While researching Vienna I came across The Anchor Clock (or Anker Clock or Ankeruhr).  Apparently it’s a must-see when you go to Vienna.

The only problem is that anyone who lives in Vienna has no idea what it is or where it’s located.  My Sister’s friend (who had spent a lot of time in Vienna) had never heard about it.  His friends also had no clue, and neither did a waiter we asked.  The clock was a mystery…

Actually, it’s located in downtown Vienna, near the water.

It’s up in the air, and it creates a bridge between the Anker Insurance Company’s buildings.  I suspect that’s where it gets its name from…

For another point of reference, it’s really close to the make-out fountain:

I know that’s not the real name of the fountain, but while we were waiting for the clock to do something we watched 4 different couples make out at this fountain, so I’m sticking with the name.

We found the clock in the early evening, which is so not the best time to find the clock but we didn’t know that.  There are 12 historical figures/pairs that parade around the clock on a daily basis.  At the hour mark a different figure is central, and then the very slow parade continues.

The best time to see this clock is at noon.  At noon all the figures parade around the clock, accompanied by music.  At any other hour the figures just slowly crawl around the clock.  It was a little slow and non-dramatic.

But then the best part of this adventure happened…

Half-price cake!  Like I said, I was really starting to like Vienna.  Aida is a cafe chain in Vienna, and this store was just around the corner from the clock (in which direction I do not know).  They were probably close to closing, which is why the desserts were on sale, but the cakes were on sale!  This meant that we could eat twice as much for the same amount (and don’t anyone dare fault my logic and mention that we could’ve eaten the same for half the amount – I’m using cake arithmetic, dammit!).

So while the clock may have been a little lackluster, we found redemption with the desserts.  Happiness is truly just around the corner.