It was ok for the first few seconds, and then everybody moved to one side of the cart and the whole cart shifted. With my hyperventilation starting, I death-gripped the seat and refused to move. I was able to snap a few pictures, but there were relatively few to pick from for this post because they were all blurred from my intense shaking.
There were a few other rides at the Prater, but riding the ferris wheel was enough for me. I did appreciate the giant cat ride, though!
There were all sorts of interesting and intricate buildings throughout Vienna. This one was located near the Karlsplatz subway station, and once again I am not for sure of what it is. A lot of these buildings have no signs or anything to explain what they are, which sucks if you are a tourist.
This picture was taken in front of a monument for the fallen Russian soldiers of WWII. Behind the fountain is a large pillar with a statue of a soldier on it, but the tour was moving along and I wasn't able to snap a quick picture.
One tour sent me off with two others to experience the famous Viennese coffee houses. I was sent to the Cafe Griensteidl, a favorite of the famous Viennese author Stefan Zweig. There I enjoyed a basic coffee with milk and absorbed the atmosphere of the cafe.
This is a view of the Cafe Griensteidl. This cafe is located right next to the Hapsburg palace and was comfortable without being snooty. Back in the 20's and 30's the coffee houses places a huge role in the lives of artists and musicians.
I was also able to attend Wiener Blut (Viennese Spirit), an operetta based on the music of Johann Strauss II. The operetta was in German, but there was a small screen at the top of the stage with English translations. I really enjoyed it, but there were some inside jokes that I just wasn't able to understand.
Johann Strauss II was the composer of The Blue Danube, a very famous waltz. The video below plays The Blue Danube, and I'm sure you will recognize it quickly.
Another thing that I got to do was visit the Upper Belvedere, a once summer palace turned art museum. This gallery features my favorite artist, Gustav Klimt, including his most famous picture of all: The Kiss.
I was not allowed to take pictures of The Kiss, so here is a generic online picture that doesn't look nearly as good as it did in real life.
However, I WAS able to quickly take a photo of this one Klimt sketch. :D
After the tour was over I headed home and began to plan my next big adventure. The next trip was to take place during a week long break, and it was decided that I would be heading to France.
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