"A Wiener Melange" a Vienna Travel Page by yooperprof

Pallas Athena stands guard over the Parlament building, spear in one hand, orb in the other - strength and wisdom balanced by the Divine. If only it were true!

Ein bier bitte! Yes, the vineyards of Grinzing are visible from much of the city, and the famous wine taverns - or "heuriger" - are justifiably famous. But there is plenty of beer to be drunk in Vienna, and good beer at that. If you just ask for "ein bier," most likely you will be served a pilsner, perhaps not as fine as a Czech Budvar, but certainly serviceable! Be sure to ask for "ein Kr?gerl" - the full half liter. It's much better value than the smaller glass, the "Seidl," which is about a third of a liter.

It's not all beer gardens, men in lederhosen, and opera. Vienna is also one of the capitals of New Europe - and a crucial bridge between north and south, east and west. It's a vibrant international city with a cosmopolitan population. Vienna is more than one big open air museum: it's a place where the future is being shaped.