Day 87 - Home Away From Home

This morning we had a late-ish start, lingering over breakfast and visiting with P, a friend of our friend who had also come to town for the fair. After breakfast, Cz opted to stay at our friend´s apartment and read up on some of the prevelant philosopies in India. P really got into the medieval spirit in full costume, and we were off the fair with with bells on our toes (OK, her ankles, but close enough).

At the fair, a friend of hers called on her very medieval cell phone, and soon we were joined by another well-costumed lady, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten. There is something to be said for traveling in the company of exuberant, costumed ladies. Namely, that all the stall owners will offer you tasty samples of everything from walnut-stuffed dates to honey wine. I had a wonderful time first puttering around with them, and later both puttering and watching shows on my own - highland games, a fakir, a trial, ponies... All under the first BLUE skies we´ve seen in Austria!

At 2:00 I returned to our friend´s apartment to collect Cz and return to Vienna. We thought our train was going to stop at the Hüteldorf station. Consequently some friends of the family were going to meet us there to take us back to their flat. Our train did not stop there. Fortunately they did not wait too long, and went home to wait for our call.

Our train, in fact, stopped at Spittelau - luckily just a short underground ride to Hutteldorf - Not so luckily, sans working payphones. We got to Hütteldorf as fast as we could, phoned from there, and soon were recieved by D and H, friends of my cousin. Both are very lovely people, and we are very happy to have met them! All the more so because they are providing us with a place to stay for the rest of our time in Vienna. Not only a place to stay, but our very own little apartment! Some neighbors keep a guest studio, and since they are out of town and not using it at the moment, it is our very own home away from home!

Apartment aside, we are very much enjoying our visit. We have been royally treated with coffee and home-made kuchen, a stroll through the neighborhood and the parks around Schloss Shönbrun, and home-made dinner too!

The grounds of Shönbrun comprise all manner of outbuildings and formal gardens. Today´s walk took us past strictly trimmed alleys, the palm house, and up to the Gloriette. The Gloriette is a baroque folly built on the hill above the schloss. Today it houses a little cafe and provides gorgeous views over the palace and city.

After dinner, we retreated to our little apartment to rest up for the next couple of days. We only have two days left in Vienna, and with all the advice between our friends, our list is probably four days worth of sightseeing!