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We eventually got through check
in, security and customs and after the usual two hours’
wait, we were allowed to board the plane – an Austrian
Airlines Airbus 320 - which took off at 06:30. |
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We were not impressed with Austrian
Airlines' idea of breakfast – a hot cheese roll in
a plastic wrapper which immediately leaked grease
all over my trousers. |
We landed at Vienna
at 09:40 after a smooth flight.
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Having negotiated
luggage collection and more customs, we were met at
the airport by the local Noble Caledonia rep. who
showed us onto our coach and we were soon whisked
off to our ship, the MS Viking Europe. |
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However it was so
early that we could not get into our cabins so the
crew took our cases and we were free to explore Vienna.
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We found the U-bahn station with
ease and bought a single travel ticket for €1.50.
It was only four stops to the centre of town and we
emerged into the sunshine with the spectacle of St
Stephen’s cathedral looming over us. It was much more
impressive that the pictures I had seen of it: very
large with an amazing multi-coloured tiled roof. Inside
it was very high, although not particularly long –
very much in the French style. The 14th
century altar was particularly beautiful. |
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We walked along the pedestrianised
Gräben and Kohlmarkt – the Bond/Regent’s Streets of
Vienna with some expensive shops. Soon we found ourselves
at the Hofburg complex: a large group of palaces,
chapels and state apartments from the days of the
Austro-Hungarian empire. |
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After wandering round for a while
we arrived at the Staatsopera – a very impressive
building. |
Unfortunately there were no tickets
available for the night we were free in Vienna |
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Next door, there was a music
shop where I found, much to my delight, a video of
"The Makropoulos Case" by Janacek: the Glyndebourne
production we had seen in 2001 and for which I had
been looking ever since. Pricey at €35, but at last
I had found it. |
We turned into the pedestrianised
Kärnfnerstraße to find Café Sacher, whence come the
famous Sachertorte. We promised ourselves a visit
on our return. But after some more walking we found
ourselves in another konditerei where I had tea and
a nut cake and Bruce had a hot chocolate. He told
me it was delicious, although failed to offer me any…
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We walked back down
the Kärnfnerstraße to the Schwartzberg Palace: an
a surprising memorial to the Red Army’s liberation
of Vienna – all in Russian Cyrillic. There were some
wonderful fountains. |
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We tried to find the Belvedere but
only managed to walk alongside the wall for 1km. However,
we then found ourselves at the Upper Belvedere and
were rewarded with a fantastic view of the palace
and its gardens overlooking the city. And later on
a further surprise – a little alpine garden with some
very pretty flowers. |
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Leaving the Belvedere,
we stumbled upon the Karlskirche, promised to the
people during the 1713 plague. We read that this is
Vienna's finest Baroque church. |
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Next to it was one
of the Karlsplatz Pavilions - built as stations for
the U-Bahn system in 1899. |
We walked past the South Vienna mainline
station to Südtiroler Platz U-bahn station and a quick
journey back to the ship.We soon found our cabin and
our cases were inside. The cabin was very spacious
and comfortable with masses of storage space to put
away our clothes. At 16:00 we fell asleep.At 18:00
there was an introductory talk in the lounge by the
Cruise Manager, Elisabeth Becker, from Germany. She
introduced us to the Captain, Alexander, a rare example
of a Dutch person who speaks little English. He briefly
explained the emergency drill. We then met the rest
of the staff. Apparently there are over 40 of them
looking after 125 passengers. Elisabeth then told
us that we would be taking buses from time to time
and that when she said they would be departing at
18:00 or whenever, she meant 18:00 and not 18:05.
" I am German", she said, "so you know
that I mean 18:00". " But do not worry",
she continued, "if you miss the boat, we will
be returning in a few days and will pick you up then.
But do not miss the boat on the return leg as we will
not be back for two months." Mental note, do
not be late for the bus…As we returned to our cabin,
we bumped into Michael who we met on our Russian holiday
in 1998. We warned him we still had photographs of
him and were not scared to use them.We had our evening
meal and sat at a table with Bob and Melaine from
Long Beach, California, and really enjoyed their company.
How gratifying to meet at least two Americans who
do not support Bush’s adventures in Iraq.By 21:00
we were exhausted and went to bed. |
