So there was an "iron maiden vs. iron man" match at Eva. Bet I know who won.

Bob this hotel gets mixed reviews on tripadvisor. I had looked at this property when planning our last trip to Vienna but passed on it as it appeared to have too many negatives. Perhaps the new section is a world apart from the old section? Given that when in Europe one has to lower their expectations somewhat (given what you get in Asia) were there any negatives so far?

Bill, I only saw rave reviews on this hotel on TA and elsewhere.. The new wing is 4 years old I think..

The only negetive I have seen is a loud and outspoken clerk at the front desk.

Carol, have you been to the new mall at emporium--across the street... It is fab with 4 floors of restaurants... Quite an unusual bldg.

So we had a delicious dinner in the hotels's italian restaurant Tavola before leaving at midnight. I had a delicious porcini mushroom room ravioli served over huge sea shollops with a mushroom butter sauce. K had a great pasta bollainise dish...

Our large taxi (700 B) came for us just before midnight. We flew to the airport in no time. While I was having some of our cases shrink wrapped (150 B), k went to VAT Refunds to have her stuff inspected and then she had that case wrapped. It is amazing how much this wrapping protects your cases.

Now we headed for the Eva section in area R. IT WAS NOT YET OPEN BUT DID SO IN 5 minutes. We were the first in the on line checking line... Great.

Things progressed as they normally do then 3 or 4 clerks started conferring and doing something on iPads. We waited and waited. I knew what the issue was-- we had 3 suitcases which combined weighed 66.1 kilos. I was hoping one case might slide by....... Finally the young clerk pushed a piece of paper in front of me and pointed to $900. as the amount they wanted for the overweight. 'You've got to be kidding, I could buy another seat for that price'.... I tried to remain calm... I tried the FF out....no.... They wanted us to repackage---duh.... Repack what. Finally I said I read that an extra case was $100. And the maiden lady supervisor, said NO... I said yes... She said no and then I remembered that my United ticket printout had some language on it. I produced it. She looked at it in that odd way that Asians often look at written English or maps. It clearly listed each leg of our trip and the baggage charges, including the Eva leg. She looked at it forever... I kept silent....finally she asked if she could copy it...sure. They took my United card and processed the payment I guess. Then they started on our carryons--weighed them--- too heavy... I think I finally raised my voice and eventually they gave in after K spoke to them about contents, medical supplies, etc.

Lest you think I did not go over her head... At the beginning I asked for the station manager and she informed me she was in charge at night... Never once a smile or nice word from her.

As we prepared to move away---all other passengers had long ago left the area, a nice young thai clerk spoke to us and offered us 4 seats in the middle. Great. Seems plane was only 50% full... So what was all the last hour about????

Takeoff was 30 minutes late. A330 was older but comfortable with all the extra room. Food was horrid!!!! I was so tired by the time we boarded that I was almost disorientated. I slept on and off, time moved quickly--about 12 hours.

Arrived Vienna about 10AM, cloudy and cold, but it felt refreshing.

Fantastic Turk as my wheelchair guy. At immigration there were 2 long lines of Muslims almost all in black and looking scared. My Turk friend told us they were from Syria and transit threw Vienna on their way to Germany... 3 generations some of them.

Quick ride into town. Checked in easily...lovely room... Had a bite to eat in hotel restaurant--salad bar and goulash--tender and DELISH.... Small beer each.

Climbed into bed for a while, well maybe more than a while. Not feeling all that great so will lay low tonight. See what club has to offer.

I walked out a bit this PM but came back uninspired.

So we are here till Sunday when we fly home via Munich.

A good reminder that the page with all the baggage allowance info should be carried along. I admit I never take it - but I will. Since we are United million-milers, we have gotten extra baggage allowance from affiliated airlines.

I even tried the "kathie from Seattle discount" but it didn't work.

Hope you have a good time in Vienna! I have thoroughly enjoyed following along on your trip.

Also, great to have the port info for Dubrovnik, thursdaysd! It sounds like it's pretty awful when the cruise ships dock.

@Florida1 - yes, although it does get a bit better in the evening. See photo here: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...-in-dubrovnik/

No Thailand next year!!!!!!!
Ok, email me your Venice dates please!

Thanks for the link, thursdaysd! I enjoy reading your blogs. Croatia is high on my list - and Dubrovnik looks lovely, but I will try to plan a visit to the city when there are fewer ships!

rhkkmk, be sure to send me your dates in Europe, as we may be there for a few weeks next summer - maybe dates will overlap? Not sure where we are going yet...

Will send dates, but for now the months are April in Italy, mostly Venice and October in Naples, Capri and Rome after Dubrovnik October 8-12.

Back to "normal" today... Full sunshine but crisp. After a delicious breakfast we sat out in the enclosed garden for a while in the sun... Working out plans for the next few days.

Hotel is very nice, club only so so. Room 911 is large and comfortable--an upgrade I suspect. Hotel is not well located however for non-walkers. There is a tram directly in front but not sure where it goes. 10-12 E to walkin street by taxi.

Fabulous brightly colored onion domed church nex door. Bell currently ringin 11:00

Bob, I have been to the new Emporium complex. It's nice. Maybe we can get back there this trip (leaving Tuesday).

Good for you on standing your ground. I did it once with Swiss, but realized that had we checked in at the Star Gold counter nothing would have been said to us at all! I won the baggage issue. I should have had the baggage rules with me...

Hope you get sun in Vienna. We had rain and chilly temps in Germany and Switzerland for all but maybe 2 days of our 3 weeks! Illinois is in the 50s until we leave next week. We'll take it!

" There is a tram directly in front but not sure where it goes."

Google Maps will know. Any smart phone Maps App should know. Don't board without a ticket - I've seen inspectors on Vienna public transport.

We took a taxi into the center of Vienna at about 1. Taxis drive on walking streets and down one way streets the wrong way.

We were left off by St. Paul's church. K checked out the concert at 3 and we decided to attend, donation asked for. We walked around on the walking street admiring the decorations and glitzy shops. We walked by st Stephens and then back to St. Paul's.

We had our choice of seats in this large ornate church... Austrian churches are especially ornate. The organist began practicing about 2:35, which was nice while we waited. The pipes are very powerful. At 3, the 1/2 hour concert began--classical music, but varied.

After the concert we walked the walking street again and the lights had been turned on and this made for quite a different feeling. Women in fur coats were very evident. I wish USA would return to this--- calm down, it is my opinion.

We wound up at Zum Figlmuller-- there are 2 very close to each other... We were at the bigger one. They specialize in Austrian foods. I had their classic snitzel (paper thin pork), K had wiener snitzel (veal and less thin). We had sides of a great green salad and parsley potatoes. K had white wine and I had draft beer. Desserts were apple strudel (really good) and a special chopped pancake like dessert served with a tart plum sauce... 71E.

We took a taxi back to the hotel.

Btw, a res is essential in advance for this restaurant. We went at about 4PM to gain access as by noon all reservations were spoken for.

We have tickets for a trumpet Christmas concert at 8 tomorrow night, so we are looking forward to that.

Also looking forward to getting home. Sunday nite.

Sounds like a lovely day - sooo jealous of your dinner! I'm keeping the name of the restaurant in my Austria file! Concert tomorrow night sounds good too.

The Christmas market stalls at Stephans platz were disappointing. Every thing was very commercial, and probably made in China. Hope to get to the market at the Rasthousplatz. It is suppose to be bigger and better, with more locally made items.

It was so festive along the walking street. Hope we will repeat that experience tonight..

BTW, I forgot to mention that my snitzel overhung the edges of my large dinner plate. Served with nothing other than a Lemmon wedge...14.9 E.

I assume the walking street is the main drag there - Kartnerstrasse I believe.