Vienna City Austria - day two

Monday 10^th June

Just a short update, we`ve been in the city most of the day and I must say, having some knowledge of where we are, and where we`re going and how to get where we want to go, makes it much more enjoyable.

We came back early to Ed and Louis, had some tea and we`re going back into town for the night bus tour when the buildings should be lit up so I`m looking forward to that.

Update later………

Well, the night tour was actually a little disappointing in that it wasn't night, or at least dark so it was only at the end of the tour that the buildings started to be illuminated. It started at 8pm until 9pm but would have been better if it went on until 10pm really. Re-walking the route to get the photos wasn't really an option !

It was still nice to see the city again.

It is a city of contrasts though, there are some beautiful palaces and buildings of many uses with amazing architecture, then there are many, many bland non descript buildings.

As for museums and art galleries, you could probably spend the rest of your days wandering around them, they are vast and plentyful.

The Danube waterfront is a bit of mystery too. Most of it is not even accessible from what we could see and the bits of waterfront in the city looked really scruffy and downbeat with lots of concrete and graffiti decoration. I think the city council are probably working to improve things, but when compared to the elegant embankments in London they have a long way to go.

We have so much to be thankful for in the UK.

Outside the city there seems to be a 200/300 yard border of grass and wetlands between the river and road, so again not that accessible.

Other parts may be better and more accessible but I've just based this on the small part of the city and surrounding area that we saw.

For all this it is a beautiful city well with a visit.

This morning we took the hop on hop off bus first for a Danube tour and after that up to a panoramic viewing point at Kehlenberg that overlooks the city.

This route took us through the famous woods if Vienna that encircle the city on three sides and are thankfully protected against further development.

We also called in at the famous wine producing town of  Grinzing.

One of the things that struck us and impressed us most about Vienna is how clean and litter free everywhere is. None of the chewing gum, fag ends, and food packaging litter that blight most UK town centres. 

Everyone seems to take a pride in their town which is something we could learn from the Austrians.

We were much better organized today and it helped that we knew where to go so it was a very enjoyable day in Vienna.

The weather is glorious and has been all week but walking in the city in this heat is very draining.

We hear the UK is a little soggy at the moment.

Tomorrow we head south west to a little village I like the sound of.

It's still in Austria, but is enroute to Slovenia and Croatia.

We have aching feet but have enjoyed our time in Vienna.

Various views from around Vienna and the Danube

Do you think the lady cab driver wanted no photos ???

Old Vienna city walls

Vienna City Austria - day one

Sunday 9^th June

Vienna has some magnificent buildings, the problem is getting around to see them all.

If we were here a month I think we would only scratch the surface.

The nice bits you want to see are spread out, and in between are bland buildings you don`t want to see.

Much of Vienna was flattened in WWll, some has been rebuilt sympathetically as it was before the war, but a lot of the buildings are 1950 and 1960`s designs.

After a bit of research, we booked a hop on hop off bus tour of the city.

There are actually four different coloured routes and we booked a two day ticket to do them all for 70 euro. 

There is also a night tour and walking tour included as well but I don`t think Sue is up for those.

It`s a big city and even with the hop on hop off arrangement and Sue found it hard going in the heat.

We`d left Louis in Ed the van with roof lights open for ventilation, food, water and the cooling fan blowing. The van doesn`t get as hot in the sun as say a car does, so I think he was happier there.

We started off on the Red route and took a complete circuit of the inner city sights then we decided to make our way to SchönbrunnPalace which comes as highly recommended.

It`s a huge building and the gardens seem to go on for ever, quite similar to Versailles.

At the ticket office the queue was endless and lady helper informed us they were now selling tickets for tours in four hours time !

Thankfully most of the gardens are free to enter, not all of course, they still charge for the Orangery, the Maze, the Privy garden and no doubt some other bits.

Anyway we chose to have a wander around the gardens and they were quite impressive in terms of scale as you will see from the photographs.

By now it was getting on for 3pm so we made our way back to Louis and thankfully he was fine having enjoyed a long sleep.

Tomorrow we have it all to do again, we`ll try and do the other two bus routes and no doubt get off somewhere for a wander.

I had wanted to go to the Spanish Riding School and see the Lipizzaner horses.

I`ve no special interest in horses but I`ve always been impressed by the synchronised shows.

Anyway, guess what ? all booked up until Tuesday. So another blank there.

Never mind, there`s still plenty to see.

Mondsee to Vienna Austria

Saturday 8^th June

Well, we made it !

Vienna, about as far east as we`re going.

No incidents to report, no more road kill except for dozens of bugs who threw themselves on the front of Ed.

Our public car park overnight parking spot in Mondsee turned out to be very quiet and peaceful.

We set off for Vienna without hanging around, just as Mondsee was waking up and shoppers were making their way into town.

A  top up with diesel for us and we were on our way.

Cheap diesel as well by the way, 119.00 euro per litre, just over a £1, that was a surprise being in Austria.

It was motorway all the way to Vienna.

Through Bavaria, the snow capped peaks of the Alps had been a constant sight to our right as we headed east. Now in Austria they were much less obvious, from our route on the motorway anyway.

The Austrian countryside was attractive, without being outstanding.

It was a similar scene that could be found on any UK motorway crossing countryside.

I thought the Bavarian countryside was more beautiful and interesting.

Fortunately there were no holdups today, a clear run all the way.

The approach into Vienna was quite flat for the most part, and it is quite a large busy city with skyscrapers.

We haven`t seen much of it so far but I scouted out the nearest underground station earlier and we`ll be heading into the city tomorrow.

Our first choice campsite was booked up when we got there so we ended up at Camping Neue Donau (GPS 48.20812 16.4458).
It sits next to the Danube but we can`t see it from where we are.

It`s much closer to the city and there is a little noise from the motorway but apart from that it`s a nice site.

No photographs for today but sure to be plenty tomorrow.

Have a good weekend folks !

                                           Mondsee to Vienna by motorway

Mondsee to Vienna by non - motorway. As you can see it puts a considerable amount of time onto the journey. That Go Box is paying dividends !