April 21 - Vienna

Following breakfast there was an informative lecture on Austria's history in the context of the house of Habsburg before we headed out for the classic Vienna City Tour, (and checking out the locals for the Habsburg lip and overbite jaw that we had just learned about).  The bus took us and the guide around the ringroad and past highlight buildings like the Opera House, Imperial Palace and Vienna City Hall. We got off at St. Stephan's for a short walk through the inner city, catching the Lippizaner Stallions in their stalls while others were in the arena practising (the horses start training when young but don't actually perform until they turn completely white, at around seven years of age - that's if they prove they are capable). The main stop on the walking tour was the National Library, beautifully ornate but functional as it houses over 1 million books, some in 20 km of shelving underground.
The afternoon was free time to further explore Vienna. I headed up to the train station to make my reservations for the train to Florence after the river cruise, then headed over to the amusement park to ride the oldest surviving wooden car ferris wheel - the Wiener Riesenrad.  The trip is just one very slow round on the giant wheel in a car with about ten other people, but it gives you a bird's eye over the city. There are cars on the wheel that can be booked for a special dinner or private party and I saw a couple go by with the white linens and wine glasses all set up. I walked back to the ship window shopping along the way and after being surrounded by easter decor for the past few weeks I broke down and bought an embroidered table cloth with bunnies and spring flowers - all set for next year at Easter. It was a very long day of walking, and my body was complaining as I did the final leg down the hill and to the dock.  The answer, afternoon tea, hot shower and feet up for 15 minutes before it was time for early dinner as many were heading out for the optional tour of a Vienna Concert.
The concert was in the music hall where the Strauss brothers used to play in order to support the family when their father left.  It was a delightful evening of entertainment, with Strauss and Mozart music, ballet and opera-operatta singers to give us a taste of Viennese culture. The evening concluded with another bus tour to enjoy the night lights on the ringroad as we headed back to the ship.