Venice and Vienna

That's me at our pension in Venice, eating my last piece of pizza from my favorite pizzaria in Rome. So what did we find in Venice? Only this...

We had a lay-over of one night in Venice and one night in Vienna on our way from Rome to Prague, but we made the most of it. As usualy, we charged probably 16+ miles in two days -- all after sitting on trains for over 12 hours. That is what you must do if you want to see places in short order, charge it.

Venice, famous for their masks and glass among other things, is a place that you can't just go by without checking out. It isn't everyday that you travel near a city built on the water where the traffic lights direct boats on canals instead of cars on streets. The main square in Venice is the thing to take in after all the side streets and canals. We arrived at dusk, greeted by lights and music. Little stages with a band consisting of a singer, grand piano, bass, violin and accordian played romantic music from plays like the Westside Story and the Sound of Music in front of nice restaraunts and crowds of people.

Gondola on the Main Canal in Venice

St. Mark's Square in Venice

Masks in Venice

Then we made our way by train to Vienna, Austria. We got a good tour of the city by taking the old-fashion tram to our hostel. Tired, but wanting see at least get a picture or two in Vienna, we hopped the metro to see the symbol of the city, St. Stephen's Cathederal. The thing is just looks old, the sides are stained black like it has been through war (it has), and it is huge. The inside is impressive due to the size and the large stained glass in the windows. In the darkness and moonlight though the clouds, the cathederal seemed like a place where Dracula would reside.

Stephandom as it is said in German