The starting point

The starting point

Thursday, 27 June 2024

14/6/24 Vienna

 


    A new day , a new adventure in Vienna . Today we were refreshed and not sure what today was going to bring after yesterday . We grabbed a tram , then the underground , crossing under the Danube River and got off at a newer , much more modern section of Vienna . We were headed to Donauturm - a tower that resembles Sydney Tower or Black mountain Tower in Canberra . This one , just like the others has an outdoor viewing area ( okay not Sydney unless you do the walk ) , and also a revolting restaurant , oops revolving , and a revolving cafe . The bottom layer is the viewing platform . Beautiful parklands surround the tower .


    Arriving at the entry , we flashed our Q codes again , and away we went to the lift . The lift had an attendant who told us facts about the lift and then said look upwards - the roof of the lift was glass , and you could see the shaft etc as we zoomed upwards .


     Views from the viewing platform were excellent .


     Just some of the surrounding parkland .


     And some more .


     This is the Danube River , which also has Danube Island in the middle , and is a favourite of the locals apparently .


     There's even an enclosed slide on the outside .


      After catching all the views we could , we went inside for an Apple Strudel and a cup of tea , both of which were delicious .


     Next on the agenda was the Hop On Hop Off bus ( also included on our Vienna Pass ) , and we took it to the oldest Ferris Wheel - not the one in the photo . We took this photo from it , It sits in an amusement park , where there are rides to suit everybody ???? After the Singapore Flyer it was a bit tame , but it was included with our pass as well .


     Madame Tussauds was also there , yes you guessed it , that was included with our pass as well . In we went , had a close encounter with quite a few celebrities , Mahatma Ghandi and the Dalai Lama as well !!


    One of the stops on the bus tour was also at the Danube Canal , but the driver decided he wasn't going to stop there , and continued on another stop - think it was end of shift or time for a break . Strike one for the Hop on & off bus . So we had to walk back to the canal for our 1 hour cruise - yeap another on our pass . As we walked I was a bit surprised to see a guy with a hose hanging out his mouth , sucking on a Hooker Pipe . There were several pipes all at a table at the smoking bar !!


     Just in time for our cruise , we flashed the Q code again , and away we went up the canal . There's graffiti everywhere , and it's encouraged here - it keeps them from defacing the city buildings !! Some of it is impressive , others less than .


    This is a multi dimensional building beside the canal , again with murals - these ones appear to be more permanent .


    Strange place for an octopus , especially this big !!


     This building was designed to look nothing like what it's used for , and they succeeded with their brief on that one - this is the waste burning facility - the tall part is actually the chimney .


     You could have eats & drinks while you did the cruise , and lots of people indulged .


    On the opposite bank of the canal were small bars & cafes , this one had a heap of deck chairs for seating 


    Another had a gold gorilla statue .


     Another curious one was a barge that has been converted into a swimming pool , with a bar over the top . 


    The canal was flowing fast , with bits of tree floating down as well - they have begetting a lot of rainfall further up the catchment areas. 
    And with that , our cruise was done , so we made our way up to a tram stop and headed for our apartment , day done ! Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=17_ngKJRGfk0cmCY2wOL14cex_scXI1Q&usp=sharing


No comments:

Post a Comment