Vienna

St Stephans Cathederal
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Today we have a totally free day and decide to take it real easy and don't go down to breakky until 10am. After this we put on our walking shoes and walk down to St Stephans Cathederal and join all the other tourists here. There are horse and carriage rides but we opt to keep going on foot. We located the tourist information office and picked up some info, then notice the Australian pub is across the road. We stop here for a softdrink, and although the bartender was german, most of the clientele were young Aussies - backpackers I think. I convinced Joe that we should get on the underground and head to Praterstahn to ride the large Ferris Wheel, so we decide to try this adventure and find that the underground is very easy to navigate. 1.50 for each one way ticket and in less than 10 mins we are at the close-by station and head for the big wheel. It is located at an amusement park which seems to have free entry but you pay for all the rides you want to do.

The Vienna Big Wheel
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We buy our tickets to the Ferris Wheel and take the 10 minute ride around, taking some photos. After this we head back to St Stephens on the underground and look for a place to grab a sandwich or roll - which is not that easy - cause there is nothing in English at all!!. Finally in a bakery I find a ham, cheese and tomato roll, and Joe just pointed at a pastry, which turned out to be something sweet. I then went next door to the Gelateria (as you know, you have to wean yourself off these things after having so many in Italy - you can't go cold turkey!!).

Can't find any schnitzels!!

View from the top of the wheel
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We head back to the hotel as I feel I need a rest and we have our tour meeting at 6pm. We meet our new tour guide - his name is Roman, and the 37 other people who will be joining us on the tour. Roman gives us an hour or so of info on what is going to happen on the tour, the hotels, the currency of the countries, and of course, the optional tours that we can take. We do find that 75% of the tour people are Aussies, so maybe there will be a little less complaining on this tour (from cranky Americans).

After the meeting we decide to go in search of some Weiner Schnitzels for dinner, but after walking for about 20mins down the direction we went the previous night and not finding anything open at 8pm, we head back towards the hotel. We bumped into some of the tour members who had just braved the sausage from a local vendor - so we decided to try this as well. I went for the bratwurst and Joe decided on a pepper version. I wasn't that fussed but at least I can say that I tried it!!

That's all for now - not sure if there will be any Internet access until we get back to Vienna in a week (God knows how Joe will cope if so!!).