Cruise Day Six

We awoke to sunshine this morning! And in fact, we did some sunbathing on the top deck, which has been closed all trip so far because of the dozens of low, very low, bridges. Apart from the fact that there has been no actual sun...

After our breakfast Bircher meusli on our 'balcony' we were off to visit Schönbrunn Palace, with a nice bus tour of the city before and after. We followed the guide through dozens of stately rooms - lots of gold leaf and mirrors. We were one of the first groups, but it was still a crush, so I imagine it got very much worse during the day. Lots of historical facts, none of which I can recall here to enthrall you with... oh, except 'stinking rich' originated because only the very rich would have elaborate parquet floors, and used animal blood and urine to preserve them. I think I have just been to my last stately home... 

We had an hour or so to look around the gardens, and to look in at the carriage collection. Luckily it was dry and warm...

Some people got dropped off in town where a shuttle bus operated all afternoon to and from the ship. But we've been before and so chose to return to the ship a) for lunch and b) to relax on the sun deck.

There was an early tea at 5pm, as we were going out again at 7pm. This time to the Liechtenstein Garden Palace, (Extra) where we had a glass of bubbly while we admired the elaborate coach that one of the princes had built so that he could go all the way to Paris to try to persuade Napoleon not to invade them (I'm a bit vague on details here). In the venue room there was the largest ceiling fresco in Vienna Austria Europe. The dress code was: Cocktail... which I think means 'Anything but jeans and trainers'...

Then followed a concert with a ten piece orchestra, plus a baritone and soprano,  and dancers. They played all the familiar melodies, including, of course, The Blue Danube. But you could see on the faces of the musicians that they never ever get tired of playing those famous ones.

I've managed to get an inevitable cold. It's the air conditioning. On the first night I could feel it on my face and tried to hide under the duvet as much as possible. I should have switched it off then. Every other night I've been allowed to open the window a bit instead, but stable doors and horses spring to mind...

Budapest tomorrow!