An Amazing Classroom
When I looked online for the forecast this morning, I saw that the heavier rain was expected at 12pm and so I decided to postpone my 4-5 hour hike through the Prater and went back instead to the Shönbrunn Palace Gardens to explore the left side for 2.5 hours while doing my German lessons on my iPhone. It only took me 10 minutes to get there by underground (2 lines) – wow! What an inspiring classroom, and again, away from the main gardens, there were very few people. For a very long time, I followed the star shaped super-tall hedges while repeating my German phrases. When I turned a corner to see an elderly man masturbating in the distance (sorry, no photo), however, I decided to switch gardens. Luckily, there are lots to choose from. Following the paths up the hill towards the Gloriette, I found myself walking in the woods. I could imagine the royalty exploring their hunting grounds on horseback in times past. Today, however, the paths seem only to harbour beautiful rusty dark squirrels that run right up to you to beg, 2-coloured crows, statues, sandboxes, benches, and occasional openings with a great view. Oh, and I found an outdoor swimming pool and wellness center that greatly appealed to me – there wasn’t a soul on this very cool day under a threatening sky, but I considered coming back on Sunday for their last day of the season (the water is at 23 degrees these days). Something about the experience appeals to me.
After 2.5 hours of learning German in this beautiful landscape, I headed back to the underground just as the rain was getting heavier. I got out on Mariahilferstrasse to activate my iPhone (9.90EUR for a SIMM card) and 10 EUR/month. Good deal, I believe. I then had a chicken PHO soup at a noodle shop and hopped on the first of a few different trams and buses to continue exploring the city. Indeed the heavy rain was starting at 12pm! I think I’ve discovered that buses with numbers in the hundreds actually leave the 21 districts of Vienna as I ended up into what seemed like a village within a most luscious green forest. Since my Weekly Pass is only for Vienna, I got scared of the 100 Euro fine and hopped off. I waited about half an hour for the bus heading back the other way, quite the difference with the inner city 4-minute waits. Luckily, by then, the heavy rain and hail had stopped and I got home dry with a few new places in my discovery-bag.
I’ll be going to bed early tonight because tomorrow is the big opening of the school – I’ll be helping out at about 3pm and the party goes until 1am… not sure if I will. I’m excited and nervous – there are 150 saying they’re going so far on Facebook in a space that I’d say can accommodate 40… hmmmm…
Okay we understand not taking a photo of the “man” but no pics of those “beautiful rusty dark squirrels” hummmm. Have a great openning.
I have to agree….where are the adorable squirrels that were asking you for food? Next time?…. 🙂
I’ll bring my “real” camera next time …. there’s only so much the iPhone can do. You’ll have your squirrel before I leave here. Promise – that and the bi-coloured crows too. 🙂
The bi-colored crows must look a little different. I love you duck picture:) The squirrel family can be a finicky bunch to photograph. I was lucky in San Fran….but the ones in Vienna must look cuter…right? 🙂
I’ll leave you judge for yourself, Paige. There’s still time for me to get one of those squirrels. 🙂