On Friday we walked out of our pension to a clear, crisp sky. With such weather we go to the cathedral for a good look at the interior. This was the unique Gothic building remaining in Baroque Vienna, and certainly a wonderful cathedral. My favourite detail was the pulpit.
Of the many offerings in the Hofburg complex, we decided to visit the Albertina. It is a museum only of drawings and prints, which appealed more than another gallery of paintings. It contained a stunning collection of Michelangelo's drawings that covered his whole life. The preparation drawings for the Sistine Chapel were part of the collection, along with studies he did for sculptures. Having seen several of his works in Italy, seeing the drawings provided insight into how he created great art. Lots of planning and work seemed to be part of the process.
The Albertina also presented an exhibition of William Kentridge's work, a contemporary South African artist who uses drawing as his primary technique. He mixes drawing with video for animation, and also returns video into engaging sets of drawings. I enjoyed seeing some approachable contemporary art.
After returning to pick up our bags, I noticed the Haas Haus in opposite the cathedral - an assertive, interesting modern building.
The late afternoon passed with our train journey to Salzburg, where the snow was deeper and the weather colder.
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