We went to the Schloss (Orth) Insel today for the first time this season. Next Sunday, April 19 is their Spring festival. The new thing there this year is a colony of ground squirrels. (German: Ziesel; Latin:Spermophilus) Their new home has been prepared with deep walls, and the animals are to be moved in next week. They should be interesting to watch this summer. (Visit the Schloss Insel on the web, too.)
On the way home we stopped in Mansdorf and bought asparagus. Closer to Vienna it doesn't seem to be ready, but they had both the white and the green out there.
Showing posts with label Family outing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family outing. Show all posts
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Apricot blossoms in the Wachau
It's Spring! After the long winter, the sun is back and the flowers are coming out! Having heard that the apricot blossoms were out in the Wachau, Jerry and I decided to drive out to see them.
The Wachau is the section of the Danube between Melk and Krems. Unlike most of the Danube in Austria, the river actually flows freely here, passing between hills covered with vineyards and apricot trees, castles and churches. The most famous castle is the ruin of Duernstein where Richard the Lion-hearted was kept prisoner.
We prefer to visit the town of Spitz a bit further from Vienna. This is the church tower of Spitz with vineyards behind and apricot blossoms in front. We stopped there to take pictures and eat in one of the excellent restaurants. I bought some apricot kernel oil for salads.
The Wachau wines are well known, and if you want to get to know them better, May 1-2 is a good time to do it. During The Wachauer Weinfrühling over 100 Wachau vintners present their wines.
Of course, the classic way to see the Wachau is from the river. The Danube passenger ships start up again on Saturday, and the stretch Krems-Melk is spectacular.
If you prefer to spend less time on the water, just take one of the many ferries across. This is the one at Spitz.If you go to the Wachau on the 18th or 19th of April, be sure to stop at the ruin Aggstein for the medieval festival.
Jerry and I prefer the somewhat lighter wines of the Kamptal, and we were running out of some of our favourites, so we headed to Langenlois after lunch. At Ursinhaus we picked up some wines, and some apricot vinegar to go with the oil. Then we crossed the Danube to buy two rose plants in one of the nurseries around Tulln. A lovely day!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Winter Fun
To be quite honest, when outside gets white, I consider getting under the covers with a good book, but for those who are less intimidated by the way it looks outside out windows today:
There are lots of sledding slopes in Vienna. The one I know best is in the Pötzleinsdorfer Schloßpark. When there is a good day with snow on the ground just watch the streets and trams near you to find out where to go. The 41 tram is often filled with children and sleds this time of year off to the final stop for snow fun.
Then there is skating:
If you skate you have probably found the main rinks already. After Christmas there will also be an open air rink in front of the Rathaus. It's fun, and gets bigger every year. All the rinks have skates to rent, and you can get your skates sharpened at the skate rental window. (Yes, at the Rathaus, too. Times and prices vary.)
But if you like skating on natural ice, and it gets cold enough, take your skates to the Alte Donau. Out our way there is also skating on some of the smaller side arms of the Danube. Please play it safe, and only go on the ice where there are lots of other skaters. The city has started discouraging using the Alte Donau, but it can be lots of fun, as long as you beware thinner ice under the bridges.
For a day trip outside of Vienna, we like going to Neusiedlersee with our skates. Check in the internet first to see which towns have approved the ice for skating. I'll try to post again if and when we get good ice. If they have, there will probably be stalls selling hot drinks and renting skates. Not great skates, but if you don't have your own it's something. I really much prefer being able to go long distances and chose my own direction to circling constantly with others. Conditions can be different in different areas.
There are lots of sledding slopes in Vienna. The one I know best is in the Pötzleinsdorfer Schloßpark. When there is a good day with snow on the ground just watch the streets and trams near you to find out where to go. The 41 tram is often filled with children and sleds this time of year off to the final stop for snow fun.
Then there is skating:
If you skate you have probably found the main rinks already. After Christmas there will also be an open air rink in front of the Rathaus. It's fun, and gets bigger every year. All the rinks have skates to rent, and you can get your skates sharpened at the skate rental window. (Yes, at the Rathaus, too. Times and prices vary.)
But if you like skating on natural ice, and it gets cold enough, take your skates to the Alte Donau. Out our way there is also skating on some of the smaller side arms of the Danube. Please play it safe, and only go on the ice where there are lots of other skaters. The city has started discouraging using the Alte Donau, but it can be lots of fun, as long as you beware thinner ice under the bridges.
For a day trip outside of Vienna, we like going to Neusiedlersee with our skates. Check in the internet first to see which towns have approved the ice for skating. I'll try to post again if and when we get good ice. If they have, there will probably be stalls selling hot drinks and renting skates. Not great skates, but if you don't have your own it's something. I really much prefer being able to go long distances and chose my own direction to circling constantly with others. Conditions can be different in different areas.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Laxenburg Park
Saturday was a lovely day, and we wanted to get out into the sun. This time we headed to Laxenburg, just South of Vienna. The park there is a nice size for a family walk.
The gardens and buildings date from the 18th century. The large pond has a castle on the island in the middle. This is the way a castle ought to look - and medieval ones never do. Steven was interested to see that skating is possible on the lake if it gets cold enough. Yes, it would be fun to skate around the castle. In the summer there is a boat rental and apparently the bridge we crossed on is replaced by a ferry. Tours are available of the castle, and there is also a cafe there - in the summer.
In the rest of the grounds we saw a tourney ground - apparently used, as jumps were set up inside. We saw deer in the woods, and horses with riders in a meadow. There were a variety of statues, ruins, a 'Greek temple' and similar things to see all along the paths. One couple was feeding the ducks from one bridge, and we saw swans on the pond. At least one of the fallen trees was labeled 'Kletterbaum'. Most of the visitors seemed to be young families. The paved paths with only gentle slopes are well suited to pushing baby carriages. Young children had lots to look at while walking. We came across a large playground, with lovely looking chairs to lie back on and relax in all around the playground, but the children seemed to be everywhere else in the park, and not there. There were also signs for minigolf, but we didn't get to that corner.
To get there by car either drive out Laxenburgerstrasse from Sued Tiroler Platz or take the Suedautobahn to Wiener Neudorf and turn left. As you drive through the town signs for Parking 1 will take you right to the entrance. There is free parking both outside and inside. Adults pay a small entrance fee, but children are free - even above the age limit if they are school children.
The gardens and buildings date from the 18th century. The large pond has a castle on the island in the middle. This is the way a castle ought to look - and medieval ones never do. Steven was interested to see that skating is possible on the lake if it gets cold enough. Yes, it would be fun to skate around the castle. In the summer there is a boat rental and apparently the bridge we crossed on is replaced by a ferry. Tours are available of the castle, and there is also a cafe there - in the summer.
In the rest of the grounds we saw a tourney ground - apparently used, as jumps were set up inside. We saw deer in the woods, and horses with riders in a meadow. There were a variety of statues, ruins, a 'Greek temple' and similar things to see all along the paths. One couple was feeding the ducks from one bridge, and we saw swans on the pond. At least one of the fallen trees was labeled 'Kletterbaum'. Most of the visitors seemed to be young families. The paved paths with only gentle slopes are well suited to pushing baby carriages. Young children had lots to look at while walking. We came across a large playground, with lovely looking chairs to lie back on and relax in all around the playground, but the children seemed to be everywhere else in the park, and not there. There were also signs for minigolf, but we didn't get to that corner.
To get there by car either drive out Laxenburgerstrasse from Sued Tiroler Platz or take the Suedautobahn to Wiener Neudorf and turn left. As you drive through the town signs for Parking 1 will take you right to the entrance. There is free parking both outside and inside. Adults pay a small entrance fee, but children are free - even above the age limit if they are school children.
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