A Ball in Vienna

February 2016
For our 20th anniversary, we decided to recreate our amazing trip to Vienna in 2003, when we attended the Rudolfina Masquerade Ball for our 7th anniversary. And when we arrived in Vienna the night before the 2016 Confectioner's Ball, the guesthouse had left us champagne and chocolates for our anniversary.
The day of the ball, we went sightseeing in Vienna. Here is NANPUG at St Stephan's Cathedral (NANPUG was my employer's mascot, who we were encouraged to take with us on trips).
NANPUG at the Hofburg Palace, where we will go to a BALL TONIGHT!
NANPUG at the Mozart monument...
We stopped for lunch at one of our favorite Vienna cafes, Cafe Palmenhaus. It's essentially a greenhouse near the Palace.
NANPUG luvs him sum Palmenhaus.
Me at the famous Strauss Memorial in the Stadtpark.
NANPUG and Strauss.
Vienna is famous for its Sacher Torte, created EITHER at the Sacher Hotel OR Cafe Demel, depending on who you believe. But Matt insists on sampling both- it's only fair, right? This is Cafe Demel....
....and this is NANPUG at the Hotel Sacher.
That night, we attended the Zucker-Backer Ball (Sugar and Baker's Ball). Small problem: The night before, on the plane, I came down with what turned out to be the most vicious flu ever. I am not feeling well here in the Palace, and all the photos show it....
In the Palace ballroom. I am at this point beginning to hallucinate with fever.
But we stood at the very back of the ballroom (elbows were thrown) to get a good view of the ball festivities.
The Procession of the Debutantes- young Viennese teenagers in classic white ball gowns and tuxes, being presented to society.
The Procession continues.
NANPUG PHOTO BOMB
More debutantes fill the ballroom.
After the debutantes finish their entrance, the Ball hosts and guests of honor file in. Since this is the Sugar-Baker's Ball, the VIPs are all Vienna's pastry chefs.
NANPUG likes debutantes.
After all the debutantes are in formation, and the VIPs and hosts have been presented, then the dance performance begins. Four women perform a ballet in the ballroom's center.