Walking in Vienna Woods

While the cats away....the "walking" is really easy!

George had recently completed a little walk of his own in the woods – some 825 km of the Comino de Santiago through Spain.  (I suspect he walked further than we sailed this season!)  Obviously his penance was considered unsatisfactory by those in high places, because we had to visit him in hospital. 

After paying our respects to a fellow adventurer, Annette took us for a sightseeing trip up into the forest above Vienna (Vienna Woods).  We followed the road up through a small winemaking village with lots of quaint wine houses known as heuriger that offer wine and foods.  October is the season for sturm, fermenting grape juice, a precursor to wine.  Sadly we’d only just missed a “Sturmfest” in Stammersdorf, a wine growing village on the outskirts of Vienna.

Vienna through Autumn mists

St Josef at Kahlenberg

Our first stop was the lookout at Kahlenberg.  It was here that the joint forces of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations and the Kingdom of Poland defeated the armies of the Ottoman Empire that besieged Vienna in 1683.  Beside the lookout is the Baroque church of St. Josef once an isolated monastery.  Now it shares space with a prestigious catering school.  Sadly, an autumn mist had settled heavily over Vienna, but we were able to make out the main features, including the Danube (in its multiple forms through Vienna).

Autumn mists over Klosterneuburg Abbey too 

We continued down cobbled roads to stop for a picture postcard view over the massive Klosterneuburg Abbey and quaint village surrounding it.  This village is set amid picturesque vineyards and farms.  Not to mention, more heuriger!   

We however, were making our way to the well-known Schuebel-Auer (1711).  This place was making and serving wines long before Australia was even discovered…’nuff said!  It was a delight, packed with locals and serving delicious, traditional foods.  Our wine was served in mugs (via a jug straight from the barrel) and spritzed with sparkling water – in the traditional manner.  The food was good and wholesome; perhaps what we consider an “Austrian-preparing-for-winter” style. 

Visiting Schuebel-Auer (1711)

Schubert's House

Once again, there’s a surprise waiting on every corner.  Franz Schubert’s house is located in Nussdorfer Strasse, 54, just a quick step from our heuriger. 

In contrast to things traditional, we were invited to a night out at the English Theatre in downtown Vienna (say that again slowly whilst pinching yourself) in an amazingly romantic theatre to see the world premiere of “Chickenshit”.  It was all "bulldust" to us but we really enjoyed ourselves - even the Cap'n remained awake!  The acting was first class and we wish them well with their American debut.

Show & Tell - Patchworking in Vienna

Our week in Vienna was over before we knew it.  There was time for a quick patchwork show & tell with a busy Annette before we headed off for the train to Budapest and the start of our tour of Eastern Europe.