I was tired. Not only did we drink all the wine on our train car, my hay fever was in full swing after cruising through major farmland along the Danube. "Non drowsy" Zyrtec. Whatever. No problem booking a room at a very lovely pension not far from the center of town so we immediately have a base of operation.

Showered up, we decide to go find somewhere to eat. We decide to try a recommended place by the Rathuis. I have to say Vienna has to be one of the loveliest cities I have ever been to. Former seat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, culture just oozes everywhere from the incredible graphic design in the underground to the magnificent buildings. The Rathuis and surrounding structures and square happen to be among those magnificent buildings. Freud, Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, Maria Theresa, Metternich.

The Rathuis was inspiring but even more inspiring was the Vienna Jazz Festival we happened to stumble upon going on in the Rathuis park. The local excellent beer, Ottinger, was flowing and the food was abundant and varied. What better way to spend a hot afternoon?

After about four beers and some food in the heat it was time for a nap but first a trip to the local store for some beer and wine. Didn't wake up till the next day from the nap.

Let me tell you it is hard to get a bad cup of coffee in this town. During breakfast I consumed about 5 cups while we mapped the day out. We decide to go to the Hofburg and go downtown to see the St. Stephen's Cathedral. We go downtown and it is steaming hot. The Cathedral is awesome. A Gothic structure with this yellow tiled roof obviously done at a later date. We walk to the Hofburg and it is overwhelming. Huge sprawling palaces. Huge parkways where there seems to be all sorts of floats with booming music getting ready for something. We find out it is going to be the Lafberry parade. A sort of love parade that ends back up at the Hofburg at night and turns into a rave.

After having a few drinks in a bar in the park we happen upon the Lafberry parade. Its pretty wild but peaceful at the same time with these floats blasting techno music. After about a half hour of this I'm getting mighty thirsty and so we stop at one of the many outside cafes along the main drag for a couple of beers. Along this drag of downtown there are these poor guys and gals dressed up in 18th century garb peddling the opera. Our waiter is pretty cool. He suggests a restaurant andof coursee we can't find it but end up going to some place by the river which ends up to be pretty good. We have a couple bottles of Zweitgeld; an excellent Austrian red varietal. Mario our waiter is a real cool cat who collects 70's funk.

We have to catch the overnight train to Rome at 7:00 so were off. We see a bunch of freaks in the train station going to the Lafberry. Going over the Austrian Alps through the Tirol, should be pretty nice. We stock up on Ottinger and wine and hit the train.

On to Rome and Capena »