"THE MAJOR'S MEANDERINGS IN VOLUPTUOUS... " a Vienna Travel Page by themajor

Fast approaching my fifth visit and Vienna resolutely remains my favourite city in the world...and I'm starting to resent it! Having spent many holidays exploring my dear old UK, forays into foreign lands have been comparitively few. I'm determined to tick off the great cities of Europe one by one but Vienna is stopping me. Why? Well, I love everything about it and I keep coming back.

I'm not saying it's the city of everyone's dreams but if you want to explore a city that successfully mixes the archaic with the avant garde, and has managed to preserve an elegant way of life you thought was dead forever then Vienna is for you. If you're into theme parks, thrills and Big Macs then you might be disappointed but if you love good food, magnificent music, art and architecture then you've simply got no choice...but perhaps you should tick off those other cities first!

Of course, that's not to imply that cities like Vienna should be rushed - far from it! Vienna is a city to savour, and ideally in as sedate a stately a manner as possible. Try to avoid the mad rush in Summer...and do remember that we Europeans aren't quite as bothered about great big hotel rooms (we dont have many!) or NASA style air-conditioning systems (whatever they are?). I'm always amazed to see reviews - often from American chums - which prickle slightly when mentioning these two areas. Be forewarned chaps, we Europeans are rather, 'er, different in some respects so choose a modern whizzo hotel chain of you want all the above. Furthermore, why not come in Spring when it's less crowded and humid or better still, treat yourself to Christmas in Vienna...but do dress accordingly and bring your thermals!

Talking of dressing appropriately, it's probably just as well to tell you that diets and Vienna really don't mix. Visiting Vienna whilst calorie counting would be as much use as a vegetarian buying shares in an abattoir - not a good mix! Temptation in the shape of rich food, perfect pastries and chocolates abound and unless your trousers are adaptable and elasticated you will feel the strain! You will simply have to slim down before the trip or sip vegetable broth for weeks afterwards...but you know...it's jolly well worth it!