I Love Hali and Deanna...Rain Bringers

On August 8th I travelled to Vienna (my train ride was uneventful except for the poop-sprayed walls in the bathroom in the 8th class car...thankfully I was in second class). I arrived in Vienna at noon, took a subway and a tram to my hotel, dropped off my stuff and headed to the Stephensplatz to meet with Hali and her friend Deanna. I was not late as I was on Europe time (despite what Hali may say). Once there we walked to a restaurant, drank beer and chatted. Awesome, people I know plus stories that were fun...perfect. After this we went to freshen up (as they say) and we met back at the Stephensplatz...by this time it was pouring rain. As it was Hali's birthday we went for ice cream and I had (no surprise) beer. We knew the next day's bike tour was going to be long so we called it an early night. The next day we met up at 8:30 and went on the most amazing bike tour of the wine country of Austria. We took a tram, then a train, then another train to arrive in a small town in the rural heart of Austria. As soon as we got there we got to taste wine (4 different varieties of white), learn about the process of making and drinking it, and then we collected our bikes. We biked for about 15 minutes and arrived in Wauchia (I think) where we tasted free chocolate and schnapps...then likor and jams and chutneys. Awesome. I bought some schnapps and some curry chutney...which I may just finish off tonight. From here we left the village to continue our bike tour and we got caught in a torrential downpour...So, lets recap..Bike AND rain = LOVE...I love biking in the rain and everyone was soaked when we arrived at our next wine tasting and lunch. We had three more types of wine and our super guide Gretal (her nickname as it turns out) cooked us lunch of pork, brats, and bacon wrapped-brats (plus there was salad, but really it was salad). From there we biked to the Danube River, played some beach volleyball, swam in the river, and then headed back to the village. Once there we climbed a serious hill to see the ruins of the castle of where the Austrians kept Richard the Lionheart for two years during the Crusades. The view was breathtaking )literally and figuratively. After we climbed down, we jumped on our bikes and returned them to the nice bike people. As we walked to the train pick up site, Gretal informed us that she bought us a bunch of wine to drink...nice. So we did. She was a great tour guide and the whole day cost a measly 49 euros. I got a rock (from the castle) and watched the Denver boys flatten florints with the train. Upon our arrival home we went to a Gretal recommended Italian restaurant. I had tortellini soup and diavolo pizza. From there I said good bye to Hali and Deanna (as they were heading to Venice the next day) and went back to my hostel. All in all, one of the best days of the summer...Have a good time in Italy ladies.