Vienna I'm going to grow up?

Tori’s European Escapade

Summer 2012

August

21/8 – 22/8

Vienna - Austria

On the way to Vienna we were pulled off for a (revolting) toilet stop, and there was a blast of tooting, as another Top Deck bus careened past, gloating in their superior position of first place. WELL. We weren't having that. Egged on by us, Marcus hit 100kmph until we inexorably crept up on the other bus, and, agonisingly slow, we inched past them as they sleepily rode the hard shoulder at 99kmph. And they were literally all asleep. In the 2 minutes it took us to overtake them, with bums pressed to the windows, it was only when we were halfway past that the first person noticed our victory of mooning them. As we pulled in front, with Maddy's bottom marring Marcus's clean windows, the driver got his first look and reached over and whacked his sleeping tour leader awake, who fell off his chair in a mixture of shock and laughter. Victory was ours! We held the lead into Vienna.

Maddy's bum, with the other bus fading into insignificance in the background.

Before checking in, we stopped off at Schönbrunn Palace (1548) a former hunting lodge of the Holy Roman Emperor. Hunting Lodge. It was massive, and needed far more time than we had. Rachel (Aus) and I explored for a bit and then hunted out a toilet, accidentally making it into the area you were meant to pay for, and queue for quite a while before getting in, and having no time to embrace the opportunity.

Maddy (left) me and Rachel.

Once checked in, I decided to relax and have a sleep - there was only 3 hours free time and I was not feeling well. Everyone else but Maddy, Rachel and myself headed off to exciting pursuits and I lay down on the bed. Couldn't do it. I persuaded Rachel to sprint off with me, and after some quick research, hopped on the tram that would take us to the Belvedere Palace, a stunning baroque castle in the middle of the city, but most importantly, the house of the largest permanent collection of Gustav Klimt works in the world, including "The Kiss"

A ruffled a travel worn me, with Rachel.

The Kiss - Gustav Klimt, 1908, oil and gold leaf.

Making it back to the hostel with minutes to spare, we went off to the Schnapps Factory, where this guy gave a very cute tour of his family factory, and I tried chilli schnapps to clear up my sinuses.

Having opted out of the Opera (The disastrous Russian "ballet" was on my mind) a group of us went to the Wurstelprater Amusement Park in Wiener Prater. A very old theme park, it was originally opened in 1766. The Wiener Riesenrad, is an old, very beautiful Ferris wheel, and there was a Madame Tussauds, log flume, bumper cars, roller coasters...

Emily, George, Ryan

Inside the Ferris Wheel

The View

I AM HAVING FUN!

I decided to pay for the cheesy staged shot they took of us - it was just too good. We were all actually looking at a door knob. Emily, me, Ryan. LOOK at Ryan's face, Comedy gold.

Ryan and I taking out Mindy.

Vienna was the place I felt most rushed, and considering I thought every place was too fleeting, that was quite extreme. I don't really feel like I have been to Vienna at all, and I must go back.