Vienna

• Wednesday, June 17, 2015

• Three Continents

In the pouring rain I cycled in Vienna one day after Pentecost. Luckily I was able to move to dry accommodation at Roman. I enjoyed the time with him and his many roommates very much. Especially when traveling, I am always happy when I can take a break for a few days somewhere. I had to organize some things in the first days. My Primus Kocher has given up the ghost and the front pockets are too far down. A new cooker was soon found and I got professional help from the bike shop Ciclopia ciclopia.at. Only on the fourth day I was able to visit the first district for the first time with Nora, Maja and Roman. About 2.6 million people live in the Greater Vienna area, which is equivalent to around one quarter of Austria's total population. A striking landmark of the city is St. Stephen's Cathedral.

The building is 107 meters long and 34 meters wide. The cathedral is one of the most important gothic buildings in Austria. After 5 days at Roman I visited Vera and was allowed to stay in a great apartment for a few days. When visiting Vienna, of course, the Schönbrunn Palace must not be missing.

The castle and the 160-hectare park have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1996. The sumptuous interiors are very impressive. Unfortunately, there is an absolute photo ban. From the Gloriette you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the whole castle park. She is the greatest of all gloriettes and therefore the best known. At the 3rd Mann Tour (film by Carol Reed, 1949) we got an insight into the post-war period and the filming locations in the old town. Such as the Vienna City Hall.

It was built from 1872 to 1883 to designs by the architect Friedrich von Schmidt in the style of neo-Gothic. Of course, a visit to the Vienna Prater was also a must. At the entrance to the park, one immediately encounters the Ferris wheel. It was built in 1897 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I and was one of the largest ferris wheels in the world at the time.

Vera recommended a ride on the chain carousel. Together, we did not miss the view of the city, which you can enjoy from the top. The Star Flyer in Copenhagen Tivoli was considered to be the largest chain carousel in the world with a height of over 80 meters, until the Prater Tower opened in Vienna on May 1, 2010, at 117 meters the current highest carousel.

Unfortunately, I did not have much time to relax. Although Vienna would actually be an ideal place to do so. The cycle paths in the city are excellent and therefore you do not need to use public transport at all. But I still have enough time to cycle. That's why I enjoyed using the subway.

The time in Vienna went by quickly. At this point I would like to say a big thank you to all who have prepared me 9 wonderful days in Vienna. You are the biggest! Now I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle and finally heading south.