Vienna, Austria….Day 6…Tuesday

by Ron Largent | Dec 13, 2017 | Alaska, Alborg, alpine, Asian Travel, Austria, Bavaria, Bella Russe, Bergen, Bern, Budapest. Hungary, Bullet Train, Copenhagen, Cruise Line Deals, Danube River, Danube River and Viking River, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Eastern Germany, Eidfjord, European Travel, Finland, Fjords, Gdansk, Geneva, Germany, Gstaad, Hapsburg Dynasty, Helsinki, Holland America Cruise Lines, Hungary, Hungary food, International Travel, Latvia, Lausanne, Leipzig, Lenin Square, lucerne, Maria Theresa, Matthias Church, Munich, Northern Europe Cruise, Norway, Poland, Russia, Russian Market, Salzburg, Sitka, Ski The Alps, South Sawyer Glacier, Special Events Travel Deals, Special travel deals, St Stephens Basilica, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Sweden, Switzerland, Tallin, The Alps, The Fjords, Tracy Arn Fjord, Travel, Travel the World, Ultimate Sports Events., Uncategorized, US Open, Vienna, Viking ATLA River Cruise Ship., Viking Cruises, Viking River, Viking River Cruises, Vikings, Volcano Island, Warnemunde, Warsaw, Wimbledon, Zurich

Vienna, Austria……ship was delayed in the locks leading into Vienna on Monday night…and we first heard about it early Tuesday morning with the daily announcements. Apparently late Monday night the winds picked up on the Danube and by the time we got to the locks….too high to go through….so we were put on hold in the River for about 2 hours….there were then additional delays and finally cleared the locks at 5 AM…which made us about an hour late to get into Vienna. In that it was a full day, plans were changed and we proceeded to dock at another town about an hour drive away from Vienna. We then boarded Viking buses…and off we went into Vienna, through beautiful farm lands and small towns…arriving about 10 into Vienna.We then had the included panorama tour of Vienna, as well as the walking tour of the Old City….a magnificent old city with gorgeous buildings….just a beautiful place to see and walk through, etc.

Being late, Viking decided to give us a 25 Euro credit per person for lunch….and we ate behind St Stephens church at a great restaurant….finishing up by 2 when we met up again, and then went on the optional tour to the Schonbrunn Palace.

The Palace is a showplace for Emperoress Maria Theresa and the Hapsburg Dynasty….and I cannot say enough in this blog about her and her reign…and I bought a book at says it all, including her 16 children. A powerful woman like Queen Victoria in England……Maria Theresa being the daughter of Charles VI. The Hapsburg Dynasty in Central Europe in itself is a Masters Thesis…what a fascinating story of reign for 650 years. This is a MUST visit….

Back to the ship for dinner…then on to our Optional Concert of Mozart and Strauss by the Vienna Residence Orchestra. This is a small chamber orchestra obviously hand picked as they put on quite a show of music and humor to this private concert. Just a thrilling and fun performance with soloists, ballet dancers, and a great orchestra….a fun evening and well worth it…even for non-music lovers.

Back to the bus by 11…a great day in Vienna…one of the World’s Great Cities…and the 2nd one we have been part of on this trip…the other Budapest.

More to come……