Marg and Robbin Travels: Back In Oz

But first a message. We have cracked the code on how to make the pics enlargeable and have fixed all but the first two entries.

It stayed hot for the last days in Vienna, over 30 C and late afternoon thunderstorms. However that didnt bring a pause in the sightseeing. Although to some extant seen one cathedral, seen them all, the St Charles Church (Karlskirche) experience is different. Here is the exterior. Note the little tower on top of the main cupola.

And here is what you see inside. A great jumble of metalwork. The tall tower is a lift, then there is a platform and on the platform are steps which lead the brave and those whose knees dont creak as much as mine did after the UK gardening to the very top of the church. The platform has a nice wobble, substantial at times, which adds to the insecure feeling. So also shown is how you take photos of "looking" down. My arm is longer than Margarets so I could stand even further away from the rail.

The interior artwork is being refurbished and that is their excuse for the structure. But I have my suspicions its basically for the tourists.

There is a large open area around the St Stephens church area which in the cool of the evening was the place to be. Firstly something to eat at the not very Austrian sounding Chatanooga. It was our last chance for a genuine Vienna Cutlet aka Wiener Schnitzel so we had to have it, mixed amongst the smokers as is the case everywhere in Vienna. Makes you realise what a great thing banning smoking has been for us non-smokers.

We needed a bit of cash from an ATM nearby. This must be the safest outdoor ATM in the world. The Vienna police seemed a happy lot. Not afraid to chat and laugh amongst themselves as they patrol the streets, puffing on their ciggies and chatting on their mobiles as they go.

And now some of the entertainment. The chap with the violin was a "life statue" who/which came to life if you put money into the little box. 50 cents got you a few tuneless squeaks on the bow.

Portraiture was popular.

This mess is graffiti art during and after. Very clever. Nothing used except spray paint and a scraper to 'draw' the figure.

Finally on the way home. Here is how the trip went.

Walk around the corner to the tube, take U3 line to Wien Mitte = airport train.
BUT U3 does not connect to WM via lifts etc as the connection is being built. So long walk in 30 degrees C so hot and sweaty and not even on the plane with 41 hours travel still to go.
Dropped in our luggage, having previously checked in at Internet Cafe - row 4. Nice. Seats A and C. Seat B is 6 inches wide so we have the row to ourselves. Find BA equivalent of Qantas Club and hang around for departure.
Arrive Heathrow, transfer bus from Terminal 5 to 4 which must have been 2 or 3 miles, much of it underground. Find BA equivalent of Qantas Club and hang around for departure.
LHR to Singapore. Rush to free internet to check into Qantas segments Syd/Bne then Bne/Tvl. Given row 26 but can change to Row 5 Syd/Bne on a 767. Nice. Find shared BA/Qantas Club and hang around for departure.
Arrive Syd at 5 am. Find Qantas Club, shower, change shirt (bliss - I was starting to stink) and hang around for departure.
Syd/Bne. Its a 737 after all. Still row 5 has a good view.
Arrive Bne. Find Qantas Club and hang around for departure.
Arrive Tvl. Taxi to Margarets. My car in her garage but while we were away the roller door carked it and has been held closed with some bricks. Mighty struggle to open door then lost the struggle to close it but neighbours came to rescue, most importantly with repair man contact who was very good.
Pick up mail from PO Box on the way home. It weighs a ton.
Sort mail into chuck now, look at tomorrow and 'oops, better deal with that right now'.

The Qantas Club lounges were a godsend on this long trip. There are benefits in being old, one of those that you can be a life QC member with a single payment.

A couple of pics from the trip.

This kid lived in her eagles nest and was mostly quiet and happy.