City Tour of Vienna

The (old) Royal Palace
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Today we had our city tour of Vienna. Unfortunately it is a wet, wet day, so not as many nice photos opportunities. We arrive at the Palace and are told by the local guide that by paying off the ticket people and the door people that we can get in 30mins earlier than the other tour groups so that our tour will not be as crowded. It is amazing when you see how the royal family used to live - the opulance of the rooms, the silk wall coverings and gold guilding on the ceilings is just unbelievable. We then head off to the Treasury to view some of the centuries old royal jewels and crowns, as well as tapestries and royal gowns. There was an emerald that was something like 2000 carats which was just awesome.

Stalls at the Opera
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From here we join the optional Opera tour, firstly grabbing a bite to eat in a buffet restaurant, then enter the Opera for a birdseye view of the backstage of the opera. We also get to sit in the auditorium and pretend we are at the Opera!! After this we have the afternoon at leisure. It is raining still and the streets are awash with umbrellas. There is a city festival on this day and there are many sound stages and entertainers on the street. Moving through the crowds is challanging, trying not to have your eye poked out by an umbrella! We finally make our way back to the hotel and I have to have a warm shower to warm up before the last optional tour dinner.

The Palace, the Opera.. all in a days play...

St Stephans Cathederal
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Most of the tour group board the bus and we head out to a famous Vienna restuarant in the next town. Here every inch of every wall and ceiling is covered with some knicknack, picture, musical instrument - everything and anything. The womens toilets are even hard to believe, with the stall that I went in having its own chandelier and walls covered with photos, a bookcase and other stuff. We have a great dinner and our final meal with the tour group. It is yet again a fantastic night which we didn't want to end. When we get back to the hotel a small group of us head to the bar for a final drink and to say our goodbyes. Two hours later this finally happens and we head off to bed about 12:30am.