PIREP - A DISCUSSION & NEWS FORUM FOR PILOTS.

[Octopussy]

Well Ive decided to celebrate the New Year in Vienna, have been here since last Saturday night. Took in the Viennas Boys Choir, the Spanish Riding School, two classical concents, one at Schonbrunn Palace along with a self guided tour and a meal. Also visited Belvedere Palace which displays art. Schonbrunn Palace also has a zoo with one of its exhibits being pandas, a maze, a carriage display & a palm house none of which Ive seen yet but may take in tomorrow since Ive a free day in Vienna before the New Years party. Yesterday I did Budapest in Hungary which is stunning down by the riverfront. Today was a trip into the Wachau valley travelling west bz the Danube to the town of Krims & Monastery of Melk which has a really stunning church.

There is a stunning cathedral in centrre of Vienna called the Stephendom, think its in Gothic style. Also did a tour of the opera house which is quite interesting because they show you how the sets work back stage & a hop on hop off tour of Vienna. Tonoght I ate in a beer cellar but the music wasnt great. The main advantage was that smoking was forbidden no doubt bacause its so far underground _& all the wood. The smoke in Austrian cafes I find quite suffocating since its banned in public places inside in Ireland & IMHO it was one of the best decisions made.

[Kaptin M]

Did you ask Niki Lauda why he doesn't wear glasses?

Sounds delightful, 8Pussy - how many of the Vienna Boys' Choir did you critique
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A pilot is responsible for delivering the final product. The SAFE transportation of passengers to their destination.

[Octopussy]

Quote:

how many of the Vienna Boys' Choir did you critique

Whah do you mean, do you want me up for baby snatching or something. Most are very young though there are some men in the choir.

Yes its all very cultured, it could do with some of it rubbing off on you Kaptin M

Im staying in the oldest 4 star hotel in Vienna, 400 years old, since I wanted to stay in an historic hotel in Vienna called Hotel Stefanie. Its very well & centrally positioned near Swedenplatz over the Danube & I got a really good deal on the internet. I was worried it would be a bad omen since my sisters name is Stefanie, spelt Stephanie, but it has been wonderful. They keep giving me pressies.

The fireworks for the New Year sound like bombs or guns and the symbol of the New Year here is a pig, I was wondering why I bought little gingerbread biscuits covered in chocolate decorated with a pig. The atmosphere is electric in the city & the decorations are beautiful.

Today I walked throough Imperial Vienna, shopped. went from cafe to cafe, I could get used to Viennas cafe life quite easily & soaked up the atmosphere. No musemns, too much information overload & too tiring. Fireworks sound like bombs or guns

Budapest is divided into Buda & Pest separated by the river, Buda is considred the prettier side. I found the countryside very flat & a bit poor.
Tomorrow is a half day tour of the Vienna Woods with the afternoon in Vienna & I fly home tomorrow night. All good things must come to an end.

Last edited by Octopussy on Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:57 am; edited 1 time in total

[Screwed Virgin]

Did you have a Wiener Snitzel?
Are there any kangaroos in Austria?

[Octopussy]

Quote:

Did you have a Wiener Snitzel?

I had snitzels made of pork & turkey. The authentic one is made of veal but I refuse to eat veal.

Today was an interesting day. We made our way to the Vienna Woods, thought to be where the Alps end (foothills) though there are hell of alot smaller than the Alps. It started off boring enough, more monasteries & churches though the latter monastery was quite interesting. The lanscape was very pretty, a grren belt with lovely towns & villages.

Then it began to improve. We were brought to a former gymsum mine & had to walk through a corrider for ages underground. Turned out during WW2 the Nazis started using this place in 1944 to try & build a one man jet aircraft atleast the fuselages were assembled here by unfortunate prisoners from Mathausen Concentration Camp. However it never came to fruition since it was beset by all kinds of problems & then the war ended.

The guide said that the Germans were the first ones to build a jet plane i.e. the Messersmith though I dont know if this was true. We then had a magical trip by boat through underwater caverns.

Dublin Airport was closed for a while todfay due to snow but Ive been reliably informed by txt from Ireland that it has reopened. Phew. However it is doubtful that I may make it home tonight because the roads are very dangerous & I live on the other side of the city from the airport. It may not be worth the risk. I may decide to book into an airport hotel or just overnight it in the airport since Im arriving quite late.