Retired - Not Out: Vienna

Up and out of the hotel before 07.00. We drove to the Heathrow Parking Meet and Greet drop-off point, where leaving the car was handled quickly and efficiently. Down to departures to check in, and finally through security to the Club World Lounge for breakfast:

I was happier than I looked, but it WAS still early:

We boarded at 09.15 - the view from our Club World seats:

After a slightly delayed take-off, breakfast was served - continental for Amanda and a warm mozzarella and tomato panini for me.

Heathrow from the air:

Ipswich, the River Orwell and the Orwell Bridge:

The Suffolk coast; the arrow points to Sizewell B - the UK's only Pressurised Water Nuclear Reactor. In the early 1980s I spent three years working under contract to the (then) Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, in support of the Public Enquiry into the possible building of this reactor:

Container ships in the Channel:

The Dutch coast:

Our route:

First sight of Vienna International Airport:

Hoping to avoid the hassle of using public transport on a Sunday we had arranged for the hotel to send a car to pick us up. After clearing baggage claim and customs we found our driver and headed into the city - to discover that it was hosting a Wings for Life run and that virtually no major thoroughfare was unaffected. In spite of this, we made it to the hotel in around 45 minutes. The first sighting didn't inspire confidence - the entire street was being resurfaced:

But as we got closer things improved dramatically. Our home for the next few days - The Guesthouse Vienna:

The 1950s building used to be a student dormitory; a little of its history can be found here.

Our room number, shown in 4" brass letters let into the floor just outside the door:

These little cakes were waiting in the room to welcome us:

as were these little 'visiting cards'; the idea behind these was that if non-German-speaking guests ever found ourselves lost in the city they could hand one to a taxi driver and would be returned safely:

Towards the sleeping end of the room:

Always a good sign - TP not only folded into a point, but point secured by custom-made sticky labels:

Walk-in closet adjacent to mini-kitchen counter:

One of the most generous mini-bars we have encountered: included in the room price was a selection of cold drinks replenished daily:

and FOUR bottles of wine (two red, two white) - also replaced daily:

The room contained a number of very stylish touches. This desk light and the reading lights over the bed were Alouette lamps by Atelier Areti.

The bookends were from the local workshop of Carl Auböck:

From the small number of books available:

Amanda located the one English text and was able to finish it before we left:

There was only one mis-step - this chewing gum was rubbery and tasted awful:

We unpacked, settled in and then went for a stroll. For a Sunday, the streets seemed quite busy. We walked past the stables of the Spanish Riding School and then on to the Stephansdom, which we remembered so clearly from our visit in 1991:

Further along the street we paused at the Stock im Eisen before resting and deciding where to go for an early dinner:

Based on the time, our location and a bit of earlier research we settled on the subterranean and excellent Ribs of Vienna:

Eschewing the signature "one metre of ribs" option we settled on the more reasonable sounding "small" portions (which turned out to be 2/3 m each), together with salad and fried potatoes, which we thoroughly enjoyed, while also being entertained by the toddler on the adjacent table:

We managed to find room for ice cream and apple strudel to finish and then walked (rolled) out onto the streets for further exploration. Along the Ringstrasse to the Opera House, where posters advertised the performance for which we had tickets the following evening:

Across the street was the Hotel Sacher, with associated Cafe:

At the side of the Opera House is this enormous screen, which shows the evening performance to anyone wishing and able to settle down in the open air: