Wet, wet, wet

We made an early rise to do a SKYPE but that didn't work so off to breakfast and then the walking tour of Vienna in the rain. St Stephen's Dom (inside and out) the Palace complex of the old Hapsburg Emperors, a ferris wheel well over 100 years old, some of the history of over 2000 years of Vienna and old ruins that were accidentally discovered under one of the main plazas. The re-routing of the Danube river from the centre of the city which has all been part of valuable flood mitigation activity. But the rain and blustery conditions were really no preparation for the afternoon. We had a 1 hour drive across to Slovakia (the other half of what was Czechoslovakia until 1993) It rained all the way which made taking photos out of the coach window a bit blurry!! However, it is a progressive city considering it has only been open to the west such a short time and is now part of the Eurozone adopting the Euro currency only last year. Heer we saw the rstored castle from the outside in the wind and rain, St Michael's Gate, the one gate remaining of the old town and city wall, buildings where Liszt, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven either lived or gave recitals or lessons. Our free time in the city was actually spent taking refuge in Maccas (yes they are here too!) 1.10 euro for a cup of hot chocolate and the same for a muffin - the cheapest Maccas we have ever experienced. Back to the hotel like drowned rats, but a good day - now a quick change and then off to a restaurant for our first tour dinner. Tomorrow will be a visit to the Vienna Woods, Schonbrun Palace and then a splash up dinner and COncert at the Kursalon.