On our last night in Vienna we made our way to the Prater to take a gander at the giant Ferris Wheel. The Prater is a huge park in Vienna and within it is the Wurstelprater, an amusement park.We arrived when it was just getting dark, so we didn't get to visit the park but we did wander around the Wurstelprater for quite some time.
The park has been described on a couple of Austrian websites as being "seedy" "scruffy" or "filthy". I didn't see that at all. The place was most assuredly neat and tidy and I never felt unsafe or that I was in some seedy part of town.
At the Prater is one Vienna's landmarks and one of the destinations I was most excited about, the giant ferris wheel. As I mentioned it was growing dark as we approached, making my photos a bit on the dark side, but here's a link to a daytime photo.
The ferris wheel, or Wiener Riesenrad as it's known in Austria, was originally built in 1896 and is one of the oldest(that's still running) in the world. During WWII it was bombed but rebuilt between 1945-1947. There is a small museum at the entrance which houses several of the gondolas and has historical information about the ferris wheel. Here's the official site for the Riensenrad. It's in German, but there's a link for English.
...and some more photos from around the park... 
Because it is not a Vienna landmark, has no history behind it and is too freakin' tall, I had no desire to ride THIS ferris wheel. But it did make a purty picture.
After all my wanting to see it and ride, I almost didn't get on the Riesenrad. 
I have a slight problem w/heights as in I am scared. of. heights. but I realized I would probably never have the chance again and it was either Jackie or Scott who told me I'd regret not riding. SO I rode.It wasn't bad, really! See, I'm smiling! Note the absense of my sister? She's even more afraid of heights than I am.
The views were amazing! Well worth the fear.
7 comments:
Oh my gosh! You are SO brave. I get sick just thinking about anything more than 30 feet tall!! I freak out in elevators.. ohhh... You are a rockstar in my book!
Thanks for the tip about the color glaze--I'll have to go pick some up :)
That looks like a fun place to visit! And I'm also scared of heights too - you're brave!
WOW! What great photos! I don't think I would have been that brave though! :-O
Kellie!! Gorgeous shots, lady!
I love night time shots, and I love theme parks. What a fun time. Oh, how I would love to go to Vienna.
I'm proud of you for getting on that ferris wheel!
It looks wonderful. Great photographs
I still don't regret not going up in it...my tummy still churns at the thought...but I'm SO GLAD that you did!! :) Way to go...you got the brave genes in the fam.
P.S...Oh, how I miss Vienna.
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