Danube Cruise and Exploration 2017 -- Day 16

Sunday, August 27

Vienna, Austria

Yoyi is still sick.  We rented bikes and rode around town; our first stop was a pharmacy. It was not easy to find one open on Sunday;  even then, the business was not exactly open.  The pharmacist opened a trap door/window, through which we discussed Yoyi's malady.  She had just the thing;  we purchased some tablets that actually helped.

Bicycling for free

The bike sharing program in Vienna is essentially free.  For 1 Euro and the registration of your credit card, you join the bike share community.  Then every rental is free up to 1 hour; the second hour is 1 Euro, and the 3rd hour is 2 additional Euros.  What a deal.  We kept a bike over an hour and used up our 1 Euro registration, but never paid an additional cent.

We visited one of Beethoven's homes. The plaques on historical sites give the most abbreviated description of what you see.  In some cases just

a couple of the works he composed here. 

We decided that this was probably the house that the children's book "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" was based on. And no wonder poor Beethoven was a grouch during his last years. Deaf and having to climb four flights of steps every time he came home. 

Strauss monument in Stadtpark

It was very touching to walk around the same place Beethoven walked around.  Well, actually, his flat was the one across the hall, but it's owned by someone who wouldn't give it up to the museum.  Instead, the city made a museum of the identical flat that we visited.

We also went to Mozart's house, but just saw it from the outside. This city has been home to some of the world's greatest composers. 

Of course, we made the obligatory visit to the Stephansdom -- the main cathedral.  Needless to say, very impressive.  After a little wandering around, we went back to the hotel where Yoyi spent the rest of the afternoon trying to build back some strength.

Ed went out on a bike ride by himself, just wandering the city aimlessly.

Franz Schubert

At the end of the day, we rode bikes again to the Stadtpark, in which there are statues of most of the famous Viennese composers, including the famous memorial to Johann Strauss.  A genuine beer garden is found here, as well -- Biergart'l im Stadtpark. Ed is in love with the beer here and, believe me, he wouldn't pass a sobriety test if he were given one. The beer is really good.

We spent the evening packing up for our return trip tomorrow.