More Vienna Please
How could one possibly have their fill of Vienna after only one day?
You see, that’s the beauty of river cruising, as I’m quickly discovering. There is no rush to get to the next port and I’m loving this pace.
While there were a number of shore excursions to choose from today; Bratislava, Farmer’s Market, Lippizzaner Stallions, Mozart and Strauss Concert – and even a swimming adventure in the Danube, today was all about taking a moment for myself and enjoying the ship.
Ship life
Every ship has a heartbeat; it’s not the engine room nor the wheelhouse, but rather it’s the pulse of the collective crew. A constant and never-stopping, ever-present, constant, soothing, reliable beat that almost goes unnoticed – until it stops.
The last few days had been a whir of energy and excitement. So, today I wanted to do my best to be still for a few hours and absorb my surroundings.
Sometimes, I wish I was invisible. To observe without being intrusive and get lost in the lives of others. This was impossible aboard this beautiful ship and its crew, but nevertheless I parked myself in a corner of the Aquavit Terrace with my trusty laptop, a lap rug and cup of tea.
Most passengers were off the ship, a delicious luxury as the Egil was almost like my private yacht. Daniel, who soon became a firm favourite crew member of mine, constantly checked in on me during the moments I paused and looked up, allowing my fingers to stop and take a break from keyboard-dancing.
“Anything else, my lady?” his warm eyes would scan me, hoping to fulfil any request. He had knack for being attentive while unobtrusive.
For four hours I sat, watching food cleared, tables set, floors cleaned, stock replenished. It was all done in such quiet efficiency.
I decided to stretch my legs and headed to my cabin to freshen up. As I descended the stairs, a cargo-conga line was snaking its way from dock outside, through reception and down the hallways. Boxes of alcohol, drinks, food, supplies and everything else a ship needs were being passed along, hand-to-hand.
Seeing my approach, one crew member called “Stop” and, in unison, all crew immediately stopped passing stock and took one step back, creating a passage for me to pass.
Guilt washed over me as my presence has put a kink in this well-oiled assembly line. Apologetically I whisked past, the faces of the crew smiling and friendly. The camaraderie was palpable.
These few hours aboard gave me an insight into the workings of Viking River Cruises and the emphasis on ultimate passenger service. I couldn’t help but liken Egil to a Swan – so cool and calm above, but paddling intensely under the surface.
A foodie’s paradise
Did I really need an excuse to explore the food and coffee and scene in Vienna?
With many hours of daylight remaining, I stepped off the Egil to explore Vienna on foot. Today’s mission was to shop for unique treats to take home, have a real Viennese coffee and get lost in the city.
The metro was so easy to navigate – a day pass was 8 euro - and I headed back to the city centre. There I marvelled at St Stephen’s once more and walked down streets with no real sense of direction,
Down these streets I discovered lolly shops, boutiques, perfume houses, coffee shops.
Covered in numerous designer perfumes and with my arms laden with bags of sweets and cheese, I sat down for a coffee. Yes, it came out on a silver tray, a glass of water and sugar, and yes it was delicious.
And then on to the markets
I headed back on the metro, or U-Bahn with a mission to find the Naschmarkt. After getting off at the wrong station – the names of each station were SO long – I finally arrived at the correct stop, Kettenbrükengasse, right across the entrance to the markets.
The sights, sounds, smells all had me enthralled. At first, there were clothes, sunglasses and similar stalls, but as I travelled deeper, the most glorious fresh fruit, bakery treats, deli items, spices and more.
Yet further in, eateries now filled the alley ways. Bistros and cafes bustling with chic Europeans, drinking wine and engaged in lively conversation.
Goulash snack
Back aboard, the most magical sunset awaited. The moon was nearly full, its beauty unrivalled.
And then, yup, you guessed it, more food! The very talented chef Esteban made a huge pot of Goulash for us all to have a late-night snack on the Aquavit. Warm, creamy, spicy, it was like a blanket enveloping. Who needs warm milk to sleep when you have goulash?
