We watched a movie about what chocolate they make and how, in German of course, so I didn’t follow very much of what they were saying but there were a lot of pictures of delicious looking food so that was all I needed. Then we went out into the shop where they had a table of truffles that were not fit to sell so you could just eat them. I am not exaggerating when I say I ate about twenty truffles. I ate so many that I felt a little sik, which never happens to me.
Table of free chocolate
All of us at the factory
We shopped around a little bit and after we left we had about fifty minutes till the next train arrived so some people had lunch at a restaurant by the train station. But alas, I am as broke as broke can be so I decided to wander around town. I started walking when I spotted a church on a hill in the distance. I hope you’ve picked up on this by now but I really like European churches, like REALLY like them. Now, I didn’t have that much time, so decided to run around town in search of the church. When I found, it, I ran up the steps and into the church. To my dismay, however, the church was neither baroque, renaissance, nor gothic but of the same variety as many American churches. The decoration was minimal and the inside was rather bare. I lit a candle anyway and went outside.
I then spotted a beautiful looking church on a hill on the edge of the town. I decided to try to run for it, knowing that I probably wouldn’t make it before the train. Luckily I ran (haha) into a small chapel in the middle of a square. It was a chapel for the soldiers of the World Wars. I went inside and there was an old homeless man shuffling around. He started speaking to me in German about helping him with something and motioning me to follow him. At first, I was hesitant about following him, but I decided to go see if I could help. Plus I reasoned that I was much bigger and in much better shape than him so if it came to that, I could take him. Anyways, he walked me over to his motorcycle, reached inside his bag, and withdrew a small medal with an engraving of Mary on it. He handed it to me and said something in German I didn’t understand. I thanked him and went on my way, filled with happiness.
I ran back to the train just in time to board. On the way back, I got a text saying that a bunch of people from our apartment complex were going to Baden in about an hour. Baden happened to be one of the stops on the train I was on so I hopped of excited for more adventures. Baden is a small town a little south of Vienna that was originally where people would go tif they were sick because the air and baths were said to have healing qualities. It took them a really long time to get there, but it was ok because I was able to walk around Baden for about three hours. I grabbed some lunch from the grocery store and went walking. I came to the base of one the hills surrounding Baden and resolved to walk around until I came upon a good spot to sit and eat my lunch. The walk/hike was very peaceful and relaxing, although I wish that I hadn’t been wearing my Converse. On the way up, I come upon a small fenced in area where they had many a bleating goat. And let me tell you, they were very vocal. Some sounded normal but others sounded like very deep burps.
Goats (You're welcome Erin)
Where I ate lunch
Baden
After some more walking, I found a great spot overlooking the city to eat my lunch. After a tasty sandwich and the best apple I’ve ever had, I made my way back to the city. On the way back, I passed by the goats again and they kept bleating at me expecting me to feed them. I felt like I was walking the through the Naschtmarkt with the vendors trying to get my attention. I also came upon a great little chapel thing in the forest that was really touching.
When I got down, I bee-lined for the church, unfortunately, there was a wedding party going on outside so I felt a little awkward going around them and into the church, so I just kept walking.
The Church
I also came upon the house where Mozart wrote "Ave Verum," which is one of my favorite Mozart pieces.
After a lot more walking through street and park, the happened to walk up to the train station just as their train was arriving. So we walked some more, through a really cool park where they were having mechanical boat races and people renting rowboats on a small lake, and a huge rose garden filled with fragrant roses from all over the world.
Then we got to one of the hot spring baths that Baden is famous for and went in for about an hour. I felt so relaxed after this visit and I have decided that Baden is probably the most relaxing towns in the world.
On the train ride back to Vienna, a group of guys got onto the train and tried to sell us random things from a tray. We were all very confused at first and asked them what he was doing. Apparently, he was about to get married and this was an Austrian bachelor party tradition. It was actually a great cultural experience!
When we got back, we were in much need for food and not that many places are open past 8:30 and we were out of food. We walked around our neighborhood for a while when we came upon a little café/restaurant. I had been craving goulash ever since Baden and they happened to have it. It was soooo good! The meat just melted in my mouth. The restaurant was also very quaint. The inside was wood paneled and filled with little trinkets and Austrian cookbooks. The waitress was also dressed in traditional Austrian dress. Definitely somewhere I need to revisit.
Sunday I rested after my hectic weekend, like God did.
GOAAAATTTIIEESSS!!!!!! O.M.G. Ian, my favorite post so far!!!!! And of course they were bleating at you, they were trying to say "Pay attention to me, take me home to your beautiful sister, Erin, we're sooooooo cute, just like her!!!" Thank you in advance for bringing me a goat for Christmas!
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