When we arrived in Prague we stayed across the street from the main train station. To leave we had to go to the other train station at Holesevice. We arranged for the hotel car to take us. It is smaller station and not as busy. This is one of the most comfortable train trip, no crowds, we traveled first class because we had rail passes. We passed some beautiful countryside, all cultivated, the hay bales were piled high every where in fields. We passed some adorable houses, they were so small and beautifully decorated, almost like a dollhouse. How much space does one need? In the USA the recent report said, 'the average size of homes in the USA has decreased from 2400 sq ft to 2200 sq ft. A colleague of mine once remarked, he went to look at a house, 'not very big, almost 3500 sq ft'. God, tha't a mansion to me. I live in a tiny cottage about 1100 sq ft. Lately I passed by people living in their cars or their RV's and I know one does not need a whole of space. We need to readjust our perspective. Looking out of the train windows reinforced that message in my mind. We arrived in Vienna at Sudbanhoff station but we really want to get to Westbanhoff station where our hostel was. The guidebook said, tram 18 will take us there. Upon exiting we saw tram 18 waiting and after purchasing a ticket we jumped on the tram only to realise it was going the wrong direction. The driver said, he's doing a loop and will drop us off on the way back. So we got to see the outskirts of Vienna, it was as ordinary as any suburb. We got lost again at the train station, the instructions given was if we had taken the train instead of the tram. So after wandering around in the streets of Wein for a full 45 minutes, we finally found our bearing and our hostel. I hadn't made any reservations and they were full but they did send us to a nearby hostel which had a room for 4 people. They were reluctant to let us have the room. We finally persuaded them that we didn't mind sharing if another party of 2 were to come. We did have roommates later that day, 2 Swiss girls. They slept late while we were early risers. We went to bed at 9pm, they didn't get back till 1 or 2 in the morning. We survived the 2 nights we spent in Vienna. At 20 euros per person per night, we are not complaining. The hostel people informed us we can a 10% discount on meals at the corner Turkish restaurant. We couldn't wait....
We sat down to a great meal of grilled beef. Mmmmmmmm that was good, we were to eat many more meals at this restaurant. We didn't know much about Vienna or Austria before coming. Other than the little jabs the press throw at Arnold, the governor of California and an Austrian. Leaving Vienna after our visit, we have come to appreciate the history of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
When we arrived in Prague we stayed across the street from the main train station. To leave we had to go to the other train station at Holesevice. We arranged for the hotel car to take us. It is smaller station and not as busy. This is one of the most comfortable train trip, no crowds, we traveled first class because we had rail passes. We passed some beautiful countryside, all cultivated, the hay bales were piled high every where in fields. We passed some adorable houses, they were so small and beautifully decorated, almost like a dollhouse. How much space does one need? In the USA the recent report said, 'the average size of homes in the USA has decreased from 2400 sq ft to 2200 sq ft. A colleague of mine once remarked, he went to look at a house, 'not very big, almost 3500 sq ft'. God, tha't a mansion to me. I live in a tiny cottage about 1100 sq ft. Lately I passed by people living in their cars or their RV's and I know one does not need a whole of space. We need to readjust our perspective. Looking out of the train windows reinforced that message in my mind. We arrived in Vienna at Sudbanhoff station but we really want to get to Westbanhoff station where our hostel was. The guidebook said, tram 18 will take us there. Upon exiting we saw tram 18 waiting and after purchasing a ticket we jumped on the tram only to realise it was going the wrong direction. The driver said, he's doing a loop and will drop us off on the way back. So we got to see the outskirts of Vienna, it was as ordinary as any suburb. We got lost again at the train station, the instructions given was if we had taken the train instead of the tram. So after wandering around in the streets of Wein for a full 45 minutes, we finally found our bearing and our hostel. I hadn't made any reservations and they were full but they did send us to a nearby hostel which had a room for 4 people. They were reluctant to let us have the room. We finally persuaded them that we didn't mind sharing if another party of 2 were to come. We did have roommates later that day, 2 Swiss girls. They slept late while we were early risers. We went to bed at 9pm, they didn't get back till 1 or 2 in the morning. We survived the 2 nights we spent in Vienna. At 20 euros per person per night, we are not complaining. The hostel people informed us we can a 10% discount on meals at the corner Turkish restaurant. We couldn't wait....
We sat down to a great meal of grilled beef. Mmmmmmmm that was good, we were to eat many more meals at this restaurant. We didn't know much about Vienna or Austria before coming. Other than the little jabs the press throw at Arnold, the governor of California and an Austrian. Leaving Vienna after our visit, we have come to appreciate the history of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
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