Sue me, there had to be at least one day I couldn't think of a clever play-on-words title. 

I have to say, waking up to the sun and 20 degree weather is something I could very easily get used to.  Although I am a Vancouver boy through and through (aka I love the rain) the sunshine is a welcome change to my accustomed weather.  
After waking up, breakfast blah blah blah we really didn't have a super strict plan for what to do today.  I've never been to Vienna or really thought about traveling here at all so I didn't really know anything about what there is to do in this city.

Walking as it happens turned out to be a bit of the theme today.  Vienna is a bit like Victoria, BC.  
By that I mean it's rather awkwardly spread out and even if it is "technically" walk-able locals probably tram / underground everywhere.  
But, seeing as a transit day pass is about ten euro we decided the most economical option was just to walk, walk, walk.   

Like Prague, I find Vienna a very architecturally appealing city.  There are a lot of gorgeous buildings to take pictures in front of and a lot of gardens to lazily walk through.  The first stop was at the Austrian National Parliamentary Assembly which is very inspired by the Greco-Roman era.  That's really putting it lightly because they have a giant statue of Athena holding Victory in her hand outside on their front steps.  

Along the way we also saw the Rathausplatz / Rathaus which is the Viennese city hall and park.  They were actually setting up for the "Life Ball" which is the largest HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser in Europe.  It sucks because we miss the Ball by three days but I would've loved to go see what the event is all about. 

From there we made our way into the museum quadrant where we decided to sit on the grass and eat lunch and people watch.  Finishing up Jack and I parted ways for a bit as I went off to explore the Kunst Hisorisches Museum Wien which is basically the Museum of Natural History and Ancient Antiquities.  On the whole it's an amazing gallery and definitely worth the eleven euro student entry, however if I could give the gallery one suggestion it would be this.  Please, please, please add English translations to the Greek and Roman antiquities section.  All the Flemish and Renaissance paintings have beautiful English translations but non of the ancient civilizations do, which is frustrating when you are like me and love ancient history but also don't speak German.  However after about two hours of that I had my fill so I met up with Jack by the old Imperial Palace.

Next came the walking... ohhhh the walking. 

This was the point in the day where I had capped my creative and artistic input and was ready to go home and nap / chill.  But little did I know Jack had other motives.

A three kilometre walk later we end up at the Belvedere Palace.  A Versailles styled chateau with grandiose grounds and what looked like a wedding taking place on the main lawn.  However, it was at this point where I hadn't eaten or drank for several hours so hungry Graeme put his foot down and we went on the search for something to eat.

Vienna is a beautiful and captivating city.  The culture of art and architecture is deeply engrained into it's lifeblood.  The weather has been ideal and the people welcoming (for the most part).

I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow, most probably explore another gallery. 

Until tomorrow  

- G
xoxo