Easter is a time of forgiveness. Perhaps that is why Austria decided to bless us with a long weekend that was largely void of rain - she wanted forgiveness for soaking me through to the skin twice last week while I was coming home from work.
On Easter Sunday I did a biking tour of Favoriten, a district in the far south of Vienna. The tulips were still in bloom at Kurpark Oberlaa. It is an excellent park with a whole heap of different themed gardens scattered throughout - including, among others, a Japanese garden, a water garden, and a love garden with benches and plenty of white flowers that look distinctly bridal. At least one long-legged heron lives down by the pond. There's also an enclosure with a couple friendly billy goats and lots of play areas for kids. A statue of Papageno too, for some reason. I liked this shot with the little girl posing for her friend's photo.
On Easter Sunday I did a biking tour of Favoriten, a district in the far south of Vienna. The tulips were still in bloom at Kurpark Oberlaa. It is an excellent park with a whole heap of different themed gardens scattered throughout - including, among others, a Japanese garden, a water garden, and a love garden with benches and plenty of white flowers that look distinctly bridal. At least one long-legged heron lives down by the pond. There's also an enclosure with a couple friendly billy goats and lots of play areas for kids. A statue of Papageno too, for some reason. I liked this shot with the little girl posing for her friend's photo.
After leaving the park, I visited the old Wasserturm (i.e. water tower). I was interested to find it marked with a sign declaring it to be an official site of cultural significance that should be protected in the event of war, as per rules set forth by the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property. This is the agreement that was made after so much of Europe's great treasures had been threatened or destroyed during WWII. I read up on it a bit when I got home. At present, 126 countries have ratified the convention, but it is difficult to enforce and the destruction of cultural treasures continues in many parts of the world today.
On Monday, I took the train to Mödling and biked from there to Laxenburg. There is an old Hapsburg castle at Laxenburg, and I'd intended to bike through the grounds, but the lady at the gate said that bikes were verboten, so I went on foot instead. It was better that way, to be honest - so quiet and peaceful that it would have been a shame to rush through it and noise it all up with my squeaking gears.
What I loved about Laxenburg is that there are bits and pieces of historical interest scattered about in the woods. The derelict shell of a mystery edifice here; a majestic gate flanked by pillars and mossy lion statues there. Somewhere in the middle is a little lake with islands and the old castle, which one reaches by way of a toy boat masquerading as a ferry.
I walked all around and enjoyed it immensely, but my most exciting discovery came right at the end, as I was heading back to the main gate.
Hobbiton! Or more specifically, proof that hobbits engaged in the practice of prisoner transportation. Why else would there be caged hobbit-holes in the middle of Austria? Clearly, this is where troublesome hobbits were sent to carry out their sentences of hard labour. There were a whole bunch of them all around this hill. Once of the entrances may or may not have been blocked very securely, and I may or may not have taken advantage of this fact and gone in to explore. These were no Bag End, I can tell you that. Cold stone floors and not a fireplace or teapot in sight.
In the end, it was such a worthwhile weekend that I decided to forgive Austria for all the liquid refreshment she has been pouring down on us in recent days. I'm still holding her fully accountable for the total absence of Cadbury cream eggs, though.
In the end, it was such a worthwhile weekend that I decided to forgive Austria for all the liquid refreshment she has been pouring down on us in recent days. I'm still holding her fully accountable for the total absence of Cadbury cream eggs, though.