Vienna 1

City of music, UNESCO world heritage site, run through by river Danube and capital city of the Republic of Austria, I finally set my foot on the world famous city - Vienna. A city rich with Baroque, Gothic & Romanic architecture; quiet & tranquil parks; breathtakingly beautiful castles and is filled with art & music in the air.

My Vienna trip was short, very short indeed. It's meant to be a weekend trip from Friday until Monday but I was sick, spending most of the time in hotel room, so it's really really a short trip. All the 'master plans'? Ruin. Besides, the weather hasn't been 'lovely' in Vienna, it was flooded just a few days before my trip and was raining quite a lot when I was there.

Anyway, manage to pull myself together for some sight seeing time on Satuday afternoon and took a lot of pictures. As you'll notice, most of buildings are not in full view. Reason being the buildings are huge and my camera has reach its limitation (despite my brilliant skill). Of course under normal circumstances, I'd run across the streets to try to take a full view but I wasn't really up to it when I was sick. My 'friendly' travel companion 'kindly' remind me that I JUST need a wide angle camera and was showing off his camera's ability in this situations, ishh!!!

Some pictures to share but no stories to tell because I haven't have time / energy to really visit any one of these famous tourist attractions.

Pic: City town hall, seat of the mayor

Pic: Statue - goddess - monument

Pic: The magnificent parliament (with beautiful fountain) and statues on a park's fence opposite

Pic: The national libraries and lots & lots of tourist on different mode of tourist 'bus' / carriage

Pic: Mozart kugel - the famous Austria chocolate, you won't miss it. Can also get it at the airport :)

Pic: The state opera house - only the left wing...sorry

Pic: City street view - where old & new buildings co-exist

Walking the streets of Vienna, one needs to pay attention to the two-way bicycle traffic. In Copenhagen, most of the bicycle lanes are one way so I was nearly 'hit' when crossing the bicycle way...and they're not so friendly when a stupid sick tourist obstruct their way :(

Vienna is a well planned city with the old part being nicely maintained. Trees of greens intercepts between opera houses, theaters, goverment buildings, churches, streets and there's no lack of parks.

Being a famous city, one can only expect a lot of tourists, taking different mode of transports to explore the city. It's train / subway system is an easy one even if you don't speak German (under normal circumstances) and you'll be surprise to see the frequents of tourist carriages roaming Vienna's streets, providing a different way of city experience to tourists while the 'driver' will also serve as basic tour guide.

Pic: Found Goethe, notice his golden left shoe tip? Too many 'touchy' tourists

Pic: Also spotted Beethoven resting in the park

Pic: Albertina - 50,000 art pieces were moved from their basement due to flood before we arrive

Pic: Imperial Court Theater, again only one side view :s

Never had a chance to dine in a Michelin starred restaurant yet and it costs too much to do that in Copenhagen, I finally have the chance in Vienna where Restaurant Le Ciel provided the chance. I made a reservation even before my arrival and was treated with top class service. A slight dissapointment though, the food is not top class in my personal taste.

I went for a 3 course meal with lobster wonton in chilled lime yoghurt soup as starter, grilled veal with brown sauce (I change the parmigiano sauce away) for main; and a rose white chocolate ice cream with wild berries as dessert. There're chef's complimentary entré; pre-dessert & 10 pieces of fine chocolates in between.

Despite I find it satisfactory, I must give supreme high compliments to the veal, it was PERFECT. Menu changes frequently, wonder when I'll get to taste such heavenly veal again, sigh... More about my short Vienna trip in next blog.