Trip to Vienna

A huge palatial residence near the outskirts of Vienna.
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Trip to Vienna

Tuesday morning saw my arrival at Südbahnhof Station in Vienna where, upon exit,  you're immediately faced with a  metropolis of concrete, road, rails and tramlines.

The 14,000 crowd fell silent whilst the Scottish anthem echoed around the stands

I started off clueless as where I’m going next so I procured a map and a tram ticket and I figured out roughly where my hotel is. A 10 minute tramride later towards Wesbahnhof and I’ve checked in at the correct hotel and explored the nearby shops on Mariahilfer Strasse.

Where the Euro 2008 Final will be hosted, Vienna.
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I soon spy the famous Golden Arches and devour my first McDonald’s of the trip. It is a classy McD’s with free internet and a special café full of cream cakes. It's been a long journey to get here from Glasgow, via dublin, landing in Slovakia and then a train to Vienna..... so  siesta is called-for in the early evening.

In the evening I make my way to Shebeen Bar where a few hundred Scotland fans have already gathered. It's Tuesday night and the host nation will be playing Scotland the following evening. The Scottish fans are famed for their good behaviour and wild partying so we are still singing, dancing and drinking until close around 4am.

Watching Scotland win 1-0 vs Austria.
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Waking up on matchday the partygoers will feel a bit fragile but I still made it up for 11am and a cokecoke & croissant. Then went on a whistlestop tour of Vienna:

1. Took in the Museums quarter of the city which had lots of stately buildings Many of them are in the Museums Quartier which is a magnet for tourists and theatre/opera lovers. The Austrian Parliament building is close by as well.

2. Lunch - A schnitzel burger! (breaded pork in a bun) with some shrubbery (salad), beer and cokes.

Museums Quartier, Vienna
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3. Visit to St Stephensplazt Cathedral. Located in the centre of of the pedestrian precinct. Tall spires, impressive stained glass windows and stone masonary.

4. Walked to Prater Park to go on the Big Wheel. Great views across the city. Link an old wooden version of London's millenium wheel. The wooden cabin tilts and creeks depending where people stand... and if its windy.

5. Long walk to the Ernst Happoel Stadium - we sneaked in for photos inside the stadium thanks to the workmen who left the gates open. This stadium hosts the Final of the Euro 2008 football Championships.

View from the Prater Wheel, Vienna
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6. Pizza and drinks for dinner then off to an edge of town palace en route to the football match.

Austria 0 Scotland 1 - woo hooo!

We witnessed Scotland record an impressive away victory over the host nation. Gary O'Connor's second half strike sparks 'mental' celebrations amongst the 500+ Tartan Army inside the stadium. The 14,000 crowd fell silent whilst the Scottish anthem echoed around the stands. Back to the TA party in the city centre and once again didn't get home until morning. Lots of singing and dancing of tribal footy songs until daylight!

Trams in Vienna.
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It has to be said that without the Shebeen Bar where the Tartan Army gathered for both nights it seemed that most of inner-city Vienna shut down at midnight or 1am. For somewhere so busy and  full of life (and tourists) in the daytime it really went quiet at night. I'd recommend Vienna for culture vultures, not much evidence of nightlife on these two nights other than the Scottish visitors.