city very nicely.

it's refreshing to see that someone "gets" it

[SuperFlyer]

it's refreshing to see that someone "gets" it

I'm getting it, but trying not too.

I don't have access to free hotel points etc...

Trying to enjoy more simple hotels

[andrew]

Never really understood the point of a butler in a hotel.

my sole was falling off my shoe and i needed a shoemaker to repair it, I wasnt interested in taking up time to do it myself, so one call  to the butler and he picked them up went to the shoemaker and returned it, all i had to pay was the invoice from the shoemaker. i would assume that butler service will do all similar "emergency'' services like this such as needing diapers or medicine etc.

For your information, every room at the imperial has butler service not just suites.

I was at the meridian in vienna and had AC problems, the hotel was fully booked so they checked me into the imperial, when you visit palaces like versaillles and shonbrun and your stunned by the elegance and luxury that makes it so famous its sort of the same in a smaller way staying in converted hotels such as Imperial (with modern world additions)

[Drago]

services like this such as needing diapers or medicine etc.

I wonder what they would answer if you asked them to change a diaper.


Anyone wanna bet?

[moish]

For your information, every room at the imperial has butler service not just suites.

i dont think that's accurate

http://www.imperialvienna.com/en/rooms/classic

vs

http://www.imperialvienna.com/en/rooms/elisabeth_suite

click on 'read more'

[moish]

my sole was falling off my shoe and i needed a shoemaker to repair it, I wasnt interested in taking up time to do it myself, so one call  to the butler and he picked them up went to the shoemaker and returned it, all i had to pay was the invoice from the shoemaker. i would assume that butler service will do all similar "emergency'' services like this such as needing diapers or medicine etc.

other hotels without butler service might do the same, such as when i was at the park hyatt sydney and needed some plastic ware, they went to the store and bought it for me, charging me the cost only

[andrew]

i dont think that's accurate

http://www.imperialvienna.com/en/rooms/classic

vs

http://www.imperialvienna.com/en/rooms/elisabeth_suite

click on 'read more'

when i was there the classic room also had it, the phones there if im not mistaken has a button for butler service so anyone can take advantage.

The advantage of butler service is that you can count on it happening because thats why they are there as opposed to other hotels just having good service and might be willing to do the same.

[moish]

when i was there the classic room also had it, the phones there if im not mistaken has a button for butler service so anyone can take advantage.

did the butler greet you when you checked in to your room?

[moish]

The advantage of butler service is that you can count on it happening because thats why they are there as opposed to other hotels just having good service and might be willing to do the same.

im pretty sure you can count on any higher end hotel doing that.

unpacking and packing your suitcase though, thats something else

[andrew]

did the butler greet you when you checked in to your room?

dont remember

[moish]

Friday morning, we took a taxi to the old cemetery of Zizkov (near the TV tower) to visit the the kevarim of the Noda Beyehuda and R’ Eliezer Flaklas, the Teshuva Meahavah. My original research led me to believe that the cemetery is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but I subsequently learned that it’s open on Mondays and Wednesdays between 11am and 3pm, and on Friday between 9am and 1pm.

Noda Beyehuda


We then took a taxi to the Stefanikuv Bridge where we picked up a Vltava River cruise. We went on the 1pm English cruise offered by Premient Tours, one of the better tour operators. They also offer hotel pickup IIRC.

[moish]

We then walked to the old town square to watch the ‘glockenspiel’ spectacle which occurs on the hour from 8am to 8pm on the old town clock. When the clock strikes the hour, a kind of politically incorrect medieval morality play begins. Two doors slide open and the statues of the Twelve Apostles glide by, while the 15th-century conception of the "evils" of life -- a Death skeleton, a preening Vanity, a corrupt Turk, and an acquisitive Jew -- shake and dance below. At the end of World War II, the horns and beard were removed from the moneybag-holding Jew, who's now politely referred to as Greed. I found it to be far less entertaining than the glockenspiel in Munich.





It's worth climbing the Old Town Hall's tower for an excellent view over the red rooftops of Staromestské námestí and the surrounding area. But be warned: The steps are narrow, steep, and quite physically demanding, so the less courageous should take the elevator, which we did.

[moish]

We then walked to the New Town Hall, a few minute walk away at Marianske Namesti 2, to see the statue of the Maharal and Golem installed in 1912.

Maharal?


Golem?


We then checked out of the Sheraton and checked in to the Hilton Old Town for a number of different reasons, but primarily due to the fact that it was way closer to the Jewish area thus less walking on Shabbos. As a Gold member with Hilton we were upgraded to a junior suite.

[Dan]

im pretty sure you can count on any higher end hotel doing that.

unpacking and packing your suitcase though, thats something else

+1

[Galitzyaner]

Moish, what camera did you use for these pics?