Vienna

We spent the day in Vienna yesterday after passing through a small lock.  It was quite amazing to see how it works in daylight.

This pictures show us in the lock - the land on the right was up high to start off with until the water was pumped in and we rose up to meet it


We did the ring road sightseeing circuit which basically takes you round the main tourist attractions in Vienna - lots of lovely architecture, statues, museums, churches etc - a very pretty clean city with loads of history attached - Mozart, Strauss, Freud etc. 

We were taken to the national library which was amazing...as soon as you walk in to the library you can smell the old books - the architecture was amazing also






We then had a walk around parts of the main city centre and were left to our own devices for a short while.  The weather was beautiful but there were so many tourists - mainly from river cruise ships like ours...all lined up following a guide...

We went back to the ship for a light lunch then headed back in to the city to see the Schonbrunn Palace...a huge Palace so we only got to go through a very small portion.  Just absolutely over the top...gold leaf on just about everything, painted ceilings, highly decorated rooms etc.  Again it was packed with tourists...but the money they make on tourists is all poured back in to the upkeep of the building...for example one huge room had just been re-gold leafed - imagine how much that would cost to do today! We couldnt take photos inside so only have a few of outside.  Out the back is a huge garden which would take quite some time to walk through









Last night we attended a concert with an orchestra and opera singers...it was rather posh but Mal wasn't very impressed and snoozed inbetween...I really enjoyed it although opted not to take the free DVD home






By the time we reached the ship we were exhausted so decided not to partake of the weiners and quiche for supper ...although every large American onboard did and I am sure decided to take our portion as well....how much can those people consume?

I am seriously putting together the script for the most hilarious movie based on the characters we have met on this cruise