Grüß Gott from Vienna!

You already know that the Danube metropolis is one of my favorite cities. The good thing is: Vienna also offers the returning traveler undiscovered and inspiring things. A highlight of my current stay in Vienna is the visit to the State Hall in the Austrian National Library. In the 18th century by Emperor Karl VI. commissioned, the State Hall is one of the most beautiful and spectacular libraries in the world with 200,000 books from four centuries. Already last year an exhibition about the great Maria Theresia was shown in this impressive ambience. This year I was tempted by an exhibition about the secrets of the Freemasons in the Hofburg: 300 years of Masons – the real secret. Absolutely worthwhile with interesting insights and backgrounds about the mystery and myths entwined secret society. Unfortunately, only shown until January 7, 2018!

The Prunksaal in der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, the State Hall in the Austrian National Library

As art is known to make you hungry, you can go to the Café Francais after, where you will find typical French snacks such as the wonderful ‘Salade Paris’. A MUST are the homemade fries: Just yummy, especially the curry dip! A good choice for lunch is the Café Le Bol – popular not only because of the delicious salad variations. Speaking of delicious: Breakfast I had in the dairy farm this time. Picturesquely located on the Danube Canal in the midst of the Vienna City Park, the dependance of the star Restaurant Steirereck actually resides on the foundations of a former dairy farm, where dairy products were produced in the Emperors time. The owners of the Steirereck – the Reitbauer family – have made this a duty and offer here alone 150 cheese specialties, which the guest selects under the expert advice of the cheese sommelier.

Me infront of the “Madonna with child” at the Albertina

For all Old Master fans, a visit to the Raffael exhibition shown in the Albertina is a MUST. Again, there is a hurry, because the exhibition will only be shown until January 7th. (For this there will be a detailed report on MyStylery). After so much enjoyment of art, it takes a little breather – or should I say a sugar shock? On to the Christmas decorated Hotel Sacher for a hot chocolate and a piece of the same named cake. Both of course with whipped cream – let’s go the whole hog! I do not just love the culinary here. The lavish decor at the Sacher just now at Christmas time is beautiful and a feast for the eyes.

Vienna – City of lights. I never get tired looking at this splendor. Is there anything comparable?

Afterwards, the calories burn up almost by itself, because let’s go to the Christmas market. This year, for the first time, I visit the market in front of Belvedere Palace, where I admire the magnificent rooms of the Upper Belvedere and the artworks on display there. Above all, of course, the famous works of Gustav Klimt: ‘The Kiss’ and the portrait of the beautiful Judith Holofernes.

The Christmas Market infront of the Schloss Belvedere – too beautiful

In Vienna you let yourself drift through the streets, immerse yourself in the centuries-old architecture of the Inner City, which is so authentically and wonderfully preserved that it would not be surprising if Mozart and his contemporaries suddenly stood face to face. I look forward to the evening and the upcoming premiere of Joseph Roth’s Radetzky March at the Burgtheater. Unfortunately, I did not particularly like the staging, but the more impressive ambience of this world class theater.

The restaurant Salon Plafond is very popular in Vienna. Tip: When reserving ask for a place inside. It’s way too cold on the window side

The culinary question of the evening will be answered with a visit to the Salon Plafond restaurant. We enjoy duck and scampi, the beautiful interior and the friendly service alike. The newcomer to Vienna’s Gastro scene ‚Spelunke‘ is also in great demand (reserve on time !!!) and popularity. Unfortunately, I had to cancel my table because the performance at the Burgtheater took three and a half hours. From the Burgtheater, I took a direct course on a nightcap towards the trendy Bar Fabios , where fabulous cocktails make up for a lot of things. Also about the approaching farewell. But Vienna, you know, I’ll be back!  BvH

Looking for some Christmas presents – it’s never too late ;-))

Magnificent light!

Breakfast in the Meierei (dairy farm) is served from 8 am to 12 noon. A reservation is advisable on the weekend and during Christmas time…

…We chose cheese omelettes and the Viennese breakfast with its excellent apricot jam and homemade bread…

The expert’s advice of the cheese sommelier

Strolling through Vienna with my lovely daughter

The famous but incomplete Wenceslas Bible from the 14th century at the State Hall of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

At Café Francais you will find typical French snacks such as the wonderful ‘Salade Paris’…

…A MUST are the homemade fries: Just yummy, especially the curry dip!

Also a good choice: Café Le Bol – Who loves soups and salads, is at the right place here

Vienna in the Christmas glow: what an opulence, what a glamor! For me, Vienna is by far the most beautifully decorated city in the Christmas season

Impressing: The State Hall of Schloss Belvedere…

In the Belvedere the permanent collection of important impressionists and expressionists is shown and finally I could admire Gustav Klimt’s portrait of the beautiful Judith Holofernes …

…and also “The Kiss”

The best hot chocolate is available at the Hotel Sacher!

…Of course with fresh whipped cream…

…and in an elegant atmosphere

Vienna is always good for a surprise: Suddenly I find myself in this dreamlike staircase again, an architectural jewel in the 1st district

Window shopping in the festively decorated Vienna: The shopping heart is laughing

In the 7th district make a detour at Lena Hoschek . Here, the Austrian designer has a charming boutique with a living room atmosphere and lovely details in the midst of the romantic Spittelberg district

Bye bye Vienna…

Tip for Vienna:

Book your taxi from Schwechat Airport to the city (and back) online in advance on flextaxi-flughafentaxi.at at a very low fixed price!

The post A perfect day in Vienna III appeared first on My Stylery.

The Christkindlmarkt am Rathaus and the sparkling sea of lights

I just came back from Vienna and I can only say: what a wonderful and beautiful city. Especially now during the Christmas season it seems like a magical atmosphere you cannot get rid of. Strolling over the Christmas markets in front of historical backdrops like the town hall or castle Schönbrunn, warming oneself up at café Central or café Landtmann whilst drinking a hot chocolate (of course with cream!), marvelling at the festively decorated streets Herrengasse or Graben … Vienna offers a lot more than that. I will tell you my favourite tips.

The ‚Motto am Fluss’ in the ship station of the Donau river with restaurant and café

For breakfast go to the Donau. The café ‚Motto am Fluss‘ is perfect for every late riser – you can have breakfast until 4 pm and meanwhile enjoy the view on the water of the river. The foundation for my upcoming day: scrambled eggs with homemade bread and yummy-guacamole.

Scrambled eggs with homemade bread and yummy-guacamole

From there I start my shopping tour: I’m heading towards the big streets like Tuchlauben and small side streets around the Stephansplatz. It’s a must see, also because of the impressive lightening. Tip: have a look at boutique ‘Inked’ with labels like Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, Vince or Vanessa Bruno.

Inked Boutique in the center of Vienna

At Albertina you can see the Edvard Munch exhibition until the 24th of January 2016 (later more). Even the Habsburger Prunkräume (the Habsburg’s rooms) can be compared with an opulent orgy and are a great alternative to the Sissi apartments in the Hofburg, where you’ll always find long queues.

Mecca of art: The Albertina

After so much art I need a snack. No, I’m NOT going to opposite Café Mozart or in the neighbouring Café Sacher: I choose the Tirolerhof, a true insider tip and one of the last institutions under the coffee houses, in which one will meet true Viennese people. Including grumpy waiters.

A Viennese coffee house legend: The Tirolerhof

Apropos: my Viennese friend Yella recommends the tiny restaurant ‚Zum Johann‘ at Lerchenfelderstraße, the demarcation line between seventh and eighth district. There, ex-advertiser and passionate man-in-the-kitchen Gregor Panis serves delicious small dishes, including small talk and meetings with the regular guests. And of course everyone is from Vienna. Tip: call and order in advance.

‘Zum Johann‘: fine cuisine at only 20 square meters. Since one year Gregor Panis serves Austrian specialities – prior from the ‘Bucklige Welt’ and selected wines. Every Wednesday is mother’s day. Then Gregors mother cooks, for example stuffed peppers

‘Gemüsepfanne’ with zucchini, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, parsnips, tomatoes, squash and freshly picked rosemary. Served with yogurt sour cream: Delicious!

My trip continues by walking into the seventh district, the home of the youngsters and those young at heart in chic old buildings. Here you’ll find trendy cafés and restaurants, nice little shops and a harmonic Christmas market at Spittelberg that goes around Stift- and Gutenberggasse. I stroll through the Burggasse and discover Eva-Maria Thalhammers pop up-store at Gutenberggasse, who presents antiques and beautiful things in shabby-chic atmosphere until the end of December.

The purest treasure trove: Eva-Maria Thalhammer in her Pop Up-Store

At Westbahnstraße I find the Epicerie ‘Un Jour en France’ and the boutique ‘Comerc’ and so I end up in another café – yes, this is how it works when you’re in Vienna – the ‘Toma tu Tiempo’ with a Spanish menu and a small, cosy oven.

The Café ‘Toma tu Tiempo‘ in the Zieglergasse in the seventh district

The day ends like it started. Nearly. Because then I go to ‘Motto’ again. But this time I go to the newly renovated restaurant-dependence in the fifth district. Dining in ultra-chic ambient, drinking and dancing (later in the evening), elegant, hip people. The food (for example the curry with vegetables and bio-chicken or the three falafels) is simply delicious, although the service could be better. It was still a wonderful evening in a marvellous city. BvH

Behind an inconspicuous door you’ll find the legend of a restaurant: Motto. 2015 it was completely new designed and is now super trendy. Photo: Motto

The Motto, a place for night owls, who like to come for the legendary beef tatar or the baked ham pasta

Shabby chic, raw charm of industry and bare walls meet comfortable benches in a rich tone of green. Photo: Motto

A little bit of Spain in the seventh district …

… in the ‘Toma tu Tiempo‘

Having the honor

France is just around the corner on the Westbahnstraße: The Epicerie ‘Un jour en France‘

Rip, rip with the credit card at the ‘Comerc‘ Store

Eldorado for nostalgics in the antique shop on the Westbahnstraße

Pop Up-Store in the Gutenberggasse …

… with lovingly selected ancient artefacts and rarities

Vienna, only you …

There are lots of traditional Viennese Coffee Houses in the centre of the city, but only a few that aren’t tourist traps:

… exposed but somehow still hidden: the Café Tirolerhof. Not a really big name, no attraction, nearly an insider tip

The Habsburg’s rooms at the ‘Albertina‘. In addition, the Albertina contains one of the most important graphic collections in the world

Me and the tree: When Archduchess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg, wife of Archduke Karl, was planning the first Christmas in the audience hall of her palatial residential palace, today the Albertina, she decided to continue with the Protestant custom of a “Grass Tree” in Vienna because of her six children

Hall of the Muses at Albertina

Since 2007, the Habsburg’s rooms radiate after renovation in new splendor

The ‘Spanish apartment’ was created in 1895 as a permanent residence of the Spanish royal family, who lodged here until 1918 during her frequent stays in Vienna

… Shall be the city of my dreams

One of the most stylish interior shops in Vienna: Eva-Maria Thonet in the first district

The Hofburg with the apartments of Empress Sissi

Impressive Christmas lights in the Inner City. Here: Graben …

… and the Herrengasse

Popular – and therefore well attended – the Christmas market in front of a historic backdrop: Schloss Schönbrunn. Tip: Avoid weekends and go during the week!

Just a perfect day!

Restaurant ‘Motto am Fluss‘ with outdoor deck …

… and Café …

In this furnace, the mega-delicious Marianne-bread is baked! Sooooo good!

And because MyStylery loves the ‘motto’ so much, here again is another view!

Bye bye ‘Motto’, see you soon Vienna!

Contacts:

Café Motto am Fluss
Franz Josefs Kai 2
1010 Wien
(Between Marienbrücke and Schwedenbrücke)
www. mottoamfluss.at

Motto
Schönbrunner Straße 30
1050 Wien
www.motto.at

Boutique Inked
Bauernmarkt 15 & 16
1010 Wien
www.inked.at

Albertina
Albertinaplatz 1
1010 Wien
www.albertina.at

Tirolerhof
Führichgasse 8
1010 Wien

Zum Johann
Lerchenfelderstraße 104
1080 Wien
www.zumjohann.at

Toma tu Tiempo
Zieglergasse 44
1070 Wien
www.tomatutiempo.at

The post A perfect day in Vienna appeared first on My Stylery.

Baron Enno von Ruffin says about himself that he’s a ‘car-driving rambler’

“The baron is coming in a second”, says the friendly woman and pleases me to wait. And then he’s standing in front of me – in red cords, a for him typical cardigan, of course with a breast pocket handkerchief: Baron Enno von Ruffin falls down on his sofa in his salon. “There was a problem with the cables for the Christmas illumination”, he explains his delay whilst being a little bit out of breath. But everything is sorted now. Like always. Even after 2 a.m., when a hotel guest stands in front of his door – without a key. Then it’s Ennos mobile phone that rings.

Since 400 years, Gut Basthorst is the home for the Ruffin family

Since 35 years Enno von Ruffin is leading Gut Basthorst in Schleswig-Holstein, a 650 hectares big estate, which includes next to its agriculture a company for gardening and landscaping, as well as a hotel and gastronomy with its own Basthorst Bier. And since 400 years, Gut Basthorst is the home for the Ruffin family that originally comes from Bavaria and Meran in Tirol. This is where Enno was born. Where he was raised. He knows every corner, every tree, and every shrub. He went to the village school, pending between mornings and afternoons, because there was only one classroom. Afterwards Enno has been sent to boarding school. At this stage he was only ten years old. He couldn’t really cope with the rough world of boarding. Suddenly there were different rules. Rules, which didn’t include cigarettes, beer or girls – Enno was, as a lover of liberty, truly not a fan of these rules. “In fact I was an easy child”, says Enno and grins. “Others probably saw that differently”. So he changed the boarding schools in periodically intervals, “I have no idea how many.” His protest against the establishment, “but never against the family.”

The manor: in the former private rooms of the old Baroness – the mother of Enno von Ruffin – today the hotel resides

After school he went to Bavaria, was lieutenant for the mountain infantry, completed an agricultural apprenticeship earlier. And spent one year near Dallas, where he dealed with the American agriculture. It seemed to be fascinating and deterred at the same time. This anonymity. “There was no caregiver, nothing familiar.” Instead there were miles of fields. “This literally broadened my horizon.” Enno von Ruffin returned to Germany to his home in Schleswig-Holstein. Because it was clear; he as the male heir takes over the farm and the responsibility for the business and the therefore involved people. At just 27 years of age. He structured, modernized, rented the empty buildings to craftsmen. The former horse stable nowadays contains an inn; events take place in the barns, from dog competitions to the ‘Players Night’ – a night where the polo cup, which regularly takes place at Basthorst, is celebrated.

In the former horse stable – built in 1913 by the ancestors of the Ruffin family, the Brusselles – visitors will find a comfortable restaurant, in which German cuisine is served

Basthorst is popular for its seasonal markets. Next weekend starts this years Christmas market. Ten thousands of visitors will come to attune themselves to the Advent season with Negus and deer-sausages. And to sing Christmas songs with Vicky Leandros. In the mid 80s Enno von Ruffin gets to know the famous singer in the once legendary Hamburg nightclub ‘Insel’ (island). First he didn’t know who she is; he did one of his flippant slogans, which she skillfully parried. He introduced her to his – luckily relatively liberal – parents so that Vicky’s Greek origin or the “standardized marriage” were no obstacles. Today they are amicably seperated.

The pond of the village lies romantically in the middle of the hundreds of years old building-ensemble

35 employees and a diversity of temporary workers take care of the farm estate. “I am farmer”, says Enno von Ruffin, “I don’t want to look after chair covers.” The animal husbandry – pigs, cows, sheep, chicken with which Enno grew up – have been abolished in the 60s. Now there are horses again, because Ennos companion, the Swedish Estelle Rytterborg, is a passionate show jumper. A passion that unifies both and nearly leads to a disaster: in fast gallop Enno fell from his horse, suffers from a life-threatening breach in his lungs. “Such incisions make you humble”, he says in thoughts. Since then he doesn’t smoke anymore. “Sometimes I drink enough”, he laughs. Enno enjoys skiing in Kitzbühel during his holidays and says about himself that he’s a ‘car-driving rambler’. “I got calmer, don’t have to attend every party.” The wild times are over now.

Enno von Ruffin with companion Estelle Rytterborg

What is from true importance? The family. Of course. The children Leo, Milana and Sandra. His companion Estelle and her daughter Pauline. Friendships. Basthorst. Milana, who’s meanwhile mother of two children, is going to take over Gut Basthorst one day. Gradually, how Enno von Ruffin emphasizes. Sometimes. Because he cannot completely release: “I always have an ear on the yard.” If it’s raining inside or if the wind whips off the tiles of the roof: it will be his phone, which rings. BvH

Christmas market in Basthorst

Tip:

The Christmas market at Gut Basthorst is one of the most beautiful in North Germany. It starts on the 20th of November (except the 22nd of November) and will be open all Advent weekends: from Friday until Sunday 300 exhibitors offer handcrafts and regional specialties in harmonic atmosphere.
Friday the 27th of November Vicky Leandros is doing a Christmas benefit concert in favor of ‘Ein Herz für Kinder’ (‘a heart for children’). You can auction a VIP-Christmas Tree that will be signed by celebrities like Udo Lindenberg, H.P. Baxter, Johannes B. Kerner, and others.

About the antique secretary the coat of arms of the ancestors

“I’m a human of yard and family, this is what makes my day”, says Enno von Ruffin, who is accompanied by the two Jack Russell terriers Lion and Trouper at every step

Shopping at Gut Basthorst: in the outbuildings of the yard are several shops that invite to further shopping experiences

Over all reigns the neo-Gothic, evangelist Granit church St. Marien – with Baron Enno von Ruffin as patron

Diverse trades have been established at Gut Basthorst: a shoemaker and bassoon-maker, a glider and a felt maker …

… There’s an antiques shop and boutiques for fashion, presents as well as a distillery, a bakery and a whisky-storage

Always with Enno von Ruffin: Lion and Trouper. Sweet!

Pure nature: Gast Basthorst in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Accession at Gut Basthorst is an original ‘Holzhäuserl’ (house out of wood) from Tirol …

… marvelous lodge-feeling – for this no one has to drive to Austria

Impressions of the countryside …

… and one photo opportunity more beautiful than the other

Enno von Ruffin and me

Contact:

Gut Basthorst
Auf dem Gut 3
21493 Basthorst, Germany

www.gut-basthorst.de

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