June 5th: Back In Vienna and our last day!
Vienna-----A City Forever Eternal!
Stadtpark
We slept in that morning just enough to rest up after our long trip back to Vienna. We were to meet Tini for a quick tour of the city and taking a page from the "Book of Tibor" she was right on time for our meeting at the Konzerthaus Hotel. First we went to Stadtpark approaching it from Ringstrasse. It was Sunday and it was great to see that people in this part of the world still celebrated the day with relaxation and fun things. Here it was still a day for families to be together and for children to play and lovers to spend time. We were greeted by a statue monument of Johann Strauss in full musical form and in golden regalia. How appropriate I felt this was. We could not help but take a few shots of us with the master and then moved along through the shady and tree filled park.
It seems that humans will be humans and people watching seemed to be as interesting a past time here as it would be at the St. Lawrence Market in Ontario. People seated on benches watched others waking, laying on the lawn either sleeping, reading or just kissing. Very exhilarating!!
It also seemed that people also preferred to make their own dress statements as some had on very eccentric forms of dress-----the most of which was a man with a cage type hat and feathered female attire sitting on the bench enjoying the day and being pleased to be somewhat the centre of attention.
There was so much to take in with ponds, flower garden arrangements, themes, musical pavilions, dancing areas and the ever present statues and monuments. We could have walked for hours. Of course, Sandie and I hammed it up for the camera and Roy enjoyed himself taking shots and laughing at us making nutty fools of ourselves. I loved it!
Lunch On The Danube
We made our way down to the Danube where we followed the river looking for some places to park ourselves and eat. We settled on a man made beach area next to the river which had some "buffet" specialties where we filled our selves to full capacity. Everywhere was quiet activity and the Danube----well it was the Danube-----Eternally Romantic!!!!
War Memorials And Geyser Fountains
After lunch we made our way to the Konzerthaus Hotel where we said good-bye to Tini and decided to just walk around on our own until supper. We found ourselves spending a fair bit of time at the Soviet War Memorial with its Greek Doric Columns and sombre atmosphere. There was a large fountain that shot water very high into the air that was very impressive. I later found out that the fountain called the Hochstrahlbrunnen was not related to the Soviet structure but was built in 1873 to celebrate the first water pipeline to Vienna from the Styrian Alps.
As the day wore on we realized that no matter what we did, we could not slow time down and eventually like the rain, darkness would fall and the day would end. Sandie kept herself busy looking at all the amazing cars----all top of the line Mercedes, Jaguars and Ferrari's and taking their pictures. Roy filmed and took pictures and I took in the atmosphere wishing that this could last forever.
We had dinner at the Konzerthaus Hotel that evening and decided to eat in the outdoor patio area. We were alone at dinner together for the first time since we started the trip and ordered a fine meal for ourselves. As we sat there, talking, eating and enjoying our beverages, I couldn't help looking at the two people next to me and feeling how important they had become to me. We had done a great deal and the great thing was that we would continue to do so long after this trip would end.
We retired to our rooms and prepared for the eventful trip back to Canada.
Surprise
The morning came quickly and soon packing was done and baggage was in the hotel foyer ready to be picked up. Then came a delightful surprise, Tibor came over on his morning run to say good-bye. I should have expected it. Tibor was/is a very special person who all of us will remember for a long time. I am equally sure that Tini, given time would have proved just as terrific. Tibor did the usual Tibor thing and took our luggage to the waiting vehicle. Then just like Tibor he bid farewell and continued his run. I watched as his running form slowly disappeared into the crowd until it could not be seen. I remarked to myself, "What a truly amazing young lad!"
Shortly thereafter we found ourselves in the airport lineup and just as quickly, on the flight home. Was it real? Did it really happen? As the back of my head rested on the seat pillow I asked myself those questions, it felt so surreal.
We landed in Toronto eight hours later and to my surprise, after spending ten very busy and active days together with the exception of sleeping-----almost always together, Sandie. Roy and I were planning our next venture. Did we get along----I guess that says statement says it all!!!!!
Stadtpark
We slept in that morning just enough to rest up after our long trip back to Vienna. We were to meet Tini for a quick tour of the city and taking a page from the "Book of Tibor" she was right on time for our meeting at the Konzerthaus Hotel. First we went to Stadtpark approaching it from Ringstrasse. It was Sunday and it was great to see that people in this part of the world still celebrated the day with relaxation and fun things. Here it was still a day for families to be together and for children to play and lovers to spend time. We were greeted by a statue monument of Johann Strauss in full musical form and in golden regalia. How appropriate I felt this was. We could not help but take a few shots of us with the master and then moved along through the shady and tree filled park.
It seems that humans will be humans and people watching seemed to be as interesting a past time here as it would be at the St. Lawrence Market in Ontario. People seated on benches watched others waking, laying on the lawn either sleeping, reading or just kissing. Very exhilarating!!
It also seemed that people also preferred to make their own dress statements as some had on very eccentric forms of dress-----the most of which was a man with a cage type hat and feathered female attire sitting on the bench enjoying the day and being pleased to be somewhat the centre of attention.
There was so much to take in with ponds, flower garden arrangements, themes, musical pavilions, dancing areas and the ever present statues and monuments. We could have walked for hours. Of course, Sandie and I hammed it up for the camera and Roy enjoyed himself taking shots and laughing at us making nutty fools of ourselves. I loved it!
Lunch On The Danube
We made our way down to the Danube where we followed the river looking for some places to park ourselves and eat. We settled on a man made beach area next to the river which had some "buffet" specialties where we filled our selves to full capacity. Everywhere was quiet activity and the Danube----well it was the Danube-----Eternally Romantic!!!!
War Memorials And Geyser Fountains
After lunch we made our way to the Konzerthaus Hotel where we said good-bye to Tini and decided to just walk around on our own until supper. We found ourselves spending a fair bit of time at the Soviet War Memorial with its Greek Doric Columns and sombre atmosphere. There was a large fountain that shot water very high into the air that was very impressive. I later found out that the fountain called the Hochstrahlbrunnen was not related to the Soviet structure but was built in 1873 to celebrate the first water pipeline to Vienna from the Styrian Alps.
As the day wore on we realized that no matter what we did, we could not slow time down and eventually like the rain, darkness would fall and the day would end. Sandie kept herself busy looking at all the amazing cars----all top of the line Mercedes, Jaguars and Ferrari's and taking their pictures. Roy filmed and took pictures and I took in the atmosphere wishing that this could last forever.
We had dinner at the Konzerthaus Hotel that evening and decided to eat in the outdoor patio area. We were alone at dinner together for the first time since we started the trip and ordered a fine meal for ourselves. As we sat there, talking, eating and enjoying our beverages, I couldn't help looking at the two people next to me and feeling how important they had become to me. We had done a great deal and the great thing was that we would continue to do so long after this trip would end.
We retired to our rooms and prepared for the eventful trip back to Canada.
Surprise
The morning came quickly and soon packing was done and baggage was in the hotel foyer ready to be picked up. Then came a delightful surprise, Tibor came over on his morning run to say good-bye. I should have expected it. Tibor was/is a very special person who all of us will remember for a long time. I am equally sure that Tini, given time would have proved just as terrific. Tibor did the usual Tibor thing and took our luggage to the waiting vehicle. Then just like Tibor he bid farewell and continued his run. I watched as his running form slowly disappeared into the crowd until it could not be seen. I remarked to myself, "What a truly amazing young lad!"
Shortly thereafter we found ourselves in the airport lineup and just as quickly, on the flight home. Was it real? Did it really happen? As the back of my head rested on the seat pillow I asked myself those questions, it felt so surreal.
We landed in Toronto eight hours later and to my surprise, after spending ten very busy and active days together with the exception of sleeping-----almost always together, Sandie. Roy and I were planning our next venture. Did we get along----I guess that says statement says it all!!!!!
posted by Chuck Byers - Wine Consultant | 7:21 AM
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