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| Our first tour started with four buses lining up along the dock. We were divided into four groups each lead by a program director. |
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| As we headed into Vienna, the first thing we passed was the St, Francis of Assisi Church in Mexikoplatz. So why was the plaza named for Mexico? Well Mexico was the only nation to protest when the Nazis overran Austria. |
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| The "U" is the underground transportation network and this is one of the entry points |
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| This is what an ambulance looked like in Vienna |
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| Urania is a public educational institute and observatory |
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| Regierungsgebäude, a building housing government offices |
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| Close up of the decoration on top of the Regierungsgebäude |
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| With the tramways, roadways and pedestrian areas, this all looks chaotic to me. |
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| Statues, statues everywhere. I didn't hear the location of this one. |
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| The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna |
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| Statues on top of the parliament building |
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| Votive Church erected by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian after the attempted assassination of his brother, Emperor Franz Joseph, in 1853 to thank God for saving the Emperor's life |
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| Vienna tram |
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| So we get off the bus tour and start a walking tour of town. First we go up the stairs and into a narrow alley |
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| Bumpers were put on the buildings to keep the wagons and carts from damaging them. |
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| Here we heard the story of Augustin. Dear Augustin, Liebe Augustin, had the misfortune of being found on the street, presumed dead, when the plague torn through Vienna in 1679. He was only drunk. After spending the night in a pit of dead people, he played his bagpipes until he was rescued. |
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| Now Der Liebe Augustin is the name of a restaurant housed in the building with all the foliage covering it. |
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| Street sign advertising a business |
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| Anyone for some candied rose petals? |
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| Alley we went down that leads to one of the best restaurants for weiner schnitzel |
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| St. Stephen's Cathedral |
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| St. Stephen's Cathedral ornamentation |
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| St. Stephen's Cathedral Romanesque towers were constructed between 1230 and 1245. |
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| Carriage rides around District 1 were available. |
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| We walked on down Graben to The Pestsäule (Plague Column) |
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| This statue was erected on order of the Habsburg emperor Leopold I. He promised to god to erect a memorial if Vienna was saved from the plaque. |
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| Holy Trinity on top of statue |
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| Notice the statues, top and bottom, of this building at the end of Graben. Statue on the right side of the photo is in front of the alley leading to St. Peter's Church |
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| St Peter's Church just off Graben |
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| Closer view of the statues |
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| The Michaelertor, the main entrance gate to the Hofburg Palace |
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| SE wing of the Michaelertor |
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| NW wing of the Michaelertor |
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| Dome of the Michaelertor |
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| Roman ruins found in Michaelplatz, which is the plaza in front of the Michaelertor |
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| St Michael's Church on Michaelerplatz |
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| Ornamentation on St Michael's Church |
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| Statues to one side of the Michaelertor |
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| The Loos House's upper stories didn't fit the style the Hapsburg ruler wanted so flower boxes were placed to give the windows "eyebrows". |
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| I sure wanted to ask why they put covers on the horses ears |
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| Talking about horses, our next stop was past the Spanish Riding School where I caught this glimpse of one of the famous Lipizzaner stallions |
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| At least this one didn't seem shy |
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| Josefsplatz displays a statue of Statue of Emperor Joseph II |
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| As different Hapsburg Emperors added onto the Castle, structures like the Castle Chapel were surrounded by other buildings |
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| Entering the Swiss Courtyard of the old Hapsburg Palace circa 13th century |
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| Swiss Gate (Schweizertor) dates from the 13th to 16th century. That's our Program Director, Randy making sure the group stays together as a local guide leads the group. |
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| My sister modeling a Whisper receiver that let us hear the guide |
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| Imperial Chancellory Wing |
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| Statue of Austrian field marshal, Prince Eugene of Savoy, in front of New Castle |
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| New Castle construction completed in 1913 |
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| Statue of Elisabeth of Austria, Sisi, in Volksgarten. She was the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph which gave her the additional titles of Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Queen consort of Croatia and Bohemia. Sisi loved the Voksgarten, the peoples garden more than the Burggarten, the private palace garden |
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| After we returned to the ship, we enjoyed the view out our windows and were even visited by some swans. |
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| Night view of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mexikoplatz. |
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