The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the only institution in the world where classical horsemanship according to the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole has been practiced and cultivated for almost half a millennium! The objective of classical horsemanship is to study the natural steps and movements of the horse bringing it to the highest level of Haute Ecole by systematic training. This results in an unparalleled harmony between rider and horse, as only Vienna’s Spanish Riding School is presenting it nowadays.

This Friday, June 26, the world famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna is celebrating its 450 year anniversary.  It’ll be a historic event with a special anniversary gala of the Lipizzaner horses live from the Heldenplatz in Vienna. You’ll get two hours of pure Lippizaner dressage highlights. And I’m stoked to be a part of it, thanks to ServusTV.

Many of you won’t be here to enjoy the show, but you can still follow this event easily via your computer or mobile device. The Austrian TV station will broadcast this event live and for free via web stream.

When And Where.

When: Friday, June 26, 2015

Each horse has its own rider at the Spanish Riding School. Together they built are perfectly trained team. © Spanische Hofreitschule |Stefan Seelig

In the capriole, the horse jumps from a raised position of the forehand straight up into the air, kicks out with the hind legs, and lands more or less on all four legs at the same time. It requires an enormously powerful horse to perform correctly, and is considered the most difficult of all the airs above the ground. © Spanische Hofreitschule | Rene van Bakel

A pas de deux is an equestrian performance using two horses. The horses perform dressage movements, usually mirroring each other, and almost always accompanied by music. Pas de deux are often performed in exhibitions at special events, and are also used by professional acts, particularly the Spanish Riding School. © Spanische Hofreitschule | Michael Rzepa

The performance finishes with the “School Quadrille”, consisting of 8 riders working in formation at the walk, trot, and canter, with flying changes, pirouettes, the half pass and the passage. The ride is performed to classical music. Lasting 20 minutes, the School Quadrille of the Spanish Riding School is the longest and most difficult in the world. © Spanische Hofreitschule | Rene van Bakel

The list of my 10 favourite coffeehouses in Vienna is in no particular order. I like all of them equality – it just depends where I am or what mood I’m in.

1. phil

The phil was the first one of its kind in Vienna. Today there are several coffee shops that offer food, drinks, shopping and culture all in one. The phil served as a role model and has become a real institution. Almost everything can be bought and most of the books and magazines here have been put together by the customers themselves. It’s a great place to sit for hours while listening to some great tunes.

• Address: Grumpendorferstrasse 10-12, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday 5.00pm – 1.00am & Tuesday – Sunday 9.00am – 1.00am
• Website

The inside of the phil is a mixture between a café, book shop and vintage furniture shopping. © stadtbekannt

Vintage furniture inside the phil in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

In summer you can also sit outside the phil.

2. burg.ring1

The shabby-chic look of the burg.ring1 might remind you of a coffeehouse in Berlin or London – or even one of the similar looking coffee houses in the 7th district of Vienna, yet the difference is the noble address and the spaciousness. It feels like an extended living room with a house bar. A real feel-good place with yummy breakfast and the best home-made lemonade.

• Address: Burgring 1, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 11.00am – 1.00am, Friday 11.00am – 2.00 am, Saturday 9.00am – 2.00am & Sunday 9.00am – 6.00pm
• Website

A cozy atmosphere inside the burg.ring1 in Vienna.

A cozy atmosphere inside the burg.ring1 in Vienna.

3. Kleines Café

Built by the famous Viennese architect Hermann Czech, the Kleines Café is a primary rock of the culture scene. It’s very popular, therefore overcrowded most of the time. But the wait is well worth it because the charm of this tiny café is beguiling. In summer, sit down at the Fransiskanerplatz, which is one of the most picturesque places of the inner city.

• Address: Franziskanerplatz 3, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10.00am – 2.00am & Sunday 1.00pm – 2.00am

Kleines Café in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

Kleines Café on the Franziskanerplatz in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

4. Café Drechsler

The Drechsler has always been an institution in Vienna. In 2007, it was completely refurbish by the British star designer Sir Terence Coran. It’s still one of the most important meeting points in the scene, especially for a great breakfast after a hard night out in the town. Located right next to the Naschmarkt, this café is located in the hot spot of Vienna.

• Address: Linke Wienzeile 22, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 8.00am – Midnight, Friday & Saturday 8.00am – 2.00am, Sunday 8.00am – Midnight
• Website

Inside the Café Drechsler in Vienna.

Inside the Café Drechsler in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

Outside the Café Drechsler in Vienna.

5. Halle

One of the two undisputed centrepiece of the Museumsquartier (apart from Café Leopold), the Halle offers lots of seating spaces, high ceilings and designer furniture. But even with all the available room, this place is packed most of the times, so be sure to make a reservation – especially on weekends. In summer, there are approx. 200 additional seats outside in the centre of the MQ.

• Address: MQ, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10.00am – 2.00am
• Website

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna. © stadtbekannt

The Halle at the MQ in Vienna.

6. Le Bol

French living and dining right here in Vienna? It’s possible! There are a couple of French restaurant in Vienna and the Le Bol is an original. Located in a side street of Vienna’s city centre, you almost feel like in a small French town. A very authentic, small & charming coffeehouse with a great atmosphere – also due to the French speaking waiters.

• Address: Neuer Markt 14, 1010 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 8.00am, Sunday from 10.00am
• Website

The French café Le Bol in Vienna.

The French café Le Bol in Vienna.

7. Café Sperl

Café Sperl might just be the most typical coffeehouse in Vienna – plus one of the few old-school ones that is not filled with smoke or run-down. Charm, tradition and history is a great priority here. This coffeehouse is a great place to get away from your daily routine: simply sit down, drink your coffee, read the newspaper and let time fly by. The “Herr Ober” (Viennese for waiter) might have to be asked twice, but no one is really stressed here. During summer, you can sit outside and eat one of the best Apfelstrudel in the city.

• Address: Grumpendorferstraße 11, 1060 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday from 7.00am – 11.00pm & Sunday from 11.00am – 8.00pm
• Website

Inside Café Sperl in Vienna.

Inside Café Sperl in Vienna.

Outside Café Sperl in Vienna.

8. Daniel Bakery

From a Florentine bread salad and oriental antipasti, through to American Rib Eye Steak. At the Daniel Bakery you get all of that. But the bakery is not just popular with fans of international cuisine … those who love desserts & those with a sweet tooth will have lots of fun here. Listen to this: Crème brûlée, a great range of cookies, muffins, cupcakes or tasty cakes and gateaux (all homemade)…

• Address: Landstraßer Gürtel 5, 1030 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 06.30am – 1.00am (food is served until 11.00pm)
• Website

Daniel Bakery inside Hotel Daniel in Vienna.

Daniel Bakery inside Hotel Daniel in Vienna.

The hanging boat on the facade of Hotel Daniel in Vienna, Austria.

9. Café Berg

The Café Berg has been a popular breakfast spot in Vienna for quite some time. It’s also a meeting point for the local gay & lesbian scene (not only though) with the adjoining book shop Löwenherz which offers literature, music and film on the same topic. Customers are easy going and sometimes even glamorous.

• Address: Berggasse 8, 1090 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10.00am – Midnight (Kitchen until 11.00pm)
• Website

Café Berg in Vienna.

10. Manameierei

The Manameierei is a wonderful spot in the greenery with high quality, yet simple and light food & drinks. It’s located right next to the Schwarzenbergpark, a stunningly beautiful area in the Northwest of Vienna great for excursions and walks, so make sure to have some spare time to get a seat. What I really appreciate is that the owners set a strong focus on food products, therefore most of them come from farmers in the adjoining area.

• Address: Exelbergstrasse 32, 1170 Vienna
• Opening Hours: Saturday & Sunday 9.00am – 6.00pm
• Website

The Manameierei in Vienna.

The Manameierei in Vienna. © Manameierei

If you start exploring the area just a little North of Shamian Island (Shamian itself has kept its beauty from the past – only the White Swan Hotel is a more modern building), you’ll walk through a very old part of this city. Of course it’s also interrupted with new buildings, but a lot of the area still has its original charm with “gated” communities. Beside bicycles and electric motorbikes, only pedestrians can be seen here, because the roads and walkways are too narrow for cars.

A city within the city.

Inside such a gated area, you’ll come across lots of vibrant outdoor activities all day long: Elderly residents meet in the street to play a game of Majong, others work out on gymnastic apparatuses and neighbours meet up in front of ones apartment. Washing is hung up in the street, while kids play soccer in some corners and old grannies walk along hand-in-hand in their pyjamas. Every area also has its own ‘shopping centre’ – its actually more like a market area, with all sorts of different stalls. You’ll find everything a Chinese family needs; from household goods, food, live poultry and fish, an adjoining post office, a hairdresser and a tea shop … and sometimes even a gambling shop, where you can play the lottery for example.

The local life here is very peaceful, while the hustle and bustle from the streets outside has no effect within the gates. At least this is what it looked like to us. We’ve never been into one of these flats though. Most probably they’re a bit crammed and small, but the residents still seem to enjoy their lives in the old quarters of Guangzhou.

Walking through the old quarter of Guangzhou is really peaceful and a nice change to the otherwise super busy city.

A typical apartment block in Guangzhou.

A typical apartment building in Guangzhou.

Bicycles are the best way to get around the old quarters in Guangzhou.

Women selling goods at a market in Guangzhou.

Walking along the old quarter in Guangzhou is really relaxing and makes you feel like you’re in a small village out in the countryside.

Many Chinese use a bicycle to get around the side streets of Guangzhou.

Fresh chicken – ready for the pot – at Huayuan market in Guangzhou.

Walking along a side street in the old quarter of Guangzhou.

A group of people playing Mahjong in Guangzhou.