Vienna

[anshjain97]

In June 2011, we had visited Munich, Salzburg (and around), and finally, Vienna. Vienna is Austria's primary city and its capital, with a population of around 2 million.

We arrived at Vienna's Westbahnhof (West train station).


There was a very interesting and distinctive church next to my hotel.

Any idea what style is it? Didn't go inside, for no valid reason, just inertia.

The hotel was around 15-20 min walk to the Innere Stadt (Inner City).
On the way...








It looked rainy when we reached, and we asked the hotel for umbrellas before we stepped out. Looks like that had a wise decision.
Here is the beginning to the Innere Stadt.








More later.

[bjd]

That is a Greek Orthodox church, Ansh. Christianity in Europe was divided into obedience to the Roman pope -- Roman Catholicism, and what was previously the Byzantine Eastern church. Often called Greek Orthodox, although it doesn't concern only Greeks, but also Christians in Russia, the Balkans, etc. Recognizable because of the domes, the insides of the churches are quite different, the priests are allowed to marry, as well as various theological differences.

[anshjain97]

Thanks for the explanation, bjd.

[mich64]

I am looking forward to this thread Ansh. You always provide so much information about your holidays and this is an area we will be visiting this September, I hope to learn some things from your adventure!

[anshjain97]

That's great mich, enjoy your trip! Are you visiting anywhere besides Vienna as well?

Continuing in the Inner City. There was much more traffic than the inner areas of, Munich or Rome.



This impressive building below is the Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera).




This area is called Kartner Ring, or Ringstrasse- the ring road around the centre. Leading from here is Vienna's premier touristy street called Kartnerstrasse.





The 1 before the street name refers to some sort of area code- 1 is the code throughout the Innere Stadt.





It was very crowded- and it was June, not even July or August.



Just a block away from Kartnerstrasse, it was suddenly much quieter.






More later.

[lagatta]

1. (Erster, first) is the Bezirk, or borough/district (arrondissement). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innere_Stadt You will find the Bezirk indicated on street signage, as in many other cities.

There are of course several interesting old districts outside the Innere Stadt.

[anshjain97]

Thanks for the explanation, lagatta.

Lots of shopping on Kartnerstrasse:




The first view of the gigantic cathedral Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) was certainty a wow factor.


It certainty is huge: 107 m long, 40 m wide and, at its tallest point, 136 m high. It stands at the ruins of 2 earlier churches.



Its walls:


These touristy horse-wagons seem common around the square, called Stephensplatz (Stephen Sq).




Inside...apologies for the qualities of the photos.






As I said earlier- the area was very crowded.


Below is the Pestsaule, the Plague Column, built after the Plague Epidemic in the 17th century.




Inside a small lane:




More later.

[mich64]

We will not make it to Vienna this trip but we will be landing in Munich and will be staying in Salzburg for 3 days. But I love seeing photos of Vienna, some day we will visit!

[lagatta]

Shit, lost a long post.

[anshjain97]

I see Mich- I posted a report on Salzburg as well- a very beautiful city. Enjoy your trip!

[htmb]

Oh, Lagatta. I'm sorry you lost your post, but thanks for giving me a laugh at your expense.

Ansh, I feel like I am getting a crash course in global education, especially via recent posts from you and Questa! Such a variety of great photos and information here on AnyPort!

[fumobici]

Jan 17, 2014 0:06:49 GMT lagatta said:

Shit, lost a long post.

Profile > Settings > Enable Drafts

Saves your posts periodically during creation.

Yes or No

Haven't tried it yet but noticed the option noodling around. Might prevent such occurrences.

[Deleted]

I always enjoy seeing all sorts of cityscapes, so this is great. Funnily enough, even though I was in Vienna only once for about 6 hours, I recognise so many of the street scenes from having watched the Austrian crime series Kommissar Rex, about a clever police dog.

[bjd]

We spent a week in Vienna in 2000, in the middle of summer, but I don't remember it being so crowded. It's true we didn't spend much time within the Ring. I don't much like that massive 19th century architecture and there is quite a bit of more modern architecture that is worth seeing. Even the public housing apartment buildings are signed by the architects, so they are not ashamed of their work. (Unlike the crap built in France at the same period.)

There is a great museum called the Belvedere.

[anshjain97]

Thanks for all the responses.

Bjd, do you mean the Schloss Belvedere? That was close to our hotel- it came on the way from the hotel to Innere Stadt. Unfortunately haven't been inside and don't have a good photo of it.

[anshjain97]

To continue:










Below and above is the Hofburg, the current residence of the President of Austria. It has been the seat of government since 1279, including housing the Habsburg dynasty.









Now outside, on the streets:






We were quite tired that day, so went back to the hotel in the afternoon itself. Will post later about the next day.

[bjd]

Yes, Ansh. The Belvedere museum is in a former royal residence, so I guess it's a castle.

[mich64]

I do not know how I missed your report on Salzburg Ansh, I will have to go and look for it. What month of the year did you make this visit? I enjoyed your photos of the Cathedral, I hope to visit some day.

[anshjain97]

Hi,
I visited Salzburg (and Vienna) towards the end of June, 2011.

[anshjain97]

So, next day:


At the entrance of the Innere Stadt. (The route was same as the previous day's, but I couldn't take pictures of everything the previous day).




Sorry, not a clear image:








Here is the Staatsoper again. Actually we were taking a Hop-on Hop-off- my parents' idea, not mine. Luckily this has, so far, been the last hop-on hop-off I have taken.




A more modern Viennese tram. There are older ones too- will show if I have pictures.


This is the Ringstrasse, the ring road round the Innere Stadt. It is famous for its architecture- below is the Parliament.




Below is the Rathaus (Town Hall) in Flemish-Gothic style.


There's a famous tram which goes around the Ringstrasse- this is it.


Below is the Votivkirche (Votiv Church) in neo-Geothic style.








Below is the Kunsthalle.


It is a place where art exhibitions are held.



The Danube:






One of the older trams:






More later.

[Deleted]

I know it is a "minor" detail, but those overhead tramway wires all over the place really do not enhance a lot of the scenes of the city. I absolutely love tramways, but I am beginning to appreciate the fact that none of the lines in Paris run through the centre of the city.

[anshjain97]

We didn't do much the remainder of the day.
The next day:

View from the room:




Back to Kartnerstrasse. My mother wanted to do some shopping so we <s>wasted</s> spent time here in the afternoon.


But we went to Prater, a theme-park kind of area north of the Innere Stadt, where Vienna's ferris wheel, Riesenrad, is located.


Here it is:




Views were good.














That was the end of my visit- it was back home the next day. I liked the city, and would like to revisit some years from now, but I liked places like Paris and Rome more. Maybe the crowds had something to do with it- I haven't been to Rome in summer, but Paris wasn't as crowded the one time I was there in August (yes, it was very crowded, but not as much as Vienna).

[Deleted]

Ah, the Vienna ferris wheel. To a lot of people of older generations, it will always evoke the cinema classic "The Third Man."

[lagatta]

Oh crap! I'll have a zither music earworm all afternoon.

[Deleted]

In that case you must watch the trailer if only to read the words "he'll have you in a dither with his zither."

[bixaorellana]

Great overview of the city, Ansh -- thanks!

It's a place that's always shone in my imagination and your photos make me want to see it even more. Very surprising about all the crowds, though. I wonder when it would be a good time to visit with fewer crowds, but no cold weather.

[lugg]

Thanks Ansh - Vienna is certainly somewhere I would like to visit one day
The Stephansdom looks impressive. I feel for you Ansh re shopping - something I try to avoid too.

[bjd]

The Third Man is a great movie. I always think Vienna must have been more interesting in 1950 than it is now. It's okay but it's just not a place I like too much.

[anshjain97]

Thanks for all the replies and the video!