Day 22 - Nov. 4 - Walking in Vienna and a ride on the Riesenrad

We stopped at the hair salon to make appointments, and then caught our Tram #1 to Schwedenplatz, where we had to alight to purchase new multi-trip tickets. Ours had expired the previous evening, and the machine on the tram did not offer the tickets we wanted. The first time we were riding without a proper ticket - thankfully no transit police in sight! We haven't seen any in the almost three weeks we've been here, but they always show up at the most inopportune times! It's more or less an honor system unless you're caught without the proper ticket - then a hefty fine is levied on the spot.

Rossauer Baracks (from Wikipedia)

Once we had proper tickets in hand we proceeded a couple more stops and walked from there past the enormous red brick Rossauer Barracks, originally built in 1848 to protect the inner city from the "workers in the suburbs" (the peasants, I guess). At the time it could house 2,400 soldiers and 400 horses. It is now used as the HQ for the Austrian Defense and Sports Ministry.


We continued walking to Berggasse in the 9th District, the street where Sigmund Freud lived. We had lunch at the Rebhuhn (Partridge) near Freud's home. Our landlord's friend had recommended it. It was a typically old Austrian spot with lots of dark wood walls and floors. It was frequented by Freud.

Ron, maybe sitting in the spot Freud used to sit!

Ron had salad and a big bowl of pea soup.

 I had zahnder (fish) filet.




















After lunch we walked into Freud's building, but did not visit the museum. I had been there years ago, and it is mostly photos and documents, since most of his furniture (including the famous couch) are in a museum in London. He moved into the building on Berggasse in 1891 when it was new, and lived and practiced there for 46 years until he was forced to leave the country after the Nazis "annexed" Austria. Ron commented that his patients must have really been intent to see him when they had to climb all of these stairs! We just really enjoy the sense of history when around every corner there is something preserved of famous people from the past - people we learned about in school.

















We continued walking up Liechtensteinalle to the Schloss Liechtenstein, and walked into the gardens between two palaces. They are owned by the princes of Liechtenstein, and house incredible art works. The complex was open as a museum until the Nazi "anschluss" in 1938, and reopened in 2004. But it could not achieve signifcant visitor numbers and closed again. It is now available for events and pre-booked visitor tours. There is a small cafe where you can sit outside in pleasant weather. Even on the somewhat windy day we visited, there were lots of people strolling and moms pushing prams. We also enjoy this aspect of Europe - that people of all ages enjoy walking and enjoying the beauty.

We caught a "new" (to us) Tram #5 which took us over the Danube Canal, around the north train freight depot, and delivered us to the Prater Stern at Wien North.Wien North is now a huge train station - much different than when we were here. From there we took Tram #0 home, stopped at SPAR, and went to the apartment to relax.

Later that evening we took Tram #0 back to Prater Stern (only 2 stops), and walked into the famous Prater Park, as we had decided we should have a nostalgic ride on the Riesenrad, the predecessor to the London Eye and Singapore Flyer, etc. It was one of the world's earliest ferris wheels and originally constructed in 1897 to celebrate the Golden  Jubilee of Emperor Franz Josef I. It is 212-feet high. Partially destroyed in WWII, it was reconstructed with only 15 gondolas instead of 30. Each gondola is fully enclosed (with open windows) and holds about 25 people. Ron first rode on it when he was 19!  Once, a few years ago,  we booked a special gondola for breakfast and took a group. Each time the gondola would come to the ground after a rotation, another course would be served.

After the slow rotation of the wheel brought us back to the ground, we were looking around, and saw a large group of folks walking toward some destination. We thought they might be going to the famous Schweitzerhaus beer restaurant, and decided to follow them. Or was it the tall, lanky gal in tailored shorts that we were following? Just kidding. When we finally found the spot where that group was gathered it turned out to be a private party - so we had a long walk back through a rather dark, deserted park. As we came back to the entrance area, we stopped at a "sausage stand" for a beer and wine, just to sit and catch our breath. It was great that the weather was pleasant enough we could enjoy sitting outside.

Ron ordering drinks at the sausage stand

After a brief stop watching people and having our "nightcap" we caught the tram again, only 2 stops, and home! Over 43% of families in Vienna don't have a car, and it is not because they can't afford it. Public transport is so handy, and parking is so inconvenient!