Day 5
On to Vienna
Vienna, or Wien, as the locals say, is the cultural capital of Austria. Bordered by eight countries as diverse as Switzerland, Italy, and Slovakia (among others), Austria played a key role in the political and cultural history of Europe, and Vienna was the main character in that play. On the fringe of the Iron Curtain, Vienna was a playground for Cold War spies and diplomats. Today, it is a peaceful city that, given the upheaval of the 20th century, could be forgiven for basking in its own boredom.
Traveling by train from Prague to Vienna, we crossed vast fields covered in vibrant, yellow flowers. I’m not sure what they are, but they coat the countryside as if someone took a paint roller to the entire nation. After four hours, we arrived in Vienna.
Posing beside the train that will take us to Vienna.
Flowers on a farm in the Czech Republic. We were accompanied by these yellow fields for hours.
Mom and Dad catching a nap on the way to Vienna.
Our train station was south of the center of town and it was a short walk to our hotel. After dinner, Suzanne and I took an evening walk to St. Stephen’s cathedral, the main cathedral in Vienna, the Rathaus, or city hall, and the opera house.
Shadow from the fountain in the Freyung, a triangular public square in Vienna.
The magnificent Rathaus serves as city hall and Vienna state capital. More than any other building in Vienna, the Rathaus's splendid lighting swept me away. But, it defies me photographically.
The State Opera House in Vienna was built in the 1860s, though it was heavily damaged in World War II.
We did get a little lost in the Ringstrasse tonight.