18th june, wednesday

we had gone to the snow capped mountains and ice caves today.

it's really a very interesting phenomenon, and in all my travels, i've never been to an ice cave b4. the part of the mountain where the ice caves r located isn't snow covered or freezing, but as u venture deeper and deeper in to the cave, it gets cooler and cooler. the outside temperature could b a comfortable 16C, then it'd drop to 3C, and then to 1C and soon it'd b around freezing, or lower. entire caverns can b frozen solid, with ice being 28m thick at some places. entire underground rivers can b frozen, and there'd b so many wierd and beautiful ice formations in the caves. i was really so enthralled, i couldn't stop taking photos. unfortunately, i hadn't brought any winter wear, in anticipation of such an interesting journey to a winterwonderland in the middle of summer, and was sort of freezing in the caves :S

we had returned to vienna in the afternoon.

and the cafe of the day was cafe central.



cafe central's another grand old dame of the viennese instituition. the atmosphere and the decor were quite nice, with arched ceilings, portraits and chandliers. they even have got a pianist playing lounge music, which was really enjoyable. but i was generally disappointed with their cakes. their cafe central torta was dry n too citrussy, while their cheesecake was passable. they've got other classics like guglhupf and sachertorte, but we hadn't bothered to try. the chocolate cake recommended by the waiter was the only thing that saved the cakes from total condemnation. of course, 'thou shall not eat sweet cakes with a not so wonderfully sweet white wine (including the likes of reisling)', or risk being very dissatisfied with both. and that's y dessert wines will just have to b deliciously sweet.