Soon after checking into Hotel Mozart in Vienna, Mark has booked us into another challenge….. the scooter tour of Vienna!!

Have you tried scooting along in 34 degree heat up hills ?!?!?! Luckily, some of it was downhill too – so we both survived. This tour ventured into the less “touristy” backstreets and laneways of Vienna, passing the modern train station and a building similar to Flinders Street train station in Melbourne.

Purple modern seats graced the museum square.

Fabio, our guide, points up to the top floor of an office building to a man about to jump off!!. . . . this artist was making a statement at the time of the Global Financial Crisis and it can be interpreted as “dont jump, your life is worth more than money!!”.

Vienna, population nearly 2 million, was the imperial capital for nearly 700 years of the Habsburgs until 1918 and hence there are many grand formal buildings, palaces and parks to see. Catching the underground on Tuesday, we visit the Schönbrunn Palace with its extensive gardens, hot houses and zoo with ? koalas. The palace was the Hamburgs’ summer residence.

There are no concerts at the famous Opera House during the summer holidays but we did catch some culture at the Schönbrunn Orangerier at the palace. We were treated to the Palace Orchestra playing melodies by Strauss and Mozart and wonderful performances by Opera stars and ballet dancers performing to Blue Danube – which was was a memorable finale!

The task to see everything / most things in Vienna is daunting and we though it best to do another guided tour . . .. walking this time . . of the historic central Vienna. Along the way, we pass modern sculptures depicting the horrors of war; we watch large historic clocks being removed for renovation; and , and marvel at the largest horse statue balancing on its hind legs only (not tail also) !>!>!

I zoom in on the infamous balcony that was built for Hitler’s speech upon the conquering of Vienna in 1938 – and only used once by him – never again used!!

Stephensdom (St Stephens Church) is very large. You can see me on the roof restoring it.

The memorial, triangular shape with gold on top, is for those that died in the black plague of the 16th century.

On this tour we meet a lovely couple, Pip and Colin, from New Zealand who are touring Europe in their brand new motorhome.