The Blithe Traveler: Fiaker Ride

Fiakers are the picturesque horse drawn vehicles that dot the Viennese landscape. This one, which contains one young red-haired passenger, is outside of Stephensdom in the heart of the inner city of Vienna.

"The word "faiker" derives from the French term "Fiacre." The history of the term is interesting. In 1645, Nicholas Sauvage, an innovative, forward thinking carriage marker in Paris decided to set up a short term carriage rental business. His business originated from the Hôtel de Saint Fiacre where he rented out his four-seater carriages at 10 sols an hour. Within twenty years, Sauvage's idea had developed into the first citywide public transport system "les carossses at 5 sols" ("5-sol carriages")." (Wiki Fiaker) And the "Fiacre" was born. The Austrians called 'em "Faikers" and thus they are today.

Upon arrival in Vienna three years ago, the aforementioned young lady expressed a strong desire to take a ride in a Fiaker. A certain mom explained that these things are rather more than her weekly pocket money, so, no, we would not be trotting around the Ringstraße in a private equipage.

However, as the years passed, and our time in Vienna drew to a close, I thought it might be a nice way to say goodbye to the city that I hold so dear. My brother and his family were coming to join us for our last few weeks in Europe, and as the carriage rides are by the carriage, and not a cost/person, I thought if I packed my neice and nephew in as well as Hope and myself, I could justify the price. Tom, aka, Allergy Boy, was not the least bit interested in being included in this adventure, so it worked out rather well.

I took tons of photos of my niece and nephew in the Faiker, but will only include photos of Hope here for the obvious reason that niece and nephew are not my kids, so I probably shouldn't plaster their faces all over my blog.

There are several Faiker stands throughout the city, and set routes that you can take for a set price. We were happy enough to take a spin around the inner city that included passing by the Spanish Riding School.

And Peterskirche am Graben, which is a Roman Catholic church just of the pedestrian street of Graben. It's not the Top Vienna Address, though. That's a ad. In English, of course, for foreign type-people who might be looking for Vienna's Top Address in which to rent a flat.

And the girls played the "Wave At Me!" game. I suppose I would have done the same at ten, but at almost fifty, I purse my lips and look like the disapproving old crank I really am. Hope has lived with me long enough to just ignore me, so I don't I spoiled her fun too much.