Here, it was warmer than the extended forecast predicted---about 80 F.---so about 1 PM we headed out for a hike through the nearby woods.
It was a quiet hike, not too many people out (a workday). We'd pass vineyards, and then disappear into the wood, then out again for a bit in the vineyards. At one point we had a long steep hike through the woods, finally emerging at Kahlenberg. There's a panoramic picture on the linked page; click it to enlarge, and click it again to scroll left and right. That's the view from up there---pretty impressive.
The Kahlenberg may be only a mile or less as the crow flies from B's house, but we ain't crows and only fly in our dreams. It took some leg work to get up there...
On the way back down the mountain is a little "mountain hut" restaurant where we wanted to eat but---surprise---it's closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
The elusive Austro-butterfly of love, showing off for us along the hiking trail.
I've shared pics of this place before; it's a kind of Buddhist / hippie
compound along the trail, no doubt operated by one of Vienna's true eccentrics.
Tree houses, wooden bridges across the creek, prayer flags, neat yard art.
So we went a bit further down the mountain, again into the vineyards, and came first to the Sirbu, a Heurige with lots of outdoor tables and a good view of part of Vienna and the Danube below.
At two nearby tables, about 20 young people. Average age, 18. A few younger. Drinking wine. No problem. The drinking age in Austria is 16 for beer and wine, 18 for hard liquor. The kids behaved themselves, and unlike American high school kids, there wasn't a dollop of obesity to be seen. Go figure.
What we had for lunch at the Sirbu.
An ancient dozer still used by one of the vintners.
The view from our table at the Sirbu.
We hiked a bit further down and came to the next Heurige, Hajszan Buschenzshank. Again, outdoor seating, great wine, and probably the best view of Vienna and the Danube you can get.
A guy reading to his boy at the Hajszan.
People bring their dogs with them to these Heuriger, and the waiter brings out a bucket of water for each dog to drink. The dogs just lay under the table and relax until it's time to go, while their people sip wine and talk amongst themselves. Very relaxed, and a perfect place to come sit for a few hours, nursing a small bottle of wine while you read a book or write in your notebook...
Our walk down the mountain through the vineyards,
Vienna and the Danube below us.
Vienna and the Danube below us.
All in all, good exercise on a bright sunny day. We were out about five hours---four walking, and one eating / drinking.
