Baumkreis "Am Himmel" The tree circle "In the sky" stands for the connection between man and the living being tree. The local recreational resort "Am Himmel" is about 20 minutes from Vienna. A total of 40 trees of life have been planted in the "Am Himmel" tree circle. A clay column is set up in front of each tree, on which the properties and data of the respective tree are explained in detail. Each of the 40 sound columns has a loudspeaker. With the help of a motion detector, the tree "speaks" as soon as you stand in front of it and tells its story.

Bellevuewiese Meadow This beautiful meadow is only ten minutes from the heart of Vienna by car, and our lovely Airbnb hosts kindly took us around for the day touring Vienna. As the morning sun bathes Vienna in a warm glow, we embark on a delightful journey to Bellevuewiese Meadow, a hidden gem in the city's heart. Just a short distance from the bustling urban life, this expansive meadow promises a serene escape surrounded by nature's embrace. We stroll along the well-marked paths, discovering hidden sculptures and art installations seamlessly blending with the landscape. Each piece tells a unique story, adding a touch of artistic flair to the already enchanting surroundings.

PANAMA CITY | Panama Canal It is hard to believe we experienced the Panama Canal twice in six months, the transit from both directions. This time, we were northbound from Panama City as we were in the final days of our 110-day voyage with Oceania Cruises . Panama City, Panama Welcome to Panamá City. It is a cosmopolitan city framed by the Pacific Ocean and the gateway to the artificial Panama Canal. With only one day in the city, a Sunday and a day of rest, we explored Casco Viejo, its cobblestoned historic centre, famed for colonial-era landmarks and bougainvillea-filled plazas lined with cafes and bars. After checking the weather, we opted to stay calm and avoid the humidity and hot sun by bar-hopping through fabulous cocktail bars and hunting for more Pisco Sours. It's our last chance before we leave this wonderful continent we have been blessed to explore over the past six months. Ubers were plentiful and comfortable, all with air conditioning, so that was a bonus! We were whisked away to our first rooftop bar in the old city; as we whizzed through the streets, we knew we had made the right decision. Lazotea Rooftop Bar was impressive at first sight; Panamá City is the place to be! We were greeted by a resident DJ playing tunes as we walked in. We perched ourselves at the bar while waiting to devour more Pisco Sours. Being Sunday, the brunch menu was the highlight, and we sampled our way through some of the options, of which we were delighted! The next stop was a quick stroll through the old city, and after five minutes in the scorching heat, we were ready to embrace another cocktail. We located the stunningly new La Compañia Hotel , part of the unbound collection with Hyatt, and it was the perfect place to enjoy the last Pisco in South America. The hotel was pure luxury and on our list when we returned amongst all the local eateries and bars. The old city was full of absolute charm, style and wealth. As the afternoon settled, we returned home to the ship to enjoy another magical sunset. Panama is unique and has some quirky fun facts ; it is the only place in the world to experience the sunrise in the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic Ocean from the top of the highest point in the country, Volcan Baru. The evening was spent enjoying a delicious steak in Polo Grill and preparing for the early rise as the ship is scheduled to enter the Miraflores Locks from 6.30 am to traverse the canal, an essential shipping route linking the Atlantic and Pacific. Panamá Canal Transit, Panamá It's hard to believe we are about to transit the Panamá Canal again so soon. We were ticking this from our bucket list only six months ago as we sailed the North to the South Pole, so it was the Southbound route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Today, we are back to experience but northbound as we leave the fantastic continent of South America in our rear vision mirror and embark on a new undiscovered part of Central America on our final ten days aboard the lovely Marina. We woke up with the birds. It was an early transit as we approached the 'Bridge of the Americas' connecting North America to South America in 1962, providing a pass for over 35,000 cars daily. You can take a road trip from Alaska to Panamá! The morning sun was filtering nicely, setting us up for the day ahead. We spotted a crocodile stealthily inching through the water just before entering Miraflores Locks. As we kept a close eye on him, we soon caught sight of another; what a start to the day! Pedro Miguel Locks followed the Miraflores Locks. Our approach today was to enjoy the transit and process from our balcony and limit the camera time to soak it all up over a coffee or two this morning. There are three chambers in Miraflores Locks, and we were supported by a tug boat at the front and rear, along with the mules (locomotive trains). It takes about one hour to go through the three chambers as you experience the waters in the chambers using the force of gravity to raise you and bring you to the same level so you can continue your transit to the Atlantic. Once through the first locks, we spent lunch in the GDR for front-row seats in the lush, dense green jungle and scenery as we glided by. In the early afternoon, we were slowly lowered into the Gatun Locks chambers and safely deposited in the Caribbean Sea to continue our journey to Costa Rica. We enjoyed the other ships' company going southbound, and there were waves and smiles from both sides as we were lowered and raised throughout each chamber in the lock. After experiencing the Panama Canal locks from both outside and inside the ship, we felt the visit to Gatun Locks visitor centre in Colon to watch the ships transit the locks was much more enjoyable. Once on the ship, it isn't easy to understand the full power of the process due to visibility. Still, all the same, we loved having the opportunity to experience both sides and both directions. Fun facts: 35 ships per day transit the Panamá Canal Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914; for 85 years, the US operated and had government control. 1999, the canal was transferred to Panama; they now operate and manage the route. A new lock was built to transport more cargo and more than 40,000 workers to make, and the larger canal was inaugurated in 2016 The old canal does not recycle water; the new one uses the same water thrice, refreshed to avoid pollution, and only recycles in the dry season. Fifty-two million gallons of water are released from the lake each transit in the old canal. 90% of all the equipment today in the locks still operating is from its original installation in 1914 Ships transiting through the canals pay for all containers/cabins, whether occupied or empty. On average, it is 350k per ship to cross the canal. The canals make an average of 12-15 million daily in revenue, and the minimum wage is $600 monthly. A dry canal refers to offloading containers in port and then using rail to transit the cargo, and another ship waits to collect on the other side to continue the move. Some companies want to save dollars and opt for a dry canal. Up to 10,000 people work in the canal today; the best salaries in Panama are from the canal; the top level is 500k a year for pilots. A staggering 25,000 workers lost their lives during the French effort to build the canal. Many of these deaths were due to disease, mainly yellow fever and malaria. A stamp helped US senators decide to build the canal in Panamá instead of Nicaragua. Initially, they were undecided about the location. Philippe Bunau-Varilla, who lobbied for a Panamanian Canal, sent every senator a Nicaragua postage stamp depicting one of the country's many volcanoes. It was an effective ploy: Panama had no volcanoes; thus, it was a safer bet. The US senators agreed Panama was a better option. Our next adventure is coming soon as we continue our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises , the circumnavigation of South America.

HARVEST CAYE | BELIZE CITY In the final week of our 110-day voyage with Oceania Cruises , one of our last destinations was Belize. Only six months ago, we first visited Belize on our North to South Pole cruise; we were happy we opted for Altun Ha, the Mayan Ruins on the visit. HARVEST CAYE, BELIZE A man-made paradise island positioned just off the mainland coast of Belize owned by NCL, a cruise company for those unfamiliar. Everyone was raving about the beautiful beach, little restaurants for lunch, a pool with a swim-up bar, and ample sun beds for all to use while soaking up the sun and sipping cocktails. If you fancy splurging, you can rent an air-conditioned resort-style room with access to its own private beach away from the crowds. So we prepared ourselves for a day by the beach or pool and scampered off the ship with bikinis and beach towels packed. Unfortunately, the winds were about 25 knots, so we could not be alongside, but the shoreside tenders were large and efficient. Upon arriving from the tender, the infrastructure was impressive: a well-designed walkway with a cart lane for those less mobile. You enter the bespoke island surrounded by mangroves designed to showcase all Belize is known for, from native plants and trees. The seven-acre pristine beach did indeed have stunning white powder sand and crystal clear waters. A collection of small shops guide you to the beach, where you can settle in for the day. You can even zip line on the island, paddleboard or kayak in the lagoon. We walked the beach and spotted a bar, so we went for the obligatory cocktail to start the day. However, assessing the drinks served on neighbouring tables, we quickly confirmed the mojitos would be served in non-sustainable plastic cups with plastic straws for a special price of $10 +32% for tax and gratuities! We politely declined and decided this island wasn’t for us, as it felt like all the gloating about protecting the environment was all for show. As we walked past more restaurants, they even served drinks in identical plastic branded NCL cups inside for meals. This island accommodates up to 10,000 guests a day from visiting ships, so the volume of plastic waste daily where they are only too happy to remind you a plastic cup takes 450 years to decompose. We also noticed plastic waste around, which they proudly promote at the entrance that the Harvest Caye team is dedicated to protecting the environment, local wildlife and the delicate marine ecosystems. Feeling disappointed, we returned to the ship with a bottle of champagne, again politely declining the plastic bag from the duty-free shop in hand to cheer us up. NCL, you can do better; let’s lead from the front and by example. BELIZE CITY, BELIZE Following Harvest Caye, the next day, we arrived in Belize City, a destination we visited in October 2022 . We were going to remain on the ship as we recalled the port didn't leave much to be desired, and the city was not very inviting based on travelling through last year. We decided to jump off the ship for the short tender as we needed connectivity, so we hoped a local bar in port would provide this. Unfortunately, the bar D' Bourbon Barrel we opted for was quite the letdown and an expensive choice for free wifi; we were very disappointed and headed back to the ship. If you enjoy overlooking murky grey waters and way below average cocktails (Moscow Mule below), which have a whisper of alcohol at USD 17, then this is the place for you. These are the worst overpriced cocktails we have ever experienced in our six years of travel. Staff are lazy and lacking warmth and a basic level of customer service. Please do yourself a favour and save your dollars; daylight robbery is a tourist trap at its very best. Belize was quite the disappointment this time; next time, we must find the pristine parts and destinations everyone raves about. Next is our first visit to Mexico, our final adventure before arriving in Miami to complete our 110-day journey with Oceania Cruises .

Costa Maya | Cozumel Welcome to Mexico, a country we have had on our list for decades to visit and our final destination from our 110 days with Oceania , cruising from Miami to Miami whilst circumnavigating South America. Mexico is country No.69 as we continue to travel around the world slowly. Since we decided to travel endlessly six years ago, we have ticked off 49 countries in the past six years. Costa Maya, Mexico Costa Maya was our first sample of Mexico, and we planned the day by researching all the beach clubs that provided great food, service and cocktails, in addition to the sandy white beach and turquoise waters that we all know Mexico is well known for. We were booked for a lazy day at Malecón 21 Beach Club soaking up the sun and relishing we were in Mexico. As you disembark from the ship, you enter a very well-designed shopping complex with a pool and sun beds for all the cruisers who don’t want to venture out and can have fun in the sun for the day. They don’t make it easy to escape, but after you stroll past the endless shops trying to engage you in conversation, you set your sights on the taxis; it was refreshing; they were a fixed cost of USD4 each. Thank you, Mexico! After ten minutes, we were perched up on our sun beds for the day, surrounded by the most beautiful turquoise waters and simply pristine white sand; we were impressed. The ever-attentive service from the team was exceptional, and they kept us hydrated and nourished all day. We enjoyed the relaxation; after a few hours of sun, we needed to escape to the restaurant with divine views of the beach to give our fair Aussie skin a break! Ladies and gents were transversing the beach throughout the day, selling merchandise, from cigars to hammocks to bowls and trinkets; you could easily set up a house with one visit to the beach. They were all charming, and there was no pressure to buy as they walked by. Overall, our experience was excellent. The peaceful nature of the beach club, the chilled-out tunes, and the quality of drinks and food were top-notch, all served in glass with paper straws by the waterside. The team were also a delight; they have a selection of packages for cruisers that you booked on their website. Our package was USD30 each for sun beds and wifi, and this charge is credited back to you on your spending during the day, so there is no additional cost. It was nearing departure time, so we took our sun-kissed bodies and shared a cab with some fellow passengers who had also spent the day at Malecón 21, who were lovely and had been on the ship since Buenos Aires; it’s wild how you can be in the same space for nearly two months and not meet! To embark the ship, you must walk through the cruise complex to return to the ship and be enticed by last-minute duty-free purchases. We were also surprised by the actual real flamingos on display, which we missed during the morning; we quickly captured some beautiful pics and then scampered back to our home. Mexico, you are now in our sights for an extended travel stay in the future. Fun facts: Costa Maya is a beautiful 45km coastline made up of the destinations of Chetumal, Bacalar and Mahahual, located southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula between the Riviera Maya and Belize, north of Chetumal and approximately 4 hours from Cancun. The region has natural beauty, turquoise waters, fine white sand, palm trees and bright sun. It is a true paradise of calm, relaxation, adventure, and fun, where you can also feel the warmth and hospitality of its people in each of its corners. Costa Maya is one of the priority places to develop tourism in Quintana Roo; essential efforts are made to maintain 60% of the territory for nature reserves. The Mayan Reef is also located in this beautiful paradise for snorkelling and diving fans, and the coastline has an endless number of virgin beaches and coral reefs of incomparable beauty, internal lagoons and cenotes in the middle of the jungle. Costa Maya also connects archaeological sites for all those history lovers. Cozumel, Mexico The final destination of our 110-day voyage around South America was the island of Cozumel, where we captured the essence and vividness of the colours of Mexico. Cozumel is located just off the east coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is directly across the water from Playa Del Carmen and about an hour and a half from Cancun. It is also located on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and is an incredible spot for turquoise Caribbean waters, white sand beaches, and world-class diving and snorkelling. As we arrived by ship, we were docked in San Miguel, designed for cruisers who love to shop, so we just went for a walk and tried to avoid the midday sun. Once defeated, we returned to the ship with a local 20-year-old Mezcal to sample; after a full day in the sun in Costa Maya, we needed to hibernate. We enjoyed the friendly people, and if we had more time, we would have hunted down a local restaurant to devour some Mexican food, but most along the beach were touristy, and we didn’t want to be disappointed. We will save the culinary journey of Mexico for the next trip. A beautiful ending to this magnificent cruise; who would have thought 110 days was not enough? We spent our final nights as Miami came into sights, enjoying time with our favourite crew members, who had now become dear friends and feeling grateful for an incredible 110 days of delicious food, meeting lots of new friends and having the opportunity to visit all the great destinations. Overall, we explored three continents, 17 countries and 51 destinations—a few bucket list destinations: Amazon , Panama Canal and Antarctica (coming soon). We will miss everyone onboard Oceania and can’t wait for future cruises! Thank you!

Müllers Heuriger & Weingut Imagine sitting outside surrounded by a beautiful garden only ten minutes from the Vienna city centre, enjoying a stunning local wine. You've found it at this casual restaurant and authentic local Austrian wine bar. Heuriger is the name given to taverns in Eastern Austria, where local winemakers serve their new wine under a special license in alternate months during the growing season. A great selection of wines is also sold at the cellar door at very affordable prices. Lovely food, the perfect spot for a lazy lunch, talking with friends while enjoying quality wines.

Sauna Strand Klub You must reserve a table early to sit at this famous 'beach club' Vienna style. A beach club in the middle of a theme park, miles from any beach, works. Great tunes, and this place is trendy on the weekends; we arrived when the doors opened at 3 pm and already people on a Friday afternoon.

DOTS Establishment - Four Visits It is the perfect restaurant for a long lazy lunch or dinner with your loved one or a group of friends; the decor has been well-considered and provides a warm and inviting atmosphere. This modern Japanese-inspired menu will satisfy all sushi lovers, as made to order, and will surely bring you back for more. One of our favourites was the lightly seared kingfish - delicious! Ensure you leave room for Desser, as you will not be disappointed. Demir Babali is the executive chef with international experience and ensures the food is always on point. We've been following Demir around the various dining venues owned by Martin. This restaurant is part of the Dots Group, the group consistently delivers destination venues that ooze style and character with attention to high end dining with a twist. This is a must-visit venue in Vienna, with outstanding service, food, atmosphere, and drink list.

What a magical time to be in Vienna! Here are some of our highlights so far! Eat Taste of India I've been craving good quality India for a while, and this restaurant did not disappoint me. Falco's Restaurant - Bar - Club Rock Me, Amadeus. If you love 80s music, drop into Falco's restaurant and bar. Restaurant Konstantin Filippou Usually, these restaurants are not in our budget. However, the restaurant offers a fixed-price lunch on par with other tourist-style places. Art Corner Restaurant Do not let the outside fool you; this lovely Greek restaurant has excellent service and reasonably priced food and wine. Steak Point Their tagline is best steaks in town, and we certainly agree. We dropped in for a lazy, extended lunch, and the meat, wine and service lived up to that tagline. Drink Kleinod A cosy cocktail bar that opens at 3 pm, yes, please. Falco's Restaurant - Bar - Club Rock Me, Amadeus. If you love 80s music, drop into Falco's restaurant and bar.

An Austrian town east of Salzburg, The Pilgrimage Church, overlooking Lake Wolfgangsee, houses a towering, intricately carved winged altarpiece. Ferries, including an 1873 paddle steamer, cruise the lake ringed by mountains. The Schafbergbahn, a steam-powered cog railway, climbs to Schafberg’s summit for panoramic views of the Dachstein range.