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As with every New Year - for a while - I headed over to Vienna for 6 days over New Year along with Hels, Jules, Jo Lightman and Hels friends Helen and Andy. We all arrived the 31st and started straight away on the walk from the Rathaus to Stephensplatz. Snow started to fall which was nice and so more beers, champers and sausage was needed to keep out the cold. The walk starts from a number of places around Vienna but most people try to end up in Stephansplatz for midnight and the bells and fireworks. Its a great laugh and then after all of that you head to the nearest bar and continue on. Being Vienna there are no problems about bars being too crowded or you not getting in for having the wrong shoes on. Always a plus point and a relaxing way to ease into the New Year.

These two decidedly shaky photos were taken on the way home at about 4am when its so quiet around Vienna. Got to get a tripod!

The next day Helen and Andy had to head back to England while we relaxed and worked off the night before. The day after however we decided to go on the "Third Man Walking tour" which included a trip along the sewers where they filmed the movie. I think we also went to see the movie in the Burg theatre on the Opernring but can't quite remember. It plays at this movie theatre every Friday and Saturday at midnight. The tour starts at Stadtpark underground station and here you go into the sewers with candles. They aren't actually sewers but overflows for the water system but that is how they are mentioned in the movie.

After the tunnels and the cold it was a tour around town and the famous places and areas of town used in the film. These included Cafe Mozart near the Opera, Harry's apartment near Michaelplatz and the doorway where Joseph Cotton first sees Harry Lime.

The tour ended in a small bar/restaurant where a girl played the theme tune and a few other tunes on the Zither made famous by Anton Karas. After that all that was needed was a beer so me, Hels and Jules headed off to theBierhof keller bar on Herrengasse to sample some more of the local ale. The guitars were in the window of a music shop on the way back to the hotel, very envious.

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