The ex-capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna has quite a bit of old-style charm. While on one side of the Danube River we can see modern skyscrapers which form the city’s financial district, the opposite part is a far more interesting network of tiny intricate streets and expansive boulevards, the old city.

The Hofburg Castle, Austro-Hungary’s seat of power for nearly 200 years is a sight to behold, with the square in front of it seemingly untouched by time-you can still see horse carriages and servants dressed in the fashion of the 18th century, though the sophisticated digicams with which they snap pics for tourists are all-too 2006.

Onwards from here we can take a walk down KartnerStrasse, Vienna’s lovely pedestrian street, dotted everywhere by trendy outdoor cafes and flanked by expensive designer stores.

If we were to stop for awhile and have a “spritz” (wine with soda, a popular summer drink) or sample some of the excellent local beer, we could also get a glimpse of the people going by-teen punks, businessmen, Eastern European imported workers… They all share characteristics like cleanliness, nice clothes and a generally good mood.

So-is Vienna worth a look? Besides the above-mentioned places, there’s Schonbrunn Castle (the imperial summer residence), the Salvador Dali museum, and many other cultural or historical attractions, all linked by excellent above & below-ground transportation. Austrian Airlines has daily flights from Bangkok at a pretty decent price, so by all means, check it out.