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When you are new to a city or, just tired of walking and want to hear someone else do all the talking - then take a city tour! You also get to hear some interesting facts that you don't always find in your guidebook. My 3 hour city tour with Cityrama was part of the 3 night package deal I had with my hotel, the Graben, by Graben pedestrian shopping district in downtown Vienna. I went on the tour during my 2nd day there on May 24, 2006, and was conveniently picked up at my hotel at 9:00 a.m to be shuttled off to the main depot to start the English tour at 9:45 a.m. The bus drove around the Ringstrasse, past Stadtpark and Belvedere, until we ended up at the highlight of the tour, Schoenbrunn Palace. It is just amazing inside! Taking a city tour is also a great way to meet other single travellers. I ended up sitting beside a really nice Aussie guy from Perth named Michael. We started chatting and after the tour, we had lunch at Venezia Pizzeria's patio, an Italian restaurant on Karntner Strasse near the Stephansdom cathedral, and then wandered around the streets where the tour had gone past, like Stadtpark, to take photos. When we parted, because I still had to some last minute shopping to do, I just shook hands when I said good bye when I should have exchanged e-mails. While traveling - you have to be ready for the unexpected. Next time I will have my business cards with me. It's always good to keep in touch with people you meet on the way.

One of the first places that we visited after lunch was the very famous golden statue of Johann Strauss II in the Stadtpark, a large landscaped park in central Vienna. When we were on the city tour bus we only caught a glimpse of it from the road as we drove by. There are many statues of famous musicians and artists scattered around the park but none as famous and impressive as this one. Stadpark was first inaugurated in 1862, when this pretty little park was laid out on either side of the winding River Wien. Today the river is contained in cement and stone canals and portals.

Fleischmarkt is a very interesting street in Vienna, it is by the remnants of the old city walls. One of the oldest restaurants is also located here, the traditional Viennesse style restaurant the Griechenbeisl, built in 1487. It is a well known landmark in this area. Near the door hangs a woodcarving of a bagpiper known as Der Liebe Augustin (Dear Old Augustin), a local drunk who during the 1679 plague was mistook for dead and thrown into the plague pit. He played his bagpipes to attract help when he woke up later on, luckily he never did die from the plague.

Beside that is the visibly striking Fleischmarkt Greek Orthodox Church with its Neo-Byzantine facade (the Greek Church of the Holy Trinity). The famous architect Theopil Hansen (who also designed the parliament building) created its rich, golden appearence in the 1850's. Many Greek merchants settled in this area during the 18th century. This beautiful church is one of about 450+ churches you can find around Vienna. Sorry Mike, your in the shot!

One of the most interesting buildings that we came across was the Art Noveau style Urania, right by the Donaukanal. Mike commented that it must be an observatory. He was right! This unique building is an observatory, as well as a public educational institute, and even more intriguing - a puppet theatre!

This picture of Belvedere was taken during my first day in Vienna. The sky was much clearer then so I could take a really decent picture. Our tour bus drove by this palace with the tour guide informing us that Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was a general who won many battles, had this constructed in less than 2 years! Unfortunately, on the other side of this Palace, it seems that the grounds were being worked on, a lot of the water fountains were being renovated with metal fences and tarps all around. Hopefully, they will have this all finished by the end of 2006.

The Belvedere consists of two palaces - upper and lower - an orangery, and many landscaped classical gardens. Today they house an impressive art gallery, from gothic to 18th century, and sculptures, woodcarvings, etc.

The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna was designed by architect Theopil Hansen, who chose a Neo-Classical style. This immense structure was completed in 1884. There are impressive towering columns, friezes, greek and roman statues, and waterfountains surrounding it.

It had been badly damaged during the second world war, and restoration was finally completed in the 1990s.

The Albertina at the edge of Hofburg complex in Vienna, Austria. It houses one of the world's best and largest collections of prints, watercolours, drawings, and photographs. This was once a palace that belonged to Maria Theresa's daughter, Maria Christina and her husband Duke Albert - of which the gallery is named after. The Neo-Classical building has some impressive statues and waterfountains along its walls.

We past this amusing sign for a Chinese restaurant by Schwedenplatz, near the Post Hotel. I bet they get a lot of business because of that.

Vienna is a beautiful city, and I would love to come back again to visit and further explore this amazing part of Austria. I would love to visit around Christmas and New Years time to shop at the Christkindl markets, take in the sights of the decorated streets and buildings, eat festive foods, etc. Should be a lot of fun.