After many kilometres, the required service stops and ever changing scenery we arrived at the summer residence of the Hapsburg's. The Hapsburg's were responsible for the rise of the Austrian empire to a very wealthy nation. Their summer residence was a massive building:
It had extensive gardens out the back which included a sweet smelling rose garden, a hedge maze, zoo and while we were there they were setting up for an outdoor classical music concert. The Orchestra was practising as we walked through the gardens to the sweet sounds of what sounded suspiciously like a piece from Star Wars (obviously it wasn't and obviously I'm (Jess) not the musical member of the group!)
Before heading to the Hostel to check in, Emma - our amazingly knowledgeable tour leader took us on a driving tour around Vienna so we could check out places to go the next day and find out some of the history behind them. This involved the story of the Hapsburg's and Maria Theresea...the ruler of Austria wanted to continue the family line on the throne but had no sons to succeed him so he got all his officials to sign a declaration allowing his daughter (Maria Theresea) to rule. Of course the officials did not agree with a woman being above them at all but because the King asked them they signed the declaration.
Maria Theresea achieved a lot in her 20 years of power including giving birth to 16 children! She was renown for her military tactics and the peaceful expansion of the Austrian empire that happened under her reign.
Ok History lesson over and we were off to the hostel, which was brand new and very spiffy! A traditional meal of Schnitzel was feasted on for tea then we were off to Vienna's theme park - Prater park.
In our minds our expectations of Prater park were pretty low - a few carnie/side show A&P style rides and maybe a rickety old rollercosater if we were lucky...the bus turned the corner and suddenly you would have been forgiven for thinking we were a bus load of primary school children. Our eyes lit up with all the shining/blinking lights and there were ooh's and aah's as we spied different rides and started excitedly discussing which we were going to attempt in the hour we got let loose in 'Happy land'. Free entry, basically no lines for rides and at 4 Euro's a pop this would defiantly give Disneyland a run for its money as being the happiest place on Earth!
We eased into it slowly by taking on the ‘OSH would have a hernia’ Ferris Wheel, to suss out all the rides from our high vantage point. Next up was a waterslide, in a boat getting tossed and turned down a corkscrew spiral – which on appearance looked really lame but had us squealing for our lives! Kath & Jess then braved the Superman ride – similar to a roller coaster except you are lying on your front in the superman position as you swoop around corners and barrel roll your way to the bottom. Abby took on the arm wrestler (let’s call him Sven) and his lady friends and Whitey got a bit stuck like Winnie the Pooh...
To finish Whitey & Abby took on a ‘OSH would have a coronary’ rollercoaster...they tried to get into separate carriages but apparently this was a ride that is to be enjoyed together...
So we left Prater park with grins on our faces and happily headed back to the Hostel after all that excitement!
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