Out to the Lake
Trip Start
Aug 16, 2008
1
7
10
Trip End
Aug 27, 2008
Vienna,
Austria
Sunday, August 24, 2008
So, today, she started a love-in with my purse... when I went to get my camera out (thinking she was far enough away and I was safe), she went to attack my hand! She's nuts! Then again, who am I to talk... I have a cat that attacks the mailman, so....
We needed to change our travel plans from Hungary to Neusiedler See, which is the lake that boarders Austria and Hungary
cafe
. Neudiedler See is only 36Kms long and 12KMs at it's widest point. It's also a shallow lake, like Lake Winnipeg, so the water is pretty brown because the sediment and sand are always disturbed. There is a tall grass that grows on the shore and driving in, it reminded me of a cross the prairies, with wheat blowing in the wind, and the marsh! Very neat! This grass is actually used to make the thatched roofs on some of the buildings. I used to think it was so cool that when you looked across the lake, the land you saw on the other side actually belonged to another country! When we looked across the lake, all we saw was Grand Beach! lol
My cousins from my Oma's side, Rita and Herbert, came to meet me and joined us on this trip. I was very happy, because Herbert did all the driving, bless his soul! I'm not sure Oma and I would have survived that experience by ourselves...my driving would be fine, but she makes Hyacinth Bucket look like a saint! (Hyacinth represents the worst of all backseat drivers!!!!) There are no calm reactions from Oma and she gives you a play by play of how and when to turn the steering wheel AS you're driving! Then, if she feels a need, she'll bark at you to watch out for some thing or other! It didn't seem to phase Herbert, but for me it would have ended in disaster!
The countryside was breathtaking and we were driving through the region know as Burgenland. Our first stop was in Eisenstadt for a quick look at Castle Esterhauzy, where Haydn played for many years
castle again
. A completely deceptive building in the centre of town... no turrets or fanfare, but still beautiful. Me, being me, thought the neatest architechtural feature were the corner downspouts on the roof! They're made from copper and I've never seen (or at least noticed to this point) any like them.The next town on our agenda was St. Margharethen, which is a limestone quarry AND one of my favourite stops (from then and now) because I got to buy crystals! I picked up some souvenirs and some jewelry, so it made me happy.
On the not so happy side, the opera, La Traviata, (which is what the movie "Pretty Woman" was based on) was being performed that night in the quarry itself and I would have LOVED to have seen it! Imagine the music and the setting???? It would have been remarkable...maybe I can go tonight! :-)
Rust was next... a city right on the lake that is famous for it's storks. The mythology of storks is that if they built a nest on your roof, you could expect a new addtion to the family and we're all familiar with the image of a stork flying with a baby-filled blanket. Rita told me that the male storks do the deliveries because the females are always too busy yakking! LOL I know that there are a few guys out there who will agree, but my theory is that the females are too busy with jobs and kids and cooking and cleaning and tutoring.. to have the time or the energy to accomplish deliveries, too! :-)
We went into this amazing 'Gallery' owned by the artists
Castle Esterhauzy
. It was in an old house (yes, I realize how stupid that statemant is) with a courtyard and it was full of their art. I'm assuming they were a couple and his art was on the lower floor and hers was on the upper level. There were paintings, glass works, iron garden sculptures, antique furniture... the whole gamut! They also had Jewelry and other goodies in a basement-type space. There was also an old wine press in this room which I thought was neat! I loved the juxtaposition between this ancient space (which represented for me the simpler things) which is full of modern art (some of it was so realistic (photo real) and detailed)... I found that this space really appealed to me and when I have my own gallery, I think I'm going to base it on this design layout. It was fantastic! After that was Möbische for.... let's see, can you guess? If you said coffee, then you'd be correct! A trip to the lake shore and then back home for... drum roll please.... yup, dinner at a Heurigen! I was actually on a fast, so thankfully I did not suffer from any ill effects of this day of what felt almost like frenetic eating!
I haven't figured out if the expression "eat to live" or "live to eat" applies here....I know for sure that with my Oma it's "love to eat". Granted, she lives by herself and we know there's not a lot of joy in cooking/eating for one and it's difficult for her.... so I understand how a day trip can easily become a trip about getting from one eatery to the next
entrance to Heurigen
. It seemed to me, that by the end of the day, our journey was really more about eating with a bit of sightseeing thrown in just to make all the driving seem worth it! We all know that I have some hard limits on what I can possibly consume or even want to consume in a day, and this has been the biggest adjustment for me! I have eaten so much (for me) this past week... I mean, let's face it, I haven't met a schnitzel that I didn't fall in love with! BUT::::::::: Finding a regular type of salad is hard and I'm starting to have dreams of slathering my body in Ceasar dressing and rolling in a big bowl of mixed greens! How's that for demented??? I am aslo suffering from excercise withdrawl. I miss doing laps, I miss walking, I miss the option of the gym! I can walk, but until today, I haven't had the time to even get a good hoof in! So, I am relishing putting on my headphones and walking my ass off....literally! I feel like I've gained about 900 pounds which has put me in a decidedly foul mood! I need to go blow off some stink and then I know I'll feel soooo much better!
Today I will visit an Aunt and Uncle that have actually stayed at my house! I loved having them and I look forward to seeing them again! Their daughter and Raine got along well, too, and I can't wait to see how much she's changed! There will be food and beer and wine... I may still have to bypass some of the eatables out of sheer terror that my poor body will end up in some bizzarre state of carbohydrate induced seizure! I'm such a suck, aren't I? Of course, you've noticed that I've never refused a beer or a glass of wine, right? Where else would I get my fruit servings from??? (and yes, I'm pretty sure hops are a fruit... but they may be considered veggies, I'm not sure!) LOL
That's all for now, folks... I need to walk and I also have a puppy dog with me who has been sadly neglected (Mommy and Daddy have been away all weekend) and she wants some attention, too! Right now she's scratching at my back and then licking my armpit... does this mean she needs to go pee? :-)
Love you all!!!!!
