Friday September 7th, 2007
From Milan we arrive in Bratislava in perfect time and go immediately to the shuttle (already with tickets purchased on flight). But despite our run (in the rain), we have to wait almost one hour before leaving … At least we arrive in Vienna.
Just down from the shuttle and in subway where an automatic machine for tickets return us the change in coins launching them like a baseball player… Coins scattered everywhere on the floor… Without great difficulties we reach pension Franz (found on Zingaguida): not very good, but the position is excellent.
Left our bags we go to downtown for dinner near the Rathaus: despite its central location and excellent food, prices are quite content (suggested), then we begin the exploration of the city: Rathaus, Burgtheater, Parliament, Hofburg, Graben, Schottenkirche and back at the hotel. Besides I wanted to take some photos of the lighted city, but the lighting of nearly all buildings is off at Midnight … I will take them the next day with the sun (well, at least we hoped).
Saturday September 8th, 2007
Our room is illuminated by a faint ray of sunshine that makes us delude ourselves that it is good day … And it is so weak that when we go out there is no more … the goal today is Schonbrunn, starting with the visit of the palace pending the sun.
The interior is very nice and audioguide (also in English) allows us to deepen our visit … We take more than expected. The building is very beautiful, inside pictures cannot be taken. Leaving the palace around noon, we go to the park, when it rains. We go to Gloriette dominating from high the palace and the gardens. Before we try to make a contact with many squirrels that live there (initially they are pretty suspicious, but ultimately become friendly). After this break, we reach the Gloriette, where we take the classical photos group. Before leaving the park we go to the maze, perhaps more suited to children, but we also play a lot to lose ourselves between hedges and playing with water.
Return in Vienna where after a break in a coffee we stop to buy chocolate. In the evening, along with a girl from Vienna, we go into a south neighborhood of Vienna characterized by places called “Heuriger”, a family place that produce its own wine. It was nearly midnight when we return to our hotel, taking the last bus. At the station, however, we discover that the last metro has already passed.
We ask information to auditors, among others in the laughter of those who advised us to go on foot, in about two hours, tell us that the only way is the taxi.
Sunday September 9th, 2007
We wake up pretty soon, the sun doesn’t see even this morning, but we go on. We go downtown and, although today there is the Pope in the Cathedral in Vienna, the situation is still calm around the church, the work of organizers is perfect. Turning around the Hofburg we take our daily dose of rain (today concentrated in a few intense minutes).
Then around the dome, the audience has increased but not excessively. Towards noon the sun shine back. We reach the final goal: museums area where we have lunch. Then we retrieve our luggage and reach the shuttle that takes us back to Bratislava. In the evening we are at home.
