The alarm went off at 0500 this morning. We were going to squeeze in one final sightseeing trip around Vienna before Bernd had to go to work at 0900.
First photo op:
After driving through the Höhenstrasse district, we reached the cobbled stone streets and vineyards of Cobenzl. Getting the best photograph meant scaling a fence (hey, it was early and no one was around).
“By the way,” Bernd said on the telephone the day before I left Quarten. “You should know that what we are going to do is prohibited in Austria.” What? Climbing?
After a very uncomfortable eight-hour train ride, in a six-seater compartment with seven people all lying on top of each other, arms everywhere–I drew the line when I woke up to find a Hungarian gentleman`s hand shoved under my butt–I arrived back in Vienna. Bernd met me at the station with flowers and a head of bright red hair, “something different.”
Now off to attempt a 200-meter climb at Hohe Wand, which is 30 miles south of the city. Will try and post again tomorrow to let you know I survived. Don´t panic for a couple of days…
Sisters Angeline and Josette picked my next desination out of the hat. On Tuesday, after a couple of days R and R back in Vienna, I’ll head to Rajka in Hungary, which lies right near the Austria/Slovakia borders.
When I said I would reach new heights, I didn’t quite expect it to happen so soon.
Bernd’s rebellious streak must have rubbed off on me slightly. Today I tried to break into a pig farm, “just to see what would happen.”
As soon as I stepped through the open doorway, the animals began to squeal blue murder and bang full force against the railings of their pens. An elderly woman appeared and she wasn’t a happy bunny.
“Nein!” she shouted at me.
“But I want to see the pigs,” I said. “Please can I take a photograph?”
“Nichts photo!” she said, and chased me out of the building wearing a floral dress, apron and Wellington boots, and waving a yard broom above her head.
Not exactly a successful expedition…..
For Upper Austria:
Wiesen Jazzfest, www.wiesen.at
Perg Nordic Walking, www.runnersfun.com
Tourismusverband Grein/Donau, www.oberoesterreich.at/grein, or www.grein.at
Ardagger room information, www.ardagger.at
Clam Castle and concerts, built in 1149 by Otto von Machland, www.burgclam.com
Fest-Kul Tour, www.museumland.at
Perg Tourist office, www.perg.at and www.oberoesterreich.at/perg
Burg Kreuzen, www.tiscover.com/bad-kreuzen
Keltendorf Mitterkirchen, Oberösterreich, www.mitterkirchen.at
Naturparkgemeinde Rechberg, www.rechberg.at
MobiTipp, Perg Buses, www.mobitipp.at
And Vienna…..
For trains in Austria, www.oebb.at
Everything you need to know about what to do, where to go, and what’s on in Vienna,
www.vienna.info
Vienna Sightseeing Bus Tours, www.viennasightseeing.at and www.oldtimertours.at
The Spanish Riding School and the Lipizzaners, www.srs.at,
Theater Museum, Vienna, www.theatermuseum.at, and the Lipizzaner Museum, www.lipizzaner.at
Kunst Historical Museum and Imperial Palace, www.khm.at. Current exhibits include Giambolgona’s “Triumph of the Body,” and Maria Callas’s “the art of self-staging”
Scholss Schönbrunn / Schönbrunn Palace, www.schoenbrunn.at,. NOTE: access to the grounds and manicured lawns is free!
For guided walks in Vienna, www.wienguide.at,
Vienna Zoo, located in the palace grounds of Schönbrunn, www.zoovienna.at, the zoo was founded in 1752 and is the oldest in the world
Austrian Dinner Show, at Wiener Prater, www.austriandinnershow.at
Imperial Classic Gala, showcasing renowned Austrian composers and opera singers, www.imperial-classic.at
Mozarthaus Vienna, the home of the composer from 1784 to 1787, www.mozarthausvienna.at
Wien-Programm, for information on events, exhibitions, theater and concerts, www.wien.info
For boat trips, www.donauschiffahrtwien.at
Vienna Residence Orchestra, www.residenzorchester.at
Impulstanz, Vienna International Dance Festival, www.ImPulsTanz.com
Mozart Year 2006, www.hdm.at
Planetarium Wien, www.planetarikum-wien.at
Kuffner Sternwarte, www.kuffner.ac.at
Urania Sternwarte, www.urania-sternwarte.at
I have nothing to add, except Happy Birthday!!
“The land is flat around Perg,” Bernd said while looking at his computer mapping software.
Searches I’d done on the internet proved pretty fruitless with regard to reasonably priced accommodation in Perg. I was looking at paying in excess of 50 € for a room.
I arrived last night after three hours and two trains from Vienna.
“Just pass through and move on,” mom had written in an e-mail.
Enter Bernd, my life-saver in Vienna. While I was strolling through the streets, he was at work trawling the web. Not only did he find a later train I could catch, but the superstar also found me a room at Gasthof Lettner, located right in the center of Perg, for 37 € a night. Not cheap but definitely affordable.
When I checked in, I realized it was far above the standard I’ve been used to lately. I found the tourist office (yes, there is one), and although closed, there were maps and brochures available. Tonight I’m at Gasthof zum Einhorn which costs 28 €.
