Capt Lightning
Well-known Member
- Location
- Historic Buchan, Scotland
Hi all, just back from Vienna. Overall it was a pretty good holiday although I wouldn't rush back there.
It was my first time using Easyjet (a large UK budget airline), but it was OK. Nice, clean, comfortable modern plane, but boarding was more like a riot. No room for hand luggage, so it was placed in the hold for free. We left on time and landed on time. On trying to disembark (British do not 'deplane'), a rather obese gentleman squashed his way up the aisle and removed his bag from the locker above our seat. We thanked him for
preventing us taking our bag on board, but I don't think he understood sarcasm. However things went fine and the taxi driver was waiting for us.
Our hotel was in a side street and had no 'kerb appeal' at all. Inside was very 'chunky' - very thick walls and marble floors. I don't know how old the building was, but at some time last century it was a girls' school. Anyway, our room was great - large, with a king size bed, sofa, armchairs, coffee table etc.. and overlooking a courtyard garden. We had free WiFi, but no UK channels on the TV.
As an added benefit, there were a dozen or so restaurants and bars within a few minutes walk.
Now, Vienna itself was a bit of a mix.. The architecture in the city centre area is magnificant and of course there are centuries of history to go with it. Now for the bad bit.. Even on a cool mid-week, mid-March morning, the place was crowded. Tour party after tour party, costumed ticket sellers at every corner, and of course the cost of everything. Sure, the cathedral is 'free' to go into, but if you want to see anything, that will be €6. Want to see the crypt - that's another €6, and the tower, you've guessed it - €6.
Then there's the National library. You follow the signs up several flights of stairs to see the grand hall, only to find that you need to buy a ticket from the kiosk on the ground floor.
When you've seen the sights, got the T-shirt and bought a china mug with a print by Gustav Klimt, it's time to stroll down Graben, the main shopping street. At least it doesn't cost anything to look in the windows of the high-end, designer-lable shops. If you have any money left, why not spend it for a ride on the Prater Ferris wheel (Built in 1897 and featured in "The Third Man" and James Bond stories). This may not compare with the London Eye, but it must be the world's biggest Meccano set!
Well, we saw the attractions, but the crowds, queues and cost spoiled the experience. We spent much of remaining time exploring (ie getting lost) in the city streets. This was much better fun - we found street markets, shopping centres and the boss took C&A by storm and bought some summer clothes for her next girlie trip to Bologna. There is also a rather unique aquarium which is housed over 6 floors in a WW2 flak tower. (C&A is a large Dutch clothing store that no longer trades in the UK, but is in most European cities)
We spent our last day in the nearby Spa town of Baden. It was a nice change from the city. Mrs L found a button shop - yes, a shop that sold buttons, and she just had to buy some. The owner admitted that it was a rather niche market.
The journey back was uneventful. Again the plane was on time and there was no problem with overhead locker space. We arrived back on time, and guess what - it started snowing!
View taken from the Ferris wheel - just like a huge Meccano set.
It was my first time using Easyjet (a large UK budget airline), but it was OK. Nice, clean, comfortable modern plane, but boarding was more like a riot. No room for hand luggage, so it was placed in the hold for free. We left on time and landed on time. On trying to disembark (British do not 'deplane'), a rather obese gentleman squashed his way up the aisle and removed his bag from the locker above our seat. We thanked him for
preventing us taking our bag on board, but I don't think he understood sarcasm. However things went fine and the taxi driver was waiting for us.
Our hotel was in a side street and had no 'kerb appeal' at all. Inside was very 'chunky' - very thick walls and marble floors. I don't know how old the building was, but at some time last century it was a girls' school. Anyway, our room was great - large, with a king size bed, sofa, armchairs, coffee table etc.. and overlooking a courtyard garden. We had free WiFi, but no UK channels on the TV.
As an added benefit, there were a dozen or so restaurants and bars within a few minutes walk.
Now, Vienna itself was a bit of a mix.. The architecture in the city centre area is magnificant and of course there are centuries of history to go with it. Now for the bad bit.. Even on a cool mid-week, mid-March morning, the place was crowded. Tour party after tour party, costumed ticket sellers at every corner, and of course the cost of everything. Sure, the cathedral is 'free' to go into, but if you want to see anything, that will be €6. Want to see the crypt - that's another €6, and the tower, you've guessed it - €6.
Then there's the National library. You follow the signs up several flights of stairs to see the grand hall, only to find that you need to buy a ticket from the kiosk on the ground floor.
When you've seen the sights, got the T-shirt and bought a china mug with a print by Gustav Klimt, it's time to stroll down Graben, the main shopping street. At least it doesn't cost anything to look in the windows of the high-end, designer-lable shops. If you have any money left, why not spend it for a ride on the Prater Ferris wheel (Built in 1897 and featured in "The Third Man" and James Bond stories). This may not compare with the London Eye, but it must be the world's biggest Meccano set!
Well, we saw the attractions, but the crowds, queues and cost spoiled the experience. We spent much of remaining time exploring (ie getting lost) in the city streets. This was much better fun - we found street markets, shopping centres and the boss took C&A by storm and bought some summer clothes for her next girlie trip to Bologna. There is also a rather unique aquarium which is housed over 6 floors in a WW2 flak tower. (C&A is a large Dutch clothing store that no longer trades in the UK, but is in most European cities)
We spent our last day in the nearby Spa town of Baden. It was a nice change from the city. Mrs L found a button shop - yes, a shop that sold buttons, and she just had to buy some. The owner admitted that it was a rather niche market.
The journey back was uneventful. Again the plane was on time and there was no problem with overhead locker space. We arrived back on time, and guess what - it started snowing!
View taken from the Ferris wheel - just like a huge Meccano set.
