Belvedere Castle in Vienna

The third day I traveled around Vienna again by underground, tram,and walking. When Joe got home from work we took the motorcycles on a shakedown ride. Just so I could get the feel of the bike and be certain that I was comfortable enough to ride it. We rode out to a Heuriger in Spitz but more about that later. I got a rather late start to the day and so went directly to OMV for lunch and to meet some of Joe's colleagues, They wanted to meet the Biker Chick. My plan was to do Belvedere Castle and again I got all screwed around but with perserverence I did it. So here goes. OMV has a cafeteria like no other and for 5 euros total we both had a gourmet meal. No wonder Joe does not take his lunch to work. They do however have tight security and Joe had to card me in and out. After lunch we did a little stroll around before Joe went back to work and I continued sightseeing. These of some of the photos of Joe's office.

 

 

 

Then it was on to Belvedere Castle. It was an amazing place like all the others but first I headed to the Alpine Garden and then to the Botanical Garden.

 

Part of the Alpine Garden

Don't know how this got in here. This is the baroque church at Karsplatz Plaza.

 

 

 

Okay more Alpine flowers

Bonsai tree in the garden

 

 

Neat window in the bonsai garden

 

 

There were so many beautiful flowers and then I went on to the botanical gardens.

This is a nail tree

This is a bamboo grove

 

 

And finally the Belvedere castle itself

 

 

Now back to our shake down ride and the heuriger which is a family winery who get a license to serve food and their wine. They cannot be open all the time but when they are they put out a braided straw circle which indicates they are open today. Joe has become friends with the one family and we had a cheese and bread plate which we ate at a picnic table. We had this garlic cheese spread called Liptauer that is soo good .

 

 

 

 

After dinner we continued our journey through the countryside and ended up in the small town of Melk over which the Benedictine Monastery resides. It certainly was a sight in the setting sun.

 

 

 

 

Notice how this house is formed around a prexisting rock,

And so home to the apartment in Vienna.

The next night when Joe got home we sorted things out and packed what we needed for the trip and then I asked Joe if we could go back to an old tavern we had passed before . Built in 1447 we had a beer and I had cream of asparagus soup and Joe had apricot ice cream puffs which he said were very good. The place is called Griechenbeisl, Joe and I have had fun with the names of places and things and I say Okay How do you spell that.. This Inn has a long and interesting history.

Twice the Turks attacked Vienna and the walls of the house which was situated near the line of defense shook with the impact of the attackers cannon balls. Many famous people have gone there and signed the wall in one of the rooms. Johnny Cash, Richard Wagner, Mark Twain,

Beethoven and Mozart to name a few. Pretty neat place. And so ends the episode. Tomorrow we head out on our motorcycle trip.

As you walk in you can look down into the dungeon and this is what will great you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Vienna

Well I am certainly running catch up. It is hard when every day is spent to the fullest seeing new things, exploring new places and generally living the day to the fullest. Today I spent the whole day at the Museum of natural history and then I tried to bring dinner home. Oh woe is me. I got lost again. Anyway back to Vienna.

The first day when I went for a walk in the centre of Vienna , this bakery is open so you can go in the back and see what they are making The white bouquet is sandwiches. It is definitely in the presentation. I had apple struedel here and meant to share some of it with Joe but I just pigged it all down myself.

At one point I actually did cross the Danube.

I went to Prtdarland. where this giant ferris wheel resides.here. It was built in 1896 by the English engineer Walter Basset but it only has 1/2 the original cabins as most were destroyed by fire in 1945.Gee it is even older than me. There has been a whole amusement park built up around it and horse racing

I even found the Honda dealer. Still have no idea where it is and today I found the Yamaha and Aprilla dealer but same thing not sure where.

I took this picture on my travels only to realize I had captured Joe's office tower. The bow shaped on just above the trees.

This is an island where many families go to spend a pleasant day.

A few more pictures of Schonburg Palace and this will end day 2 in Vienna.

This is some of the statues throughout the beautiful garden.

T.

This is a beautiful hyacinth arbor.

Not in full bloom yet .

 

 

Joe took this picture of my with Mozart on the second  night walk

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Joe

 

 

 

 

To continue Vienna

There is so much I saw on that first day that I had difficulty getting it all in and remembering all that I saw and did. When Joe and I went on our initial walk , we went to the Hofburg Complex. The home of the Lipizzaner horses. This is a beautiful place and from here is where I took the Hop on Hop off bus. One could also take a horse drawn carriage ride from here.

 

 

 

 

I also saw myself totally amazed by the Schonborn Palace. The Palace and the grounds totally enthralled me. The grounds are huge and I researched a little about what I had seen.

The structure on top is the Gloriette built in 1775 and the fountain below is the Neptune fountain.

The grounds are definitely beautiful.

 

These are some original ruins which remain on the grounds. Well It is time to turn in. It is very late and very tired from a full day riding from Slovenia and we hit some nasty rain again today, Will try to catch up now that I am back in Vienna before I take off again.

 

Vienna

Thought I should get going with the next episode while I had a few moments. I am meeting some of Joe's colleagues for lunch. I have directions and because I am running a little late will go there first and then maybe do the Belvedere castle after lunch . The second day saw me on the hop on hop off bus tour and these are just some of the many pictures I took of this charming city.

Narrow streets and ornate facades really dominate the Viennese skyline.

St Stephens church was my landmark. One can see the spire for miles and I could always orient my self to this beautiful church.

 

 

This last photo was taken inside. The beauty of this old places is overwhelming.

I will add a few more places when I next get sometime but Joe and I are off for the lakes tomorrow and I don't know if I will have a connection.

 

Vienna Austria

Oh my God I can't believe it. I am in Vienna.The trip was rather long but smooth and when I got to Franfurt the airport is so large but I did find my way and then had to wait for my flight to Vienna. I was never so delighted to see someone I knew in my life.To see Joe standing there waiting for me was such a relief and it has been great ever since. First are pictures of Frankfurt airport. It was raining when I landed.

 

 

The next picture you can tell I was easily amused as at one point there were 5 workers trying to decide what to do with this huge instrument.

 

Then I flew from Frankfurt to Vienna. Collected my luggage which weighed a ton....Well less than 50 lbs. 43 to be exact. and Joe led me down to the underground. Yes he took my bag. I told him it was the peanut butter Ha Ha. We then traveled from the airport to his apartment by underground train. Checked in and got set up and then we walked and walked getting me oriented a little so I could go places while he worked. He is situated right in the middle of town and I just have to get on a tram or underground train and everything is easily accsessable. The next morning Joe went off to work and I got up a little later and went across the canal in approximately the same route we had taken the night before . I then decided to get on a Hop On Hop off Tour Bus because it would tell me what I was looking at and in English. Here are some of the wonderful pictures I took.

 

Courtyard at Joe's place

This is the Danube Canal used to divert flood waters and is just around the corner from Joes place.

 

The canal is used a lot by the people of Vienna and the Danube runs a little further north.

Well Joe should be home shortly and we are going to test ride the bikes tonight so will end this episode and add another tomorrow with all the beautiful places I have been. This is certainly a beautiful and extraordinary place. I know I am not in Calgary anymore.

 

 

 

May 6 and 7 Finally riding

Riding season is finally here and I have been trying diligently to get myself in shape for my trip overseas. Saturday was a beautiful day so I went south to Aldersyde then thought west or east? East won and I went to Aspen Crossing at Mossleigh and bought a couple of plants for the front of the house. Had lunch in John Defienbaker's train dining car. They really do lunch up nice with a pansy in the salad.

 

I rode home and it was still so beautiful out that I had to go to Chestermere Tim Horton's for coffee.

Oh it feels so good to finally be back in the saddle again.

So in an effort to get into some kind of shape I rode to the UMCI breakfast this morning and then because I had time I rode up to the Vintage club motorcycle breakfast to say Hi to everyone. Then I went to church where I was honored to receive the Sophia Woman of Wisdom award although I was not feeling particularily Wise.

They not to let the beautiful day got to waste I headed south once more and this time West won. I headed to Subway at Black Diamond and bought a sandwich and a pop for lunch and headed west to Elbow Falls. There were hundreds of motorcycles headed every which way and I am sure 1/2 of Calgary was out there also to take in the beautiful day and get away from it all????????

The following are the pictures I took for the day. I did hike up the hill and a considerable distance to test how well I could hike. I don't want poor Joe waiting for me round every bend and he is much younger than I and in better shape.

 

 

 

 

You can see what I mean by half of Calgary was there. See the hill in the distance. I was on top of that. Not real far but a good hike. I may not be able to get up tomorrow but I did it.

 

 

I also found my coveted crocuses which for me are always a sure sign of spring.