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From: mac@uvacs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Vienna
Message-ID: <978@uvacs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Oct-83 09:45:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: uvacs.978
Posted: Fri Oct  7 09:45:55 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Oct-83 05:33:57 EDT
Lines: 30


There's much to see in Vienna.  Such things as the summer palace, the
Hearts of the Hapsburgs (in jars!), the Belvedere Palace, etc.  I'm sure a
decent guide book will tell you these things.  I found Wittgensteins house
interesting (his own design).  It's now owned by the Bulgarian embassy, who
restored it and run it as a museum.  I was shown around by a very nice
woman who spoke fluent English.  There's usually something interesting
happening in the cathedral square.  Vienna is celebrating the 300th
anniversary of the last siege by the Turks this year, so there are special
exhibits and commemorative coffee.  The city is littered with good places
to eat, as well as frauds.

If you are in Vienna for some time, I'd recommend an overnight excursion to
Budapest.  The hydrofoil down the Danube takes ~5 hours.  Visas are easy to
get (go to the Hungarian embassy).  The agency IBUSZ on the Kaertnerstrase
can make arrangements.  Budapest is a lively city.  Rumor has it that the
famous Viennese pastries are actually from Budapest.  Many people
understand German, which seems to be the standard tourist language in
Central Europe.  This is also an easy way to get a glimpse behind the iron
curtain.

The train is indeed the way to go, especially in the mountains.  There's no
inconvenience, and the time is well spent.  The Orient Express is still
running from Paris to Bucharest, but it's no different from other trains,
except for the passengers (lots of Yugoslav guest-workers).  Not to be
confused with the elegant train somebody started recently.

Alex Colvin

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