After seeing Vienna at night, I was very excited to start the day in this 'surprise' of a city to me.  I guessed I would like Vienna, but it has a quality that made me really like it.

 

 

I guess I could have fallen in some Roman ruins if I wasn't watching.  These ruins are directly across from the above picture, the Hofburg Palace.

 

The nerd in me had to make a trip to The Globe Museum.  A nice, easy way to start the day.  Absolutely worth it, well for me at least.

 

 

My next stop was something that I new I was going to do on this trip when I started planning it, the Austrian National Library.  I could have spent hours in this room.  Well I did spend quite a bit of time.  The detailing of the room is insanely gorgeous and I usually don't like the heavily ornamented Baroque style.

 

 

 

 

The Hapsburgs really had it going on.  I didn't take in one of the Spanish Horse routines, but I did get a good glimpse into the stables.  Plus I managed to see these regal beasts at their 'home'. 

 

 

 

Since today was pretty well center around the history of the Hapsburgs, I had one more stop on my way out of Vienna, Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens.  Unfortunately, I could not take any pictures inside, but this place was something else.  Plus, it was a gorgeous day.

 

 

I couldn't have done Vienna in much shorter time.  I easily realize that this was a place that I would love to come back and spend some more time.  Before I left, the refuge crisis seemed to be hitting its peak.  Well it made the US news, so that was something.  I knew a bit about the corridor that refugees were using to travel to Germany or the UK and I realized late into my planning that I was traveling the same path, but in the opposite direction.  I had plans to go to Bratislava, Slovakia and even Budapest, but I thought better of it late into my planning.  I never really had an issue, but today really showed me the first hand experience of a city in the path of this exodus. 

 

I made it to the train station in plenty time to head west toward my stay that night in Villach, Austria.  The borders heading east were periodically closing and it made me feel good about my decision.  I met an American group trying to get to Budapest.  They were going to make their train, but I was surprised to see someone heading that way.  Later the next day, the Budapest train station was closed because of the amount of refugees.  I've always wondered how the groups travel was impacted. 

 

For me, it was amazing to see the amount of people basically living in the train station.  I have heard a couple times, that these refugees are actually the middle and upper class of Syria and such.  It was a tough scene to witness, especially when I transposed myself into their shoes, which could happen.  Most seemed to be making the most of their situation, but there was a real anxiety in the air.

 

I had 2 options to go to Villach.  Via Salzburg, back north and an arching trip west, that was supposed to be 3 hours or so. Secondly, a western trip, that was slower.  Salzburg was a holding area before refugees crossed into Germany.  I decided the slower route.  My platform was next to the Salzburg one and when the train arrived, I saw a scene unfold that made me think about how fortunate I am.  Police guarded the train, basically keeping refugees off, which there wasn't many.  A group of guys younger than me approached each guard, discussing something with them and then phoning someone.  Seconds later a rush of refugees approached the train and the guards would let on a few of them.  (Later I found out this train got stuck for 4+ hours in transit, because of a refugee that was killed on the tracks and general slow down of the refugee trains).

 

The pic below was really pre-rush.  I decided to get to a little more of a secure area when the real mob started trying to get on the train.

 

 

On to Villach, with a lot of thoughts running through my head. 

 

I made it to Villach fairly late and didn't leave the hotel again.  A simple dinner (weiner schnitzel, yum) on the river and my day was done.  I can't say Villach was much more than a pitstop, but it was still a good day overall.