Vienna Day 2 Austria

Stay: Kritzendorf as per last night.
Visited: Vienna

We set off for Vienna just after 8 and took a couple of trams around the ring road with an audioguide telling us all the interesting facts. Originally there was a wall surrounding the city and this was pulled down to create the Ringstrasse 150 years ago. It is said that it is the most beautiful boulevard in the world. It certainly does have some amazing buildings along it.  

Before we completed the full loop we hopped off and went to see the very impressive Neo-Gothic Votiv Church built in 1879. 

Every painter should a ladder like this!

We then poked around the university built in Italian High Renaissance style in 1873. 

Many famous people were educated here. 

Our next stop was the City Hall (Rathause) where the mayor has his office. We did a tour here later.
Opposite from here is the Burgtheater where the best actors from the German speaking world perform.

 We walked through a rose garden 

before having a look at Parliament house with its famous Pallas Athene fountain. 

We then doubled back and had lunch at the food circus in front of the City Hall. There was food from many different counties on offer...even Australia, but they only looked at us funny when we asked them for a meat pie and a chiko roll! 

Another beer to try!

The City Hall:

We then did an hour tour of the City Hall and then hurried back to Parliament House to catch their tour but missed out...oh well can't see everything! Many of the tours are on the hour which makes it hard to go from one to another. Bearing this in mind we thought we would get the 3pm tour of the Opera House. We walked along the Ringstrasse and while we waited we sampled an ice-cream. 

We saw some lovely decorated rooms of the Opera, the back stage and then sat in the stalls. A full house is 2200 - 1700 seats (up to €270) and 500 standing (from €2 that can only be bought on the day). Prices depend on the performance costs ie how big the orchestra is or how many performers are in the opera or ballet. 

We then had a look at the outside of the Art and History Museums before returning to the city centre and stopping for a beer. 

As the weather was better today we went back to have a look and audioguide tour of the exterior of St Stephans cathedral and took some more photos! 

The old world is reflected in the modern one...

It was time to call it a day and we got some fishnchips for dinner before hopping on the 6:30pm train. A 10 hour day..it can be exhausting this tourist caper!

And another different beer...still haven't found one I can't drink!