Vienna

Here it is! Finally.. the entry on Vienna! I figured i better finish this entry before i go on my next trip! =)


And so we took an early morning train from Krakow to Vienna.. It was a rather uncomfortable 7hr journey because the cabin was quite stuffy and warm..

Bought the 1L coke bottle with the remaining Polish Zloty (currency)

Going out for some air..

Leaving Poland and entering Austria..

Realised we were both wearing pink!

Almost there.. we can see the city in the background

Train arrived at the South Station..

And of coz we did what was standard procedure by now. Buy train tickets for our journey back to Budapest, locate our hostel, check in, put down our stuff and get into tourist mode! We took a train to Stephansplatz station which was in the middle of the city.. and began our 2 day tour =)

Intro:
Vienna is the capital city of Austria and has a population of about 1.7 million people. Austrians speak German (or an Austrian version of German at least). Vienna was also one of the capitals of the former Austro-Hungarian empire, ruled by the house of Hapsburg. Vienna's historic city center is inscribed on the UNESCO Heritage List. The city is also well known as a "major" arts and cultural center and for its coffee culture =) Wikitravel describes the favourite Vienesse pastime as "to see and be seen".

St Stephen's Cathedral.. (I really don't know how many St Stephen's Cathedrals i've seen in Europe already haha)

Vienna is quite easy to navigate. There's this ring around the city centre, and on this ring road, there are all the major important sights and buildings.. Good way to start!

It's easy to see why the city centre is in the UNESCO list.. almost every building looks pretty =) It's like you don't know whether you should bother taking pictures at all..

Random pretty building #1

The Vienna State Opera House

Fountain outside the Opera house =)

Important guy's statue outside the Hofburg Palace

The Hofburg Palace is a really cool place. Not that we actually went in or what.. but because it has a really open concept. Of course parts of the Palace are not accessible, but what i mean is that there were people tanning in the gardens around it and skateboarding at the steps etc. What makes it really cool is that this "Palace" isn't sealed off.. i call it.. "the people's palace" =)

Leaving the Hofsburg Palace, we walked down Maria-Theresien-Platz.. towards the Museums Quarter.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

Maria Theresa Statue (Kunsthistorisches Museum in the background)

Naturhistorisches Museum

Both the museums above look exactly the same from the outside.. facing each other =)

Sights in the city..

Parliament House

Cute old man in a cute small bike

Rathaus (City Hall.. we came back here the next day as you'll see!)

Singapore should do flower beds as well don't you think?

Burgtheater (The Austrian National Theater)

View of a church from a park

Zanoni and Zanoni Gelataria.. Vienna's most famous Ice Cream place! Cheap and very good..

My European beer tasting adventure continues.. this one tastes like Tiger beer.. not exactly my favourite

Day 2 in Vienna.. decided to start the day early at the markets =)

On the way there.. we saw an Opera Toilet! With classical music and amazing decor..

The Secession Building. Home of the Vienna Secession (Union of Austrian Artists)

First up.. the Naschmarkt:

Yummy sandwich

Wine and oils

Enjoying a morning cup of coffee
This guy is the owner of the place.. he made me cup of Melange which was amazingly rich.
He is so passionate about coffee and was asking me if Singapore has a similar coffee culture.. I told him that i like kopitiam Kopi and described how they made it.. He said: "Oh then the quality must not be so good!"

Bean grinder

Enjoying their "Mocca" (Mocca is basically 1 solid expresso shot)

Random pretty building #2 - Check out the floral facade!

We decided to visit another market, Brunnenmarkt, which according to wikitravel.. was more "local" and less atas..

A 2 storey coffee stand?

They like their cheeses..

Next upull-screen Schloß Schönbrunn (Schonbrunn Palace):

Entrance to the Palace

Horse Carriage tours

Schonbrunn Palace is VERY pretty.. Can't take pictures inside.. but we went on an audio tour.. learnt a lot about the Hapsburgs, Empress Maria Theresia and about the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I must admit i didn't know anything about this empire before.

We did have lots of time to walk around the outsides.. the gardens =)

Privy Gardens:

In the Palace Garden grounds:

Maze and Labyrinth: This was fun haha..

Other things to play with besides the Maze =)

Stepping on the different squares made music..

The little boy fell into the water eventually


I forgot that i can't do portrait for videos.. but tilting your head to watch it is worth it.. turn up the volume and hear Wei Sing scream!

Enough of playing.. time to climb up the steep hill!

Neptune Fountain

View from the top =)

Cute squirrel!

Back at the Rathaus for food drinks and music!

Some sausage and potato thingy..

Bread (i think)

I love the tights

It's a carnival! Check out the hay

I love it when old people are happy and dancing =)

Gösser beer stands (popular Austrian beer)

The Gösser was quite good, but the apple strudel was crap

Accordian trio =)

Interesting Vehicle #1

Interesting Vehicle #2

We wound down our short Vienna tour with a relaxing chill out at Central Cafe.. and we were entertained by an amazing pianist.. He's so cute and does everything so effortlessly.. eyes closed.. enjoying his work =) Why didn't i learn how to play the piano when i was young..? And did i mention the coffee is really good?

Cafe Central

"How long have u been chilling out here for?"

Wombat's Hostel.. i'd recommend it!

Vienna didn't exactly leave a very deep impression. Maybe coz i was a little tired from the whole week of travelling.. But i must say that this city is really nice and atas. If i ever have a chance to come back again.. i'd definitely do things that are more Viennese.. something more "cultural" and arty.. maybe catch a Mozart concerto or theatre of something.. =) You'll definitely need more than 2 days for Vienna!