Europe for the first time...

[Triglyceride]

istarbaks: I'm planning of making the most out of the trains myself but I guess I'm a little iffy about car-renting...

sentiments - I'm 98% sure that I could go.. . I'll be cutting back on concert tickets this year (I'm such a concert geek) and will live on ramen noodles for a while...

plus, I told my family (Lolo, Lola, Mom and Dad..Aunts and Uncles....) that I'm accepting donations for my European trip.

[istarbaks]

Originally posted by sentiments
try this:
me, trying to save pa...... haay..... so if ever matuloy ako mga after 2 years pa (sana umulan ng pera, hee hee)

ako din, i'm planning to go europe again...southern europe and/or eastern europe... at saka northern part na rin...

naku heto na naman ako, di na naman makapag-decide kung saan pupunta

[heymikey]

Hmmm... where should I start?

Hostels are great. In fact, I prefer them to hotels, and believe me, I have stayed in some hotels on my trip (only during the start of my trip when I couldn't find a hostel). It does get very lonely sleeping in a room all by yourself. I am not saying that hostels are bad. What I was saying was that some independent hostels are better than HI hostels. So far, I have only stayed in 2 HI hostels. Most of the hostels I stayed in where independent. You should consider staying in independent hostels, which means that your HI card is not necessary.

You do not need to bring a sleep sheet. Most hostels provide sheets and blankets included in the price. Others charge for a small fee (around 1-2 euros).

Night trains are great especially when staying on couchettes. I had an unpleasant experience riding on a regular compartment from Salamanca to Lisbon which made me promise to myself to always book couchettes when travelling overnight. But I have to admit, I was glad I experienced that since everytime I remember it, it would make me smile. The Deutsche-Bahn Nachtzug's Liegewagen (couchette) was really comfortable and offers great privacy, although it is only available between Munich and Berlin, and Munich and Hamburg. Here is a picture of the compartment (http://www.nachtzugreise.de/DBautozu...n_gross_06.jpg).

Anyway, since it sounds like you will be doing a lot of daytrips, I think it would be best if you upgrade to a Eurailpass instead of a flexi.

Eurostar is a high-speed train. London to Paris is only 4 hours, I believe. It is not covered by any railpass -- Britrail or Eurail.

I don't suggest renting a car in Europe since driving in small towns can be a pain, especially with all those narrow one-way streets.

Ibiza is expensive, but worth it if you can afford it. There are ferries to and from Barcelona, Valencia, among others.

Why don't you trim Scandinavia and Eastern Europe (although you can squeeze Prague and probably Budapest in your itinerary), and you, I, and istarbaks go there next year together? I am also planning on going there next year.

[burnik2001]

The advantage of HOSTELS are that you get to meet and converse with travellers from all over the world. You can hook up with some of them during your travels and by going in groups you can sometimes get good deals (nothing beats sharing cab fare in the middle of the night).

Do you have a credit card for emergencies?

In London check DOVER CASTLE hostel. IT is walking distance to the Tower, and Metro. CHEAP (mga 7-10 pounds a night lang).

In Amsterdam we stayed at the BULLDOG. Nice, newly renovated, hip and clean and right in the red light district.

In rome check out the YELLOW hostel. Close to termini station and has FREE INTERNET.

[indiegirl]

Hi Triglyceride! Your trip sounds fantastic. Inggit ako! My last trip to Europe was in 2001 at hindi pa nasusundan... SIGH.

The others are correct in advising you to cut out some parts of your trip. Also find out travel times between your destinations within one country, because some of them could eat up more travel time than you're willing to sacrifice.

For example, mega-layo ang Berlin sa Fussen, which is where Neuchwanstein is located. Better to go to Austria from there, since Fussen is near the Austrian border, if I remember correctly. Or, go to Munich which is much closer. While in Munich, visit Hofbrauhaus for real lederhosen-and-giant-beer-mugs Oktoberfest-type atmosphere. Kinda touristy but fun.

If you want to go off the beaten track, visit Limburg for your Rhine view. This is small(er) town Germany at its best--be sure to visit the old town with its leaning half-timbered houses. For a big city taste of the Rhine, visit Koln for good shopping and a fantastic gothic Cathedral, the biggest in Germany. It's the only ancient structure for miles that was spared by Allied bombing.

Stock up on bottled mineral water in Germany. They have this horrible carbonated fizzy water that gave me constipation. If you buy water, make sure it says "ohne kohlensaure", or no fizz.

Also take note that the big cities alone --Berlin, if you're set on going, London and Paris-- take a lot of time to explore.

Try going to Porto in Portugal.

In Paris, the Musee d'Orsay is a manageable version of the Louvre. It also has nice city views at the top. A nice thing to do would be to take a river cruise at sunset if you're strapped for time. This should give you a good view of the Eiffel when it's lit up, as well of other attractions. If you're a shopper, visit Sympa near Mont St. Michel. Designer clothes at fantastic bargain prices!

You can also cross over into Italy from Nice. Just hop on a train from Nice-Gare. If you like, you get in a little exploring by get off at Cannes, Monaco and Beaulieu-sur-mer, a lovely seaside town. All of these are on one train line for utmost convenience.

I totally kicked myself for not going to Florence. I heard it's one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Venice is a definite first-time Europe must, but beware prices that border on extortion. Don't go on a gondola unless you're splitting the cost with at least three or four other people--I felt totally gypped.

Visit the Bally outlet on the outskirts of Zurich. Oh no, nahahalata yata na shopper ako! Haha. Locarno is also a good place to go. You can cross over to Italy from there.

Salzburg is a couple of hours away from Vienna, and unless you're a big Mozart fan, I suggest you stick to Vienna. A more doable day trip for you would be Schonbrunn Palace within Vienna. The gardens alone will take the greater part of a day to explore, but at least they're free. Just pack a picnic and you're all set!

I found Amsterdam a bit of a yawn, so I'd advise you to skip it if you're just after Van Gogh. Musee d'Orsay has a good collection anyway.

Ditto for Eastern Europe. Next time na yan. Greece is droolworthy, pero baka hindi mo na kayanin. It's also a big jump (read: big train expense) from there to the northern regions of Europe.

Oooh, Scandinavia--now that's where I've always wanted to go. I heard that lake country in Finland is fantastic. Imagine over 100,000 lakes!

Why not go UK-Ireland-Benelux-Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Italy-France-Spain-Portugal and then back up to Scandinavia for your return flight?

Best of luck!

[indiegirl]

some photos from my last europe trip to whet your appetite:

there's your rhine river! view from some forgotten bridge in limburg. in the photo is the limburg cathedral. p.s. limburg is near frankfurt pala. about an hour by bus i think.



view of the coastline in monaco.

[indiegirl]

nyik! lost ko. hindi ako marunong mag-post ng pics. help!

[sentiments]

mas ok pa rin eurail pass di ba? instead of buying point to point tickets? para di na hassle sa pumila para bili ng tickets everytime na sasakay ng train.......


Triglyceride : where'd you apply for your schengen visa?

[BaLdoMarO]

Re: London-Paris
Its more cost effective and faster to fly with a low cost carrier if you're travelling from London to Paris. If you book online you can score a 39 quid+ taxes 1 way tix (book in as far advance as you can so you'll pay the cheapest price. Note too that these tickets are non refundable). London has, I think, 4-5 airports so always double check the airports you're departing from/arriving to. The closest airport to Central London is Heathrow.

[Triglyceride]

you all are rockstars! thank you so much you guys.

indie girl let try to repost your pic

[img]
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ab66f...iPJCBBIqkrqYcR [/img]

let's see if that works

[heymikey]

Originally posted by sentiments
mas ok pa rin eurail pass di ba? instead of buying point to point tickets? para di na hassle sa pumila para bili ng tickets everytime na sasakay ng train.......

That depends. Sometimes you can save more money using point-to-point. Second, for certain trains such as high-speed (AVE, THALYS, ICE), for supplements (couchettes, sleepers, etc.), and trains requiring reservations, you would still need to fall in line.

Originally posted by sentiments
Triglyceride : where'd you apply for your schengen visa?

I think she is an American so she wouldn't need a schengen visa to go to Europe.

Originally posted by BaLdoMarO
Its more cost effective and faster to fly with a low cost carrier if you're travelling from London to Paris. If you book online you can score a 39 quid+ taxes 1 way tix (book in as far advance as you can so you'll pay the cheapest price. Note too that these tickets are non refundable). London has, I think, 4-5 airports so always double check the airports you're departing from/arriving to. The closest airport to Central London is Heathrow.

Not really. No-frills airline, in order to save costs, use airports far from the city, which in this case is Luton, Gatwick, or Stansted. They never use Heathrow. Because of this, you may want to add your bus or taxi fare to those airports from the city. And since Triglyceride is obviously under the age of 26, she is eligible for discounts on Eurostar. Plus, you also get additional discounts if you have a Eurailpass.

[Triglyceride]

you all are rockstars! thank you so much you guys.

my name is Reena btw, may I know what your names are?

indie girl let me try to repost your one of your pics

[img]
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ab66f...iPJCBBIqkrqYcR [/img]

let's see if that works

sentiments - a what visa? uh oh...what's that? a visa for what? I know certain European countries require visas..which is one is that? Do you mind telling me about it? Sorry.

indiegirl - WOW! Just reading your post got me all worked up! Nakaka excite naman!

I am a bit of a Mozart fan...

that itinerary sounds great.....maybe I will indeed save Scandinavia for next time..but I simply cannot miss the Greek Islands

my friend went on a trip back in 2k, I don't know how she managed to squeeze Greece in there, St. Petersburg even..in 3 months...

gondola - huh huh...really? It's that expensive? We're thinking of riding the gondola in Vegas next month, maybe that'll suffice..for now

hey mikey

so you think it's impractical so sign up for HI?
....but I thought a flexi pass doesn't "tick away" each day. I can just mark it off for every trip that way, I'm not wasting any days...or am I not understanding it well?

and since both you and istarbaks said that point to point tickets are cheaper, I would just buy a 5-country pass or so....

...I think I'll pass Ibiza - too rich for my blood.

wow......you're planning for your trip next year already...heck ya! let me know when you guys are going

Flying from London to Paris
really it's cheaper? Because it'll cost me about .....I can't remember, more than a hundred ..uhm, Euros? to take the Eurostar..shoot..maybe I'll just fly from London to Paris..

Amelie- where's that park where she sent Nino on a scavenger hunt for his photo album?

credit cards..I'm bringing my visa check card...I'm reyinf to get rid of my 2 credit cards

35 mm vs digi cam

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my 35mm, and sadly, just yesterday it gave up on me. The guy at the photo store offered me a store credit if I could "donate" my camera to them, I am not letting it go, I took countless pictures in that camera and with it the good times. Which one is better to take with me? A 35mm or a digicam?

thank you again!

[BaLdoMarO]

Originally posted by heymikey

Not really. No-frills airline, in order to save costs, use airports far from the city, which in this case is Luton, Gatwick, or Stansted. They never use Heathrow. Because of this, you may want to add your bus or taxi fare to those airports from the city. And since Triglyceride is obviously under the age of 26, she is eligible for discounts on Eurostar. Plus, you also get additional discounts if you have a Eurailpass.

London-Paris flights with Easyjet depart from Luton which is roughly 45-60 mins from Victoria Station in Central London. For a non-express metro ticket expect to pay 10 quid 1 way. Add the plane fare of 50 quid and 10 quid for taxes thats 70 quid all up (about US$126). A Eurostar ticket for an under 26 costs US$195 (On a standard semi-flexible the price between a youth [below 26] and an adult [26+] is the same). A Premium fully flexible Eurostar ticket is a whopping US$425.
I think there are only 3 daily runs with Eurostar between Paris and London. Easyjet has about 5 flights in a day.
If you book with easyjet 1 month in advance, expect the ticket price to come down to a jaw dropping 16.99 quid!

Monday 30 August

Flight 2551
departs London Luton at 05:45, arrives Paris Charles de Gaulle at 07:55
flexible web fare 16.99 GBP (phone fare 21.99 GBP)

Flight 2553
departs London Luton at 09:10, arrives Paris Charles de Gaulle at 11:30
flexible web fare 16.99 GBP (phone fare 21.99 GBP)

Flight 2555
departs London Luton at 12:10, arrives Paris Charles de Gaulle at 14:30
flexible web fare 21.99 GBP (phone fare 26.99 GBP)

Flight 2557
departs London Luton at 15:00, arrives Paris Charles de Gaulle at 17:15
flexible web fare 16.99 GBP (phone fare 21.99 GBP)

Flight 2561
departs London Luton at 19:25, arrives Paris Charles de Gaulle at 21:45
flexible web fare 16.99 GBP (phone fare 21.99 GBP)

[heymikey]

Originally posted by Triglyceride
my name is Reena btw, may I know what your names are?

My name is Mike...

Originally posted by Triglyceride
so you think it's impractical so sign up for HI?

Yes. You will most likely end up staying in inpendent hostels.

[BaLdoMarO]

Originally posted by Triglyceride

Amelie- where's that park where she sent Nino on a scavenger hunt for his photo album?
[/B]

The part when Amelie chalked the walls and the footpaths with arrow signs leading Nino up to the white domed building? Its in Montmartre and the building is called Sacré Coeur.

[BaLdoMarO]

Originally posted by Triglyceride

gondola - huh huh...really? It's that expensive? We're thinking of riding the gondola in Vegas next month, maybe that'll suffice..for now

To hire 1 gondola for an hour or so is about US$150 negotiable. I don't suggest doing it unless you're with your significant other.

credit cards..I'm bringing my visa check card...I'm reyinf to get rid of my 2 credit cards

Just make sure that someone at home will pay for your account before the free interest days lapse. Its better to pay purchases with the card because you get a very decent exchange rate. I dont like the money changers in Europe, they give crap rates and most charge a commission of 5-9% per transaction. You'll be better off withdrawing from your savings account at an ATM. Word of warning on this, every withdrawal attracts a withdrawal fee. Check with your bank how much youll pay.

35 mm vs digi cam

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my 35mm, and sadly, just yesterday it gave up on me. The guy at the photo store offered me a store credit if I could "donate" my camera to them, I am not letting it go, I took countless pictures in that camera and with it the good times. Which one is better to take with me? A 35mm or a digicam?

thank you again! [/B]

I reckon digi cam. You can delete ugly photos in an instant. If you do a lot of plane trips too, the film quality in a 35mm is comrpomised.

[Triglyceride]

hi there!

Nice to meet you, Mike. Where did you stay mostly? What kind of accomodations did you have? I'm setting a budget cap of no more than $50/night....actually, it really is $25 but I just want to put alot of allowance in there for flexibility.


...and for the record, I'm not an American

Baldomaro- thanks for the info. Hmmm...digicam it is...and when you say quid...I konw it's some type of currency, do you mean pounds or Euro? Sorry. Pardon my ignorance.

and about the CC, my goal is to have them paid off end of this year. I don't want to use any of it in Europe. I'll use my visa check card nalang....


and I know i keep saying it but...thank you again for posting.

[heymikey]

$50 a night for accomodation only is not really considered a tight budget. The most expensive hostel I have stayed in costs like 23 euros and the cheapest was about 11 euros.

So far, I have stayed in 2 HI hostels, 2 hotels, 1 pension, and the rest are independent hostels.

Anyway, if you aren´t an American citizen, you need to get that Schengen visa that sentiments was asking you. Plus, of course, visas for Switzerland, UK, and other countries not part of the Schengen Agreement.

[BaLdoMarO]

Originally posted by Triglyceride


Baldomaro- thanks for the info. Hmmm...digicam it is...and when you say quid...I konw it's some type of currency, do you mean pounds or Euro?

and about the CC, my goal is to have them paid off end of this year. I don't want to use any of it in Europe. I'll use my visa check card nalang....

Quid is pounds. Its like saying 'bucks' instead of dollars.
Dont be dissuaded to use your 35mm. If you're a seasoned photographer an SLR camera is always better than a digi-cam because the quality of your shots is far superior than digital.

heymikey's correct. The budget hostels in Europe are within the E10-25 mark. For that price bracket, the quality of each hostel ranges from a good, clean sleeper to the most downright dung hole. In addition to what Mike accounted, you could ask the proprietor for an inspection of their rooms/beds and other facilities. This will give you an idea if the place you'll stay in is within your tolerance.

[nothinFancy]

SALZBURG:

The touristic Austrian city that all romantic and sentimental women tend to fall in love with. Boring!



VIENNA:

ACCOMODATIONS:

Looking to spend less than US$ 35/night on accommodation? Good luck! First of all, you won't find any hostels in the city centre, as Vienna is far too elegant (and expensive). There are several hostels in the suburbs. There's no shortage of elegant and expensive hotels in Vienna. Every hotel is lavishly furnished, mainly because they cater to the world's richest and most distinguished people. No matter which district you book your hotel room in, you'll probably spend at least US$100/night. If you're particularly rich at the moment, perhaps you'd like to spend some time at the Hotel Sacher, right across the world famous Vienna Opera House, and just a few minutes walk to the boutiques of Kaerntnerstrasse. Have some Sachertorte before you leave the hotel too. Prices will probably range anywhere from US$95 to $1500 per night. Book your room well in advance.



MUST SEE: (Shopping)

The First District:

Looking to spend a lot of cash in just a few hours? This is the place for you. Boutiques full of real fur coats, designer shoes, Christian Dior cosmetics, and Cartier diamond solitaires set in platinum -- all these shops are framed by expensive cafés (like the Café Demel) with well-dressed maitre d's.

After walking all around Vienna's main shopping district (funny how you didn't notice how sore your feet are!), try to stop by St. Stephan's Cathedral to donate a Euro or two -- can't hurt your wallet that much after you've spent hundreds of Euros on a designer eyewear, right?

Mariahilferstrasse:

Looking for a long straight street, lined on both sides by boutiques and shops? Then find your way to Mariahilferstrasse (take the orange U-bahn line, U3, to Neubaugasse Station). There, you'll find not only small designer-handbag boutiques, but also larger departments stores (i.e. Gerngross and CA), home decor stores (i.e. Leiner), indoor mini-malls (i.e. Generali 77), and music stores (i.e. Libro and Virgin).

No Sonia Rykiel or Hugo Boss boutiques here, but many shops can be pricey. In general, the overall price average is a bit lower than what can be found in the First District. If you're not into all that "fancy-schmancy ATS 8.000 for a t-shirt" thing, but you still like to spend money in an outdoor shopping district, then this is the place for you.

Millennium Tower (2nd District):

Why is this 50-stores-large shopping mall called Millennium City? This tower is the tallest and most modern business/shopping centre in Vienna, and was built in mid-1999 to mark the coming of the new Millennium. You'll find what you're looking for here. All shops in this mall offer reasonably priced merchandise. You've got the basics here: Bipa, Mango, H&M, Libro, Niedermeyer, and a decent food court.

To get to Millennium City, take the Schnellbahn to Handelskai Station, or take the Autobus 11A, from Vorgartenstrasse U-bahn Station, in the direction Heiligenstadt.

Donauzentrum (22nd District):

Located right beside Kagran Station (station on the red U1 line), this newly expanded mall is the largest shopping centre within the city limits. Lucky me, I lived only 2 tram-stops from this mega-mall!

Donauzentrum has three main sections connected by two sky-bridges over two main streets: Section 1 (the old Donauzentrum) has been recently renovated and now has a second floor -- it's also very bright and full of youthful stores like Esprit, the Body Shop, promod, and Libro. Section 2 is the smallest of the 3 sections but offers some great shops like Mango, Stiefelkoenig, and Intersport -- it also connects Section 1 to Section 3. Section 3, the newest addition, is also known as the DZ Kinoplex -- megascreen theatres, fast food, billiards, and nightclubs.

This shopping mall is packed on Saturdays. Try to shop here during weekday evenings. Shops are open until 19:00hrs, grocery stores are open later, and Section 3 is open until the wee morning hours.

Cathedral-hopping:

Visit the beautiful churches of this traditionally-Roman Catholic country. People of all religions are welcome to admire the different architectural styles of Stephansdom, Karlskirche, Votivkirche, Peterskirche, Franzikanerkirche, and so on and so on ... Each church in Vienna has its own distinctive character. These are places of contemplation and prayer: it doesn't matter what your religion is, or isn't.

Classical Music Concert:

Watch the Wiener Mozart Orchester: a 50-minute classical music concert at the Stadtoper, Konzerthaus, or the Musikverein. Such concerts are geared towards tourists, but if you truly want to experience the classiness of symphonies played in historical costumes inside beautiful concert halls, you might as well spend the money. Concerts are usually held at the Wiener Stadtoper, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, or the smaller Konzerthaus and Musikverein.

Schoenbrunn:

Visit the summer residence of the Habsburgs, Schloss Schoenbrunn, you'll wish you were the lucky Empress who got to wear silk gowns and walk around manicured gardens.

When at Schoenbrunn Palace, take either a guided or audio tour of the 1400-plus rooms of this gorgeous residence - each room has a different theme. Walk up the hill towards the Gloriette for an amazing full view of this elegant and former summer residence of the Habsburgs. It's so beautiful, it almost seems unreal. If you wander around the gardens, you'll eventually find yourself at the Tiergarten, the world's oldest zoo (founded in 1752). To the east of the gardens, you'll also come across Palmenhaus, the rose garden, the maze, and the most beautiful fountains.

To get to Schoenbrunn Palace from Stephansplatz, take the U1 to Karlsplatz Station and change to the U4 (direction Huetteldorf) - get off at Schoenbrunn Station, walk upstairs and follow the signs.

UNO City:

The Vienna International Centre (aka UNO-City): I'm sure you'll enjoy the guided tour around the large United Nations compound. From Building Blocks A through J, you'll be boggled by the strange architecture, but you'll be amazed at how well people of different cultures work together for a greater, peaceful purpose. Take the U1 to the VIC and walk downstairs towards Security Checkpoint 1. Organized tours take place daily (weekdays) at 11:00hrs and 14:00hrs. People often miss the United Nations because all these terrible steel and glass developments have been mushrooming around it in the past year. Don't miss it - it's also probably the only place in Vienna where you'll see peoples from all over the world working together for a peaceful, safe, and secure world at the following international organizations: UNOV, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNICEF, IAEA, and CTBTO.


NIGHTLIFE:

Donauinsel (aka Copa Kagrana):

Pubs, clubs, cafés, and restaurants all along both sides of the Danube River. This place is jumping during the summer but deserted during the winter months.
During the last week of June, 3 million visitors from all over Europe come to the Donauinselfest, to kick off the summer. Beautiful people, fireworks, and free concerts by well-known artists and rising stars galore.

TOURIST TRAPS:

When people come to Vienna, they often want to immediately see the dancing white horses. If you really love horses and their shows, and you like to spend money, then you should head in the direction of the Lippizaner Museum and the Spanish Riding School. You will find both inside the First District. Please don't take that lame carriage-ride around the Ring, the so-called Fiaker. If you do, you'll get the following results: (1) Viennese people staring strangely at you and assuming that you're American (2) you'll be out something like US$100 and (3) your clothing and hair will smell like horse-crap at the end of the ride.

The Prater: This is Vienna's year-round amusement park, where you can find the famous Riesenrad, a ferris-wheel that used to be one of the great 7 man-made wonders of the world. Ride the Riesenrad (slow enough that your stomach doesn't complain) and you'll have a great view of the city. Business men often have lunch in the posh cabins, and some people even get married there. Where else in the world can you find a ferris wheel so elegantly decorated? While you're at the Prater, dine in at Schweizerhaus - the servings are very large, and the giant mugs are overflowing with beer. This restaurant is large enough to accommodate more than a thousand people (and that's just the outside garden!) What are you waiting for? Have a hearty meal and then ride the roller-coaster! It won't be raining men, but rather, it will be raining Wiener Schnitzel for the people on the ground. Hehe.

Hmmm... What else? Ah! Local customs!

German is the official language, not English or Tagalog, so don't expect everyone to speak your language. Just a few words & phrases to learn before you jump on your plane to Vienna: 'Guten Tag' - Good day; 'Gruess Gott' - God greets you/hello; 'Bitte' - Please/You're welcome; 'Danke' - Thanks; 'Entschuldigung' - Excuse me; 'Tchau' - Ciao (informal); 'Wiederschauen' or 'Auf Wiedersehen' - see you again; 'Sprechen Sie Englisch?' - Do you speak English? Please dress well while you are in the city, especially if you are a visible minority (as I am). Vienna is a rich and proper city, so try your best to fit in. You're likely to be respected by the Viennese if you are dressed in nice attire. A word of advice to the North American guys: NEVER walk around the city with a bare back. This is very improper and considered disrespectful. If you feel the need to show off your muscles, guess what? in the summer, at many designated areas along the Danube River, you may walk around naked if you please. In such places, it is truly a Garden of Eden - here, the Viennese call it 'FKK'.

Vienna is bursting with art, cultural, and musical events. For up-to-date information on what's going on in this lively city, visit Vienna's official website: http://www.info.wien.at


Good luck. In the tourist areas of the city, you should be able to find at least one English-speaking person (shopkeepers in the 1st District will know basic English).