
Watching a scene brought back a flood of childhood memories—of school days when we used to go on scout trips to Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, or Murree.
We would stay in tents, schools, or even on the platforms of railway stations and meet students from across the country
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
Onward to Vienna
After finishing breakfast, we quickly got ready, checked out of the hotel, hired a taxi, and arrived at the FlixBus station located on the other side of the SNP Bridge. The location was a bit confusing—firstly because it was right by the roadside, and secondly because there was no signboard or indication. A German girl with a rucksack on her shoulder also arrived there, and we chatted briefly. She mentioned that the bus company had sent her the same location. We decided to wait and see.
After a short while, the bus arrived, bringing a sense of relief. The German girl was heading to Vienna Airport, while our destination was Vienna city itself, which was less than an hour’s journey away.
Looking Back with Fondness
We really liked Bratislava, and until we visit again, we bid the city farewell and started looking forward to our next destination.
The bus picked up a few more passengers from other nearby stops along the way. On the road, we once again passed the same lush green fields and ripe wheat crops. At Vienna Airport, the German girl and a few other passengers got off. I had the impression that people from Slovakia regions close to Vienna probably use Vienna Airport more often, perhaps because it offers more and varied international flight routes compared to Bratislava.
Arrival in Vienna
Our journey from Bratislava to Vienna went smoothly. After getting off the bus, we took a taxi to Jugendgästehaus Brigittenau, a youth hostel. It was quite a large hostel and had private rooms as well, one of which we had booked. This was my second time visiting Vienna.
Early Arrival and First Steps
Since we had arrived quite early in the morning and there was still time left before the check-in window, we left our luggage in the hostel’s storage room. We grabbed some maps from the reception and stepped out. The Friedrich-Engels-Platz tram station was nearby, so we walked there. Soon, we boarded a tram, and during the ride, we purchased a 24-hour ticket from the onboard machine.
Entering the Heart of the City
At first, the tram wasn’t very crowded, but as it moved toward the city, more and more people started getting on. While seated, we continued to observe the scenes of the city passing by. In less than half an hour, we arrived at Burgring station, located right in the heart of Vienna. From there, one can easily explore the surrounding areas on foot.
Facing the Summer Heat
As we stepped out of the tram, a wave of heat hit us. But as the saying goes, “No use sitting still whether it’s hot or cold,” so we too began to walk and explore. I had hoped to meet respected sain Akhtar Bhanbhan Sahib and my friend Yaseen Sial, but both were currently out of Austria.
Using Maps to Navigate Vienna
During travels, Google Maps and printed maps prove to be extremely useful—they make finding places much easier. Using the map, we managed to reach the Hofburg Palace, which was built in the 13th century. It had served as the residence of several emperors and kings, but now functions as the official residence of the President of Austria.
Exploring Hofburg and the Surroundings
It appeared to be a magnificent structure. Many people were sitting on the thick stone base, some lounging casually. There were lion statues placed around, and in the center stood an equestrian statue of Prince Eugene. Several other statues were also installed on the walls of the palace. There was quite a crowd of tourists in the area, most of whom were dressed in light clothing, trying to stay cool in the heat.
We continued wandering around the nearby beautiful and grand historical places and squares, including Heldenplatz, the Welt Museum, the arches of the Helden Tor, Austria’s National Library and State Hall, the Swiss Court and Gate, the Sisi Museum, the Spanish Riding School with its shop, and Michaelerplatz. All around, we saw numerous horses and horse carriages carrying tourists.
Kärntner Strasse and St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Strolling along, we reached Vienna’s famous pedestrian and shopping street, Kärntner Strasse. What a crowd it was! Streets like these are best enjoyed at a slow, leisurely pace. At the end of the street, we arrived at a large square called Stephansplatz, which branched into several pedestrian shopping alleys. Right there stood the renowned St. Stephen’s Cathedral of Vienna, where groups of tourists were enthusiastically taking photos. The area was bustling with both people on foot and horse-drawn carriages.
A Nepali Meal and Cricket Talk
By then, we had been walking for quite a while and started feeling hungry. Nearby, we found a Nepali restaurant and sat down for a meal. Bero, who is an avid cricket fan, kept bringing up cricket during the conversation. We ate what we could and packed the rest to go.
Cultural Landmarks on the Return Walk
On our way back, we strolled again through Kärntner Strasse and came across more architectural gems, including the Vienna State Opera, the Film and Art Museums, the Kunsthistorisches and Historical Museums. Maria-Theresien-Platz, with its surrounding gardens and fountains, was particularly stunning. This area seemed to house many more museums and historical landmarks.
Austrian Parliament and Rathaus Park
Eventually, we walked over to the Austrian Parliament building—also known as the National Assembly. Everywhere, tourists mingled, and the trams, buses, and taxis were busy with people coming and going. After taking some memorable photos outside the Parliament, we made our way toward Rathaus Park, where large public festivals were taking place. Due to the heat, two young girls from a company were distributing free sunblock samples for promotion. We took some—those sun creams really work! The park appeared to be hosting a major festival, possibly a film festival.
The Burgtheater and Cooling Down
Nearby stood the beautiful building of the Burgtheater. Because of the heat, we hopped on a tram and returned to the Burgring station. From there, we visited the Spanish Riding School’s gift shop and bought a few souvenirs. The heat, combined with a long day of walking, wore us out. So, we went to the Burggarten and sat under a tree’s shade, even dozing off lightly. Around us, many people were either relaxing in the shade or sunbathing.
The Butterfly House and Nearby Cafés
While sitting there, we noticed a huge greenhouse nearby—it was the Schmetterlinghaus, or Butterfly House, built like a tropical rainforest and home to numerous butterfly species. There were also many large restaurants nearby.
Tea, Cake, and a Baroque Fountain
After a bit of rest, we thought of enjoying some tea and cake in Vienna. So we headed over to the famous Café Museum. We sat outside under large umbrellas, enjoying tea, cake, good conversation, and the lively surroundings while also planning our next moves. Since it was summer and the days were long, we didn’t plan to return to the hostel just yet. Instead, we once again found ourselves in the pedestrian zone, visiting the Donnerbrunnen, a baroque fountain built in the 18th century, adorned with various sculptures.
Historical Columns and Churches
From there, we moved toward the Trinity Column, built in the 17th century in memory of those who perished in the plague. Nearby, we also got a chance to see the exterior of St. Peter’s Catholic Church. After wandering around a bit more, we returned to Michaelerplatz, where there wasn’t much left to do, so we took a few photos and sat down at a café-bar. Even there, horse carriages were constantly coming and going. The rhythmic clopping of the horses’ hooves, mixed with the murmur of voices, laughter, and background music, created a unique and lively soundscape—one where even our Sindhi language had its place.
A Humorous Restroom Moment
I went to use the restroom there, but both toilets were unmarked, so I asked a staff member which one was for men. Laughing, he replied, “Women are always right,” which made us all laugh heartily. That’s how I found out the men’s toilet was to the left.
Evening Lights and Farewell to the City
As we continued sitting there, a beautiful mix of light and clouds appeared in the sky. The sunlight filtering through the clouds between the buildings looked stunning. Many people began taking photos, and so did we. As we sat there, the clock struck nine, and lights began to glow in the windows of nearby buildings. That was our signal to leave.
We returned to the Vienna State Opera and the memorial at Albertinaplatz. The city was now lit up beautifully for the night—it felt like Vienna only truly came alive after dark. That made sense, as it was the weekend. Beneath the Karlsplatz Square was a metro station, above it tram and bus stops, and people arriving from all directions. We left them to their revelry, boarded a tram from Karlsplatz, and returned directly to the Friedrich-Engels-Platz station. Even on the way back, the city buzzed with life. For others, the party had just begun, but for us, it had ended.
Back at the Hostel
We reached our hostel around 11 p.m. and, after collecting our room keys, got into the elevator, joined by a group of school students. It’s common for European school groups to stay in hostels, backpacks slung over their shoulders, traveling across entire countries. Our room was quite spacious, and thanks to the air conditioning, very comfortable. Still, we thought we’d freshen up and eat dinner downstairs in the hostel lobby.
A Simple Meal Outdoors
When we came down, the lobby was too crowded. So, we stepped outside and sat on a ledge to enjoy the food we’d packed from the Nepali restaurant. It tasted even better out there. A few boys and girls staying at the hostel were outside smoking in a designated area.
A Missed Opportunity by the Danube
After dinner, we strolled around nearby. In fact, the Danube River also flows through Vienna and was close to our hostel, but unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to visit it. Late at night, we returned to the hostel and rested.
A Morning of Emotions in the Hostel Lobby
The next morning, the breakfast area was crowded, like a forest of wooden sticks, full of diverse people of all ages. The breakfast spread included everything typical of European hotels—if one eats a full meal here, hunger won’t strike again for quite a while. We, too, ate whatever we could manage according to our appetite and capacity.
After breakfast, we collected our bags from the room, handed over the keys at the reception, and were still standing there when I noticed a touching scene—some teenage girls, likely in their early teens, were bidding farewell to each other and crying. It seemed they were perhaps from different parts of Austria or other countries and had come here on their school’s annual summer tour with their teachers. Likely, they had formed close bonds while staying together in this hostel, and now, as the time came to part ways, emotions overwhelmed them.
Childhood Echoes and Farewells from Moro
Watching this scene brought back a flood of childhood memories—of school days when we, along with Sir Ghulam Yasin Memon, Sir Safdar Saeed Memon, Sir Amanullah Shaikh, and Sir Mazhar Memon, used to go on scout trips to Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, or Murree. We would stay in tents, schools, or even on the platforms of railway stations and meet students from across the country. Friendships were formed, and such heartfelt emotions were shared at the time of departure.
I also remembered our neighborhood in Moro, and my childhood friends Ayaz, Tariq, and Khalid Shaikh, whose father was the Mukhtiarkar (revenue officer) in Moro. We used to play together as children, and when their father was transferred and they left the neighborhood, we cried as well.
No matter how old a person becomes or where they are in the world, their emotions remain the same.
Exploring the Grandeur of Schönbrunn Palace
I returned from this reflection, and we set out to explore the famous Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna using the city’s excellent public transport system. First, we took a tram, and then the underground train, which brought us to the Schönbrunn Palace station. The summer heat was intense. On the way to the palace, modern drinking water fountains were installed—we quenched our thirst there and also poured water on our heads to beat the heat.
Schönbrunn Palace is among the most visited attractions in Vienna, so it was naturally quite crowded. Like everyone else, we began exploring it on foot. The fountains, arches, diverse trees, gardens, and the grand architecture of the palace were truly stunning. The way the trees, hedges, and plants in the gardens were pruned and maintained clearly showed that the gardens were tended with great care.
Neptune’s Fountain, Gloriette, and Lotus Dreams
Among the highlights of the palace is Neptune’s Fountain, and behind it, perched on a small hill, is the Gloriette—an elegant colonnaded structure offering panoramic views of Vienna. Other fountains and a few statues are scattered throughout the area. Some Roman-era ruins can also be seen in the vicinity.
In one of the palace’s ponds, lotus flowers added a touch of romance to the ambiance. Many films have been shot in this palace due to its scenic beauty.
From Royal Gardens to Modern Streets
We roamed around for about an hour and then made our way back. Once again, we took the underground train to return to the Karlsplatz area, the city center. We didn’t have much to do there, so we passed the time leisurely. Walking through the streets of Vienna, I kept thinking about Sigmund Freud, the neurologist and pioneer of psychoanalysis, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the musical genius. I imagined them strolling these very streets during their lifetimes.
We had lunch at an Austrian restaurant, rested briefly under the shade of a tree in a nearby park, and then took a taxi—driven by a Turkish driver—to Vienna’s FlixBus terminal.
The Wait at the Bus Terminal and Departure for Prague
The bus station was bustling. Buses from different European routes were either preparing to depart or had just arrived. The only bus missing was ours. We waited quite a while until finally, our bus appeared in the distance, and we heaved a sigh of relief. The driver explained that they had faced a slight delay on the previous route. We boarded, settled into our pre-booked seats, and began our next journey—to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic—a trip of nearly five hours, which passed smoothly. (Continues)
Click here for Part-1, Part-2, Part-3,
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time.