Vienna - A pleasant discovery (2)

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FOLLOWS ... ...
We are a mid-afternoon, saw the sun and heat, we welcomed Schoenbrunn and we went to the Prater. Here too we are seeing the integration and continuity between past and present, represented by a symbol Giant Ferris Wheel in VIENNA opened in 1897, the other by numerous and various attractions at the amusement park. If you like roller coasters, there are 6 different types and the same for the houses of ghosts and the like! You can not leave without getting on the Prater ferris wheel that, along with the tower of the cathedral is one of the best views of the city from above. Well now where you go for dinner? Since we are close to the Danube think to go looking for a restaurant on its shores, take the subway line U1 and get off at the Alte Donau and we are catapulted into the middle of a VIENNA almost futuristic with ultra modern buildings so much that we think we have wrong something. In fact, walk passed the road which crosses the river (Wagramer strasse) turn right onto An der Alten Donau unteran and here we are on the banks of the river at sunset, before us a series of piers with many boats anchored and kiosks, bars and points Refreshments still closed but it is not difficult to imagine filled with bathers and holidaymakers during the summer. For now we are only six of us tired and hungry that we enjoy a moment of silence and peace, and neither was the Ganges, we washed our hands in water of the Danube. After a good fifteen minute walk (but how many kilometers we done today?) Is an open guesthaus - Neu Brasilien - who then discover historic since inaugurated in 1925 and where, despite a waiter who is not trying at all to understand or be understood we enjoy a traditional dinner with frittatensouppe, sauerkraut, grilled meat and potatoes inevitable. In return we aim to spend the next morning on the Danube and the sunny day of Easter allows us to do so, with the mini cruise on the River. The tour with the company DDSG Blue Danube (www.ddsg-blue-danube.at) from the center (just behind the cathedral) and along the Donau Kanal then get through a lock on the Danube in the most modern of VIENNA, the Donaustadt and then back to the place of departure following a reverse. The whole journey takes 3 hours but it is possible that you should make only one round or more accurately do so only in one direction, from center to outside or for those who are not too Morning, arrive on the Danube in the Reichsbruche Donaustadt and make the path that goes toward the center with one-way ticket at a price of 10.50 euros (children until 6 years free). In an hour and a half you can appreciate, filming or photographing all the buildings both ancient and modern that arise on the banks of the River, illustrated by an audio guide in 4 languages and, for those who want to board there is also a restaurant .
Once in the center we should go for lunch but where? Our guide tells us that behind the nearby cathedral in the Wollzeile n.5 there Figlmuller, the building that serves the biggest schnitzel in VIENNA and decide to check in person. Well .... It's true! For 11.50 euros, closely accompanied by the contour, there is a cutlet served as a great pizza and good Italian from us, wrapping the half that we can not eat the stuff for sandwiches in the evening by train. And now we have all afternoon to stroll through the streets of the center. Behind the cathedral we find the shops of the past: the florist, the tobacconist, the book store, along the Graben observe the column of the plague in Kärtner strasse admire the elegant shops and eat in the last sacher temple of Viennese cake, ie homonymous pastries and then come into the ring we decide to spend the last two hours of our stay as the Viennese, resting in the sun, the Burggarten, while children with endless energy to play ball until reaching the Sudbahnof.
At 20:05 in perfect time, we welcome a beautiful city, very lively, organized and rich in culture. A city, against all our skepticism, really welcoming. See you soon.
A few practical tips:
VIENNA must be experienced on foot, the center is reached by pedestrian but many metro stations. The whole town has traveled far and wide for over 30 tram lines, from numerous bus and 5 subway lines, the frequency of the media is very high that you have never waited for more than 4 minutes and no public transport at night never more than 7 minutes. With this type of service being moved from one part of the city did not ask anymore of 10-15 minutes. There are tickets valid for all public transportation for a period of 72 hours (with 2 adults, free for children two to 16 years) at a price of 12 euro or the VIENNA Card which, at a price of 16.90 euros in more offers, discounts from 10% to 20% on almost all museums and attractions and free gifts for purchases in shops and restaurants. If you arrive at the station, ticket sells the tobacco, while the VIENNA card can be bought at ticket offices. Warning! For families with 2 children up to 16 years, there is almost everywhere the Family ticket that is even more convenient VIENNA Card
If you love music, in front of the cathedral and at many places there are sellers of tickets for concerts and ballets at affordable prices and at times (18.00 and 19.00) also available to those children.
Do not miss an evening in Grinzing a small characteristic village in the first suburb north of VIENNA in Austria old style, with lots of restaurants where waitresses in costume serve excellent dinners accompanied by music and the wine produced by the farmers of the area. We entered nell'heurigen Weingut Reinprecht directly opposite the church, converted from a former convent in 1600 and very welcoming atmosphere and traditional music and pleasing. To reach Grinzing: metro U4 and then Bus 38 - we are racing until midnight.
If you go to Schonbrunn (www.schoenbrunn.at / it) during the weekend, be sure to get there by 9 and a half you may also make a row of hours at ticket offices.
A very useful and is also in Italian: www.info.wien.at