Goodnight Vienna

It's been a while, about 40 years actually (you could still park your car at the side of the road), since I passed through Vienna last. Was on a road trip, didn't stop long and didn't leave a lasting impression beyond it being expensive. This time we stayed a week and I certainly changed my mind. The architecture is just stunning in design and volume. Every apartment block being so individual, though our first hotel did stand out a bit ...

Hotel Kopling is part of the Kopling Foundation, an early social reformer and trades union organiser, the hotels are accessible and affordable and somewhat colourful - Marilyn was attending an international conference there.

Mid week we decamped to a more bohemian area and the Austria Trends Hotel in the Favoutienstrasse - can well recommend for friendliness, value for money and room size. Must also mention the integrated transport system of bus/tram/u-bahn et al and the pricing system of one price for one journey in the city - thought Prague was pretty well organised but Vienna outshines :) 

saintly Karl :)

You can tour the city ring by taking the tram #1 to the river Wien, hop off and down to the artificial beach riverside + cheap drinks with the students, then back on tram #2 - knocks the spots off the official city tours ;)















The centre is currently wall to wall Amadeus - love the statue and floral tribute ..








Wonderful parks and grand houses ..

Belvedere:

Schoenbrunn:

Also did an interesting twist on the mirrored 'selfie'

Then it was off in the steps of Orson Wells in search of the Third Man :)

"So what if half a dozen of those small dots
down there stopped moving?"

At the base of the ferris wheel is an exhibition, inside old carriages, of significant periods in the parks development, including:

in its heyday

its destruction in the war

To escape the bustle of the city there are some quiet leafy walks (or cycle/nordic walk/skate - boarding whatever) along the Donauinsel, a long island twix river and canal - also home to the annual Donnauinselfest. 






Also on the bank, in Uno City, is a tall TV tower. Protruding from the top is a platform to which I quiped it would make a great bungee jump. Read the blue banner on the side and, yes, that's exactly what it is!





Vienna had an amazing street market, the Nachtmarkt, two lanes, about quater of a mile long, with food, spices n drinks from all over the world at really descent prices - the colours and smells are just divine. Whilst Vienna is not a leader in veggie food it is getting better and there are some notable eateries. As well as those in the Nachtmarkt, just off and up some steps leading through a passage is Nice Rice to be highly commended for its soup and mango lassi. Yamm has a very different concept, an incredible veggie buffet where you pay by weight of food. Finally within the student area of the inner Museumplatz, opposite the School of Architecture is Corbaci - food to die for - esp spinach dumplings in melted goats cheese sauce and apple strudle spring rolls in a divine custard :-p

The courtyard area was strewn with plastic recliners where singles/couples/foursomes can sit/lounge/lay and chillax.

... but all good things must come to an end, so it was goodnight Vienna - until the next time.

.... and on return the garden had burst into life

and Wimbledon was on :)

Cummon Andy !