We Become Adopted Grand-Parents

@JudyEv (325696)

Rockingham, Australia

December 29, 2015 12:26am CST

Late in July 2015, we arrived in Vienna, Austria, in our motor-home. We were booked into a lovely caravan park close to the train service. We had a little trouble trying to work out what tickets we needed but a very kind person not only helped us get our tickets but ensured we got seats on the train and took us to the help desk where we purchased ten-day tickets. We must have looked a bit old and helpless as the man was just so kind. We alighted at the Praterstern stop and walked through the 'Wurstelprater' or amusement park there. This is said to be the oldest amusement park in the world and was first mentioned in a document in 1162. In 1766, Emperor Josef II donated the area to the people of Vienna. It has many attractions including the Wiener Riesenrad or Viennese giant wheel, built in 1897 and one of the city's landmarks. The Grottenbahn has 30 grottos and is accessed by a cute little train. The Praterturm stands 117 metres high, was built in 2010 and is the highest flying swing in the world. Police woke up a sleeping man and moved him on while his little dog looked a bit embarrassed about it all. We had lunch at a café and Vince enjoyed his beer. We then caught another train to our friend's station. Claudia had stayed with us in Australia some years previously. It was lovely to make the acquaintance of Claudia's little two-year-old daughter. We have been given the privilege of being her adopted grandparents. Later we drove into the nearby market square and admired the beautiful gardens and the water feature.

First Impressions of Vienna

I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload)

24 people like this

18 responses

@LadyDuck (458006)

• Switzerland

29 Dec 15

Vienna is a city that I really love, it's a shame we always visited in winter and it's cold, very cold there.

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@LadyDuck (458006)

• Switzerland

29 Dec 15

@JudyEv In winter it's terribly cold, I remember we stopped time by time in a cafe to drink something hot because we were freezing.

1 person likes this

@vickyrose (2235)

• Cooma, Australia

29 Dec 15

I've always traveled to the Northern Hemisphere in Dec-Jan (winter) as it was the only time I can take leave when I used to work. Waiting for full retirement so we can travel there in Spring or summer.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

I don't suppose we'll ever see it in the winter. The weather was warm and sunny when we were there.

2 people like this

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@jaboUK (64361)

• United Kingdom

29 Dec 15

That looks like another lovely place. Poor homeless man.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

It's surprising how many homeless people have dogs. They must be great company for them but another drain on resources. It was a bit disturbing. I guess he would just move on somewhere else.

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@jaboUK (64361)

• United Kingdom

29 Dec 15

@JudyEv Sometimes I wonder if they have dogs to gain sympathy - if they are begging, that is.

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@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Dec 15

@jaboUK That's very possible.

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@TheHorse (205673)

• Walnut Creek, California

29 Dec 15

I wanted to go to Vienna when I was in Austria a couple of years ago. But it was too far from Klagenfurt, where we started.

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@TheHorse (205673)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Dec 15

@JudyEv We did take the Autobahn up to Germany (Munich). But that was as far as we got.

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@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Dec 15

We missed some nice towns too because of the distance. No averaging 80 - 100kmh over there! Although of course you could on the motorways. We like countryside so we mostly told the GPS no motorways, no tollways.

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Suranga Abeysekara

@hiru84 (942)

• Malaysia

29 Dec 15

I think you can't forget this experience for a long time. Isn't it?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

And if we start to forget it, we'll have our photos to look back on :)

1 person likes this

@shellyjaneo (1081)

• United Kingdom

29 Dec 15

Sounds like a lovely place and what an interesting amusement park. I hope you have lots of energy spare for dealing with a 2 year old x

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@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

@shellyjaneo You're lucky he hasn't learnt 'no' or perhaps you just didn't mention it. It's usually one of the first words they learn. Will he lie down with you for a nap?

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

She was gorgeous. It helps to hand them back at the end of a day :) And she can now say 'Judy' which she couldn't when we left. How cool is that?

1 person likes this

@shellyjaneo (1081)

• United Kingdom

29 Dec 15

@JudyEv That is so cute, I'm trying to get my little man to say anything lol. He can say Mum, Dad and Yes but that's it so far. I am wishing I had someone to hand him to today, he is being monstrous which is not like him. He is exhausted but refusing point blank to have a nap :( x

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@Hannihar (129431)

• Israel

5 Mar 18

Judy, that is a real honor you were given.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Mar 18

It was indeed. We saw them last year as well and enjoyed spending time with them both.

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@Hannihar (129431)

• Israel

5 Mar 18

@JudyEv I am glad Judy.

1 person likes this

@Rollo1 (16679)

• Boston, Massachusetts

29 Dec 15

You have friends and "family" all over the world, it seems. So nice to have friendly faces in strange places.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

Claudia is a couch-surfer. Have you read any of my posts on these people? It's an organisation where people can sleep cheaply at someone's home, maybe on their couch. We have had a lot of young people stay with us but haven't been on the receiving end too often as we didn't used to travel much. Some of these people you stay in touch with; others not so much. It is certainly very useful to have friends in strange places :)

@celticeagle (158958)

• Boise, Idaho

30 Dec 15

What a lovely video. Must be a very pretty place. I think to be an adopted grandparent is a very special thing. Best to you.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Dec 15

Thank you. We won't be having any grandkids of our own and Claudia (and consequently her daughter) is very special to us.

@gr8nana6 (6614)

• Conyers, Georgia

29 Dec 15

I just love Vienna, my parents took me there several times when I was a young girl. Many, many years ago, lol. Beautiful slideshow pictures too.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

Glad you enjoyed the photos. It is certainly a lovely city.

1 person likes this

@antonbunot (11091)

• Calgary, Alberta

30 Dec 15

Vienna is a place associated to music. I hope one day I visit Austria. . .

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 16

Yes, there is a lot of music on all the time in Vienna - and people trying to sell you tickets for concerts.

@Marilynda1225 (79697)

• United States

29 Dec 15

I always love reading your posts as I feel as if I've gone on a trip with you. Hopefully some day I'll be able to enjoy seeing beautiful places myself.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

We're going to the zoo next.

I'm losing my enthusiasm a bit for zoos but the animals in Vienna Zoo all seemed happy.

@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

30 Dec 15

I've been to Vienna only on a stop-over to Egypt when we couldn't get a direct flight from Germany. That was many years ago and I don't remember much. I know that there's a lot to see.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 16

I think having photos helps keep the memories alive.

@DeborahDiane (40053)

• Laguna Woods, California

31 Dec 15

How lovely! Every time I see your pictures, I keep wishing we had gone to Vienna on one of our trips to Europe. I hope we get another chance!

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@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Jan 16

There are a few places I'd like to go back to too. But it remains to be seen if we'll make it or not.

@Shiva49 (26200)

• Singapore

4 Jan 16

I felt like having visited this place from the comfort of my home especially with the video that is short and sweet! It is becoming "now or never" for me to visit such exotic places - siva

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Jan 16

I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. We are fast reaching the stage where we have to pick our travels carefully. We cannot afford to put things off either - especially when it comes to travelling overseas.

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@Shiva49 (26200)

• Singapore

4 Jan 16

@JudyEv I understand as I am in the same boat. Luckily, technology has come to our rescue to see everything, including outer space, from the comfort of home! Of course, it is not the real deal. If it is not meant to happen then it is alright with me too, no regrets - siva

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@41CombedaleRoad (5952)

• Greece

29 Dec 15

We visited Vienna for the first time this year and I agree with Anna it is a city to fall in love with. I had no idea how beautiful it is.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

It is lovely isn't it? I could happily live there.

@jstory07 (134422)

• Roseburg, Oregon

29 Dec 15

What a nice place that you visited.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

The city is really lovely.

@simone10 (54189)

• Louisville, Kentucky

29 Dec 15

I would love to visit there some day! Gorgeous pictures as usual. You always seem to run into the nicest people when on your trips.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

I was nearly in tears because this guy was just so kind. Unbelievable.

@vickyrose (2235)

• Cooma, Australia

29 Dec 15

How nice. Vienna is on my bucket list and hopefully I can travel there soon. You're lucky to experience the beauty, culture and mingling with the people living there.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325696)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Dec 15

We have been twice now and hope to go again. Claudia is such a lovely person and a great Mum. We adore her. She is the daughter we didn't get to have.