RENTING BIKES
The following morning we were off to see the city. Two blocks into our walk, near City Hall, a self-serve bike rental company caught our attention. After reading a pamphlet about this service (which every city should have), we created a registration. Each renter must have a valid credit card, and fill out a 4-minute electronic user agreement on a small ATM-style machine. The initial registration fee is 1e. The fees are ridiculously cheap -- if you use the service intelligently. The first hour of bike rental is always free of charge. The second hour costs 1e, while the third is 2e. Then it starts to get a bit expensive: If you return the bike between the 4th and the 120th hour you are charged 4e per hour. After that -- or if the bike is lost or stolen � you pay 600e. Obviously, you don't want to rent for a long period of time (or lose it!). Tourists should ride the bike for just under an hour, park at one of 50 bike rack locations around the city, then explore on foot for at least 15 minutes. After that short period your account is reset, and you can log back in (using your credit card and password) to get a bike for the fees listed above. Remember: The first hour is free! This is a perfect, economical and fun way to see the city. Note: Every time you log in to hire a city bike, the system carries out a standard preauthorization of 20e. They are not payments, just pre-authorizations, so don't worry (like I did) when I logged on to my credit card account. For more info, check out Citybike Wien.

ST STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL
Our first stop on the bike was St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom). The bike rack is located behind the Romanesque Gothic-style cathedral, which is probably Vienna's most recognized symbol. It was built in 1147, but enlarged over the centuries and completed in 1511. Fine restoration work has taken place, and the last major repairs came after World War II bombing, but it's almost impossible to see the difference. This cathedral has been the site of many important events, including Mozart's funeral. Inside you will find Gothic sculptures, and 18 altars (including the Baroque-style High Altar). Two towers offer panoramic views of the city, plus an up-close look at the ornate and colorful tiled rooftops. The North Tower (223 feet high) has stairs and an elevator, but we climbed the 445-foot South Tower (3e). It has no elevator, but there were small windows and enough space for someone who is even mildly claustrophobic to not have any problems. There is even a small gift shop at the top. For more info, log on to Stephanskirche.at. For more click HERE.