Prost!

 

After the fabulous palaces and castles- Schloss Schonburnn, Hofburg, Schloss Belvedere and even the Schloss Schonburn Gardens; after the museums – Museumquartier, Leopold, Klimt Villa, Belvedere, Museum of Vienna; after the music and operas- Haus der Musik, Staatrosoper ( I put my foot down at paying over 200 Euros for tickets for the opera when they had a giant screen outside telecasting the whole thing, sure it’s not the same as sitting in the rarefied ambiance within the opera house but after you take a tour of the opera house for a  minuscule amount of the ticket price for entry tickets, it doesn’t matter. Besides we wanted to actually see the Vienna Boys Choir but unfortunately our visit dates were wrong); after the churches and cathedrals – St Stephan’s Cathedral (Stephansdom), St Augustine’ Church, St Peter’s Church, St Michael’s Church; after Dr Freud; after Naschmarkt;  after a visit, somewhat disappointing to Prater and the amusement park there said to be a historic one because it was the first one to have the giant Ferris Wheel; after the wining and dining and the endless walks, we decided to head into the woods literally. 

 

Schloss Schonburnn

 

Wish the water was there

Someone heard my prayers! Schloss Schonburnn gardens

  

Walk all the way up for a stunning view

 

St Stephan's Cathedral

  

 

 

 

Haus der Musik

  

Museum Quartier

 

    

Caption - not required!

 

That's THE couch!

 

Was this a tree a baby during Dr Freud's time?

 

The world's first Ferris Wheel???

 

The destination was Kahlenberg in the Vienna woods, on the northern side of the city and located at 484 metres with a platform that provides a stunning view of the city. Driving to Kahlenberg is itself a pleasure, passing through quiet tony residential areas, the vineyards, the woods and finally to the platform (panorama terrace), beyond St Joseph’s Church that provides a stunning view of the city.  The day is sunny but slightly hazy, which though adding to the romance, leaves the distant horizon a little blurred. On a clear day it is said one can even see the lower Alps - or Austria’s snow mountains- in the region of Schneeberg, from where the city gets its spring water. It is also claimed that some hikers to the lower Alps in Schneeberg might even come across the Edelweiss plant (Remember Sound of Music!) Well it was not our Schneeberg sighting day unfortunately. But the view that spread out below – rolling farms, greens, cottages and mansions, the urban elements further on - more than compensated for the loss.  Except that one wished there were less people around. 

 

On way to Kahlenberg

 

And below stretches Vienna

 

Vineyards on the way

 

St Joseph's Church

Any chance of getting lost?

 

Musical moment

Then there is St Joseph’s Church, a baroque creation, with the Black Madonna making it a popular place for pilgrim. I love the way history is preserved and retold in Europe. We are told the battle of Kahlenberg is crucial in Austrian history because it was here that the German and Polish armies defeated the Ottomans in 1683. Unfortunately, the battle proved disastrous for the Camaldulensis monks in the monastery (after Brother Ambrosius Camaldulensis) there which along with the church was destroyed. The church is said to have been rebuilt in 1734. Everything around is little touristy, but ignore it all, find your own corner and let your eyes sweep the vista unfolding below, it’s worth every penny.

Vienna is one city which has the Wine Trail that takes one over most of its more than 300 vintners spread out over 700 hectares of vineyards. Despite the temptation one couldn’t take the trail. But heading for Kahlenberg had a motive behind it – to hit one of those heuriger (wine taverns) and binge! On the way to Kahlenberg we passed several – impressive, grand to quaint ones, all very inviting. At the last moment, or rather the spur of the moment, a decision was taken to skip the heurigers there and instead drive right across to the vineyards in the south zone. The drive is quite long and a bit of impatience creeps in fearing that it would be dark by the time we reach there, but thankfully the weather and sunlight holds good.  As we approach the destination, gentle hills rise in the background while the vineyards spread all over. The central road is somewhat narrow but flanked by colourful houses. 

Then Tada! It’s heuriger time. I have no shame in admitting that we walked into the first open door. A small narrow cobbled entry and then, a door on the left leads to an indoor pub (give or take 2/3 tables) and straight ahead an enclosed garden with rattan seating. It’s a spirited time, every which way, interrupted only by delicious bites of ham and more ham of every kind, salads and breads. Two dogs keep us company, one lazy as every and the other frisky as ever. No effort – cajoling, physically dragging, reprimanding, tempting tidbits and what have you- by the owners can keep the dogs away. She and her son brush off their hands; apologise and let them be.

I am dog freak- couldn’t have asked for better company.This is the time when one really believes that god is up there and everything is right with the world below.

Prost!

 

 

And here it is!

 

 

Not the real one

  

Not drunk! That's from a speeding car in fading light

Prost once more!