Reflections of the Danube

 The main flow of the Danube does not go through central Vienna so we took the Metro out to Old Danube station.

 These photos were taken by the banks of the original route of the River Danube. It was a grey, miserable day but the beauty of this great river still shone through.

The water flowing through the Innere Stadt of Vienna is the Danube canal hence the trip out on the Metro.

These photos were taken as we crossed the Danube Canal

Stephansdom

St Stephen's Cathedral is in the heart of Vienna. A Gothic masterpiece that dominates the city centre. The foundations of the original church date back to 1147. This is the fourth church on this site with just the Giant's door and Heathen towers surviving from the 13th cent. 

The impressive roof is covered with 250,000 tiles laid out in the design of the Hapsburg coat of arms.

It was only when I stood back from the Cathedral that I noticed the coat of arms

State Opera Vienna

I was in Vienna for a few days last week and went on a tour of the State Opera House. Tickets for the opera are usually sold out 6 months in advance but I was delighted to be able to go on a guided tour of the building.

They have a different production each evening so the scenery needs to be changed daily. It isn't stored at the Opera House so has to be transported across the town.

I did offer to help out in the chorus line but no one seemed interested.