Our first stop was Mozarthaus, the apartment where Mozart spent most of his golden years. Although Mozart was born in Salzburg, it was in this apartment in Vienna that he composed some of his greatest works, including famous operas such as the Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute. This apartment was also Mozart’s most expensive home as he acquired it at his peak when he was a fast-rising celebrity with considerable wealth.

I have always been a fan of classical music, probably due to my exposure to this particular genre of music during the most impressionable years of my life.

So there I was, in Mozart’s house, like an inquisitive little girl with endless questions about his life and his incredible works. I felt an immense sense of satisfaction after I completed the informative tour, which really quenched my thirst for knowledge. I gained insights into the series of events that had an impact on his works and achievements as well as the various people in his life who supported and believed in him, thereby leading to his success and ironically, his eventual downfall as well.

If you are interested, you can also read more about my love for classical music here. I’ll be very happy to hear from fellow classical music lovers, so do drop me a note if you’re one too! 🙂

In the mean time, here are some of Mozart’s immortal works for your listening and viewing pleasure!

For those of you who are interested to learn more about Mozart, you may also wish to watch the movie Amadeus for a quick introduction. Here’s a trailer that I found on youtube. 😉

As morbid as it sounds, the tune is strangely evocative of tragic love, where the couple is resigned to their fate and have finally found peace in death. The melancholic melody, especially in the solo piano section, is mysterious and dramatic yet inexplicably serene.

Camel is the new black for Fall 2010. I’ve always loved this colour but I didn’t know that this was THE colour for fall this year, at least not till I hit the stores and flipped through the magazines.

I like red too, but I don’t usually wear a lot of this colour for some reason. Coincidentally, bright red is another exciting hue to watch out for this season.

Mix these two colours together and voila, you’re all ready to paint the streets red this fall! Who would have thought that red and camel were such a good match?

Several anecdotes revolving around the Sacher Torte have been circulated over the years, including speculations that the cake’s recipe, which remains a closely-guarded secret today, was later perfected by his son, Eduard. The cake was then sold at Demel Bakery and Hotel Sacher, a hotel founded by Eduard.

On the other hand, the apple strudel (another Viennese delicacy!) was a delight to savour. The Viennese love strudels and they sell it with various types of fillings. I chose the traditional apple strudel. Yummy!

What I loved most was the ambience of the cafe, which was largely attributed to the opulent baroque style furnishings, ornate wallpaper and ceiling fixtures. And there I was, sipping my favourite bitter lemon drink and nibbling on sweet treats in the lap of luxury. Talk about pure, unadulterated bliss!

Most importantly, these positive attributes permeate practically every stratum of its society, creating a wonderful living experience for inhabitants and visitors alike.

So enthralled am I by what this city has to offer that if I could choose to live in another city outside of Singapore, Vienna would most definitely top my list!

Thanks to the French who were on strike due to pension reforms, I had every reason to make a stop at Chanel@31 Rue Cambon.

We had so much fun and were all in stitches after numerous rounds of drinking games and flowing alcohol. After finishing more than 10 bottles among us, it was a miracle that most of us managed to walk out of the chalet sober at 4am.

Here’s what I got for my dear friend:

The guys and girls at the party:

Some of you may recall that I purchased this pair of towering platforms a while ago. Here, I paired it with a slouchy beige minimalist top with black high waist pants, not my usual style, but I figured it doesn’t hurt to be more adventurous sometimes.