Friday 14th March
Unfortunately the forecast was correct and we had rain all day, so we planned a few indoor locations and more cafés than usual. We also had the benefit of the 72 hour pass, so we could sightsee in the dry. The first stop was one we missed yesterday – the Justizpalast (City Courthouse) which only allows 25 people in per hour. So we joined the queue with approximately 28 other in front of us, hoping they weren’t too strict on numbers.
On the half hour the doors opened and the doorman clocked 25 people inside leaving 2 young adults, us and the remaining queue on the outside. We were just debating whether or not to wait the hour until the next session, when the very helpful doorman opened the door letting the 2 people in front of us in and said to us “I don’t like leaving the old people standing too long, so will try to get us in”, of course he was speaking to Vanessa at the time. A few minutes later he let us both in. You’ll love what came next…
The entrance inside was ultra secure with an open hatch and shelf through which we could pass all our baggage for inspection. We enter via a double door where the outer has to be closed before the inner one opens. Then they continue to inspect our possessions.
Belts, watches, wallet, phones, cameras etc were all inspected, but they confiscated one item in the photo to be returned when we left. I would have thought the water as they weren’t letting any drinks in. Have you guessed it yet….
[Click here] to reveal the item – my miniature Jobo tripod!
At least we were allowed entry and didn’t have to wait or return at another time. The public are only allowed entry into the main hall which was quite impressive and with only 29 people it’s not too difficult avoiding people in the photos.
I did get my deadly weapon back when we left and passed a queue of about 40+ people waiting to get in. Two stops down the line on the tram we found another Nordsee café for lunch before heading back to the Karlskirche. The inside was worth the £8 cost which all helps towards the cost of the external restorations.
Time for another coffee before heading of to the Russisch-Orthodoxe Kathedrale zum heiligen Nikolaus (Russian Orthodox Church).
I now realise that it is open to visitors, but closes at 2pm weekdays, so we might try and return again tomorrow or Sunday morning.
The next location we planned was outside, but at least the rain had eased a little. So back to the tram. There weren’t any obviously picturesque bridges to photograph, but the Zollamtssteg bridge looked interesting.
Time for yet another coffee, so I found another café nearby, but discovered when I went to pay that they only take cash! There was no warning on the door, so be careful and check in future as we don’t carry cash anymore. So I had to search out an ATM.
Just around the corner from the café was the Österreichische Postsparkasse (old post office) which also has a café. The building looks deserted but is now a museum devoted to architecture and the public are free to wander around inside. People are still working here, but otherwise have a wander.
The main hall would be worth a photo, but it’s now used for the café seating area. But we were at least inside in the dry and found a couple of staircases to photograph.
Compare the images below – colour or black & white?
…or this angle?
The rain was now easing off and the forecast improved for the evening, so we headed off to find an ancient clock in what appears to be the ‘old town area’.
Not too far from here was the Ankeruhr which in an elaborate, historic clock with copper accents & figures that move around on the hour.
The architecture around this area is definitely more dated than the rest of the city we’ve seen to date. Walking on to catch the tram back to base we pass an interesting cobble stone alley with old buildings surrounding the area.
We’ll explore this area again tomorrow as it’s only a few stops on the tram from our apartment. But first we have the Spanish Riding School performance to watch.
We headed back for our evening meal and to pick up my main camera and tripods as we planned to visit the Wurstelprater Vergnügungspark amusement park, thinking some ICM photos (in camera movement) would be worth a try with all the lights and motion. It was open, but as far as we could tell the only attractions open were indoors, so back we went to our apartment.
Bateson's Travel log 