A Day at The Prater

As far as candid photos go, this one's gold

The next morning the four of us who had stayed up burning the midnight oil were obviously moving slower than usual.  When asked what she wanted for breakfast (and I expected to hear “cereal”) Audrey demanded pancakes…since she’s cute and I’m a morning person whether I’m hungover or not, I obliged.  So, we all headed out of the house that morning (barely) at least with full bellies, if not bright eyed or bushy-tailed.  Today we were headed back to the scene of the crime—to the Prater.  But today we were going for Mom, who could not fathom leaving Vienna without riding the Ferris Wheel.  After grabbing some lunch (because this is the glacial pace we were moving at) Joe and I volunteered to ride the Wheel with mom.  The girls were rather distracted by the rest of the hubbub in the park and I suspect the rest of the men-folk didn’t find this landmark quite as endearing as we did. 

On the Riesenrad

Side trail: Anyone who knows me well knows that my life has been inordinately influenced by movies of the 80’s and early 90’s.  Shamelessly so.  And as far as Austria and Vienna go, two movies that stand out in our little world are (of course) The Sound of Music and (wait for it!!!) The Living Daylights; possibly my inexplicably favorite James Bond movie of ALL TIME.  The soundtrack might have something to do with it.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, drop everything, purchase this movie on iTunes, make some popcorn, laugh with giddy satisfaction while viewing it and come back here.

I’ll wait.

Anyway, there are a fair number of scenes in this James Bond film that are set in Vienna and, of course, the Prater is featured along with a ride on the Ferris Wheel. 

So, of course, we had to do it. If it’s good enough for Timothy Dalton, it’s good enough for us.

Little cowgirls

When we got back down off of the Ferris Wheel (but not from our Living Daylights high...Never!), the girls were bursting at the seams.  Audrey had been promised ice cream, which was immediately procured, and then we were off to the ponies!  The girls inevitably end up throwing me a curve ball anywhere horses are involved.  I never know who is going to be cool as a cucumber or who will start throwing  a wild screaming fit…although, I do remain prepared for anything within that spectrum.  Today, I was assuming Bailey would have some kind of issue with a total stranger taking her from my arms and strapping her into a saddle. I was wrong.  Audrey was the one who was clingy and distrusting while Bailey sat on her little mount like a proud cowgirl.  One thing is for sure; these girls love horses.  We're really hoping we'll eventually end up somewhere where horseback riding lessons will be an option for the girls.  

All too soon, though, we exchanged horses for shrieking dinosaurs as we wandered down the lanes of the Prater and gawked at the crazy roller coasters and game booths.  Eventually, to the girls’ great delight, we reached a playground that sits at the edge of the amusement park where they could swing to their hearts’ content.  I think Bailey was on a swing for close to an hour.  I just don’t understand how anyone can take that motion for so long without throwing up…but kudos to her.  Audrey, surprisingly, opted for practicing her climbing skills and even worked up the courage to take on a tall slide.  My little cautious girl is starting to gain some confidence and it makes me so proud. 

By this point in the afternoon the four of us who had been out all night could’ve been scraped off the floor.  We were done.  So, we started our long meandering way home through the main road out of the Prater woods…where there are a prolific amount of chestnut trees currently dropping horse chestnuts by the thousands.  The girls are understandably enthralled with these smooth, funky-looking nuts…Audrey, so much so, that after tucking up her shirt to fashion a pouch, began collecting them the entire way out of the park.  By the time we got to the train station, everyone had pockets and purses full of these little treasures.  We now have a bowl in the house, which at last count held fifty-three chestnuts.  Too bad they aren’t the kind for roasting.

After so much excitement the day before, it was unanimously decided that a night in was in order.  We made a dinner and promptly hit the sack.