Vienna....
A city that has existed near the Danube River from 5th century before Christ. From the Celts, to the Romans and to the glorious history of the Habsburg empire for seven centuries, I think this place is so rich with History that I better revisit her.
Language spoken predominantly is German. Yes, it was taken by Hitler and it has witnessed the Jewish annexation in its full brutality.
My trip to Vienna was partly my brain child ..aha! That was a smart move. As I had to reach Gibraltar, it did not matter what flights I took to reach there and hence, this plan.
So, I reached Vienna at 5 in the morning and yes! just like in India even the euro exchange offices at the airport were closed. Which meant I had to wait till 8 for them to ope up. I spent time chatting with the Customs Officers. At the end of the conversation they asked me jokingly if I had anything to declare....and I said ’no’ (i lied). The Tourism Offices at the airport were quite friendly.
First thing I did was to have a Viennese coffee. And it was nice. Then I picked up a city map, details of all the trains and buses, list of all the hotels and motels and finally, the locations that I must visit. It’s strange how everything is available to you when all you have to do is ’search’.
So, out of the Airport I took CAT(City Airport Train) and reached the heart of the city in 16 minutes. My camera had ample opportunity to flash lights on. My early morning walk in Vienna was memorable, looking at the historical monuments with each one speaking out for the history and events it had witnessed. For some strange reason each building spoke. It was as if while constructing them those darn architects mixed iota’s of history in them.
The trams were beautiful...ah yes they were designed by Porsche. The tram network in Vienna is third largest in the world.
When I took the time table for the buses and trams I realized that I actually did not need any. Time tables are used by people who have some direction and knowledge of their destination if not the journey. I was a mere traveler with no where to go and everything to look forward to. I shoved the timetable in my bag and decided to walk as much as I could and take a bus when tired.
Ohoy! Vienna is beautiful...I loved the museums, their rich history gifted by the invaders, dynasties, artists, and architects. Conglomeration of all these eminent personalities had made Vienna a place to be. I went to an Opera, which was playing Mozart and Strauss. I think the Opera at Palace Auersperg was an experience, which I have not been able to equate with any other show I have seen all this time.
Apart from the Opera, I kept roaming across the streets enjoying the scenic beauty of the gardens designed by some great architect (cant recall the name).
I realized that I have to find a hotel room only when it started raining in Vienna...by devil..it rained cats and dogs. And to my dismay I did not carry any extra clothes with me to enjoy the rain. So, I decided that whenever I go traveling, I shall carry them....so I don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the rain. I just sat like a lame duck in the coffee house enjoying my espreso and choclate cake.
Alas, after another hour or so I finally found a hotel...Hotel Terminal. Nice place cost me 40 euros. I slept at 1 and got up at 4 for my flight to London.
This experience has been a breeze and as I said earlier....I ought to come here time and again. Go to the Operas to listen to the masterpieces and then see the magnificent architectural beauty, which is sprawling all over Vienna. Or just sit by the lake with no interruptions but only the twittering of birds, occasional quacks, still water with beautiful little flowers all over, an old guy on my right just thinking to himself and staring at the water, and an old lady to my left who was feeding those ducks, occasionally talking to them in German as if she had known them for a long time.
Sometimes, I think just be a traveler all your life and just believe that life is not about some destination but about the journeys.
Additional:
Austrian Airlines
At the airport - look for the following kiosks:
(a). Exchange Office - Bank - to get your money exchanged. Open at 7 AM.
(b). Tourism kiosks - Open at 8 AM.
A days expense for a single soul would be:
i. €5 - coffee @ airport to get u going
ii. €5 - CAT (train to heart of the city)
iii. €4 - Burger, wish they use mionese
iv. €20 - 24 hour hop-on hop-off bus service across Vienna. You can jumpin-jumpout anytime. Last bus at 6in the evening.
v. €10 - a mozart t-shirt. 2006 is mozart festival year. So, concerts all around.
vi. €40 - Mozart n Strauss Opera show. (available @ the hopon hopfoff stations)
vii. €10 - some vienna coffee house, a coffee and delicious choclate cake.
viii. €40 - can be negotiated, I was asked €70 at first. Hotel Terminal (address @ aiport Tourism Kiosk)
ix. €5 - ticket back to Airport via CAT
God Speed.