We Become Adopted Grand-Parents

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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.