Today's journey: Tulln-Vienna
11.11am, At the lake.
Today was ace, as we packed in so much. Yesterday when we arrived in Tulln, we intended to search out the lake that we were apparently camping near. Other things got in the way (food, wine, laziness) so this morning we were determined to at least see it before we began our journey in to Vienna.
Amazingly, it was about 10 metres from the entrance of our campsite. Not only was there an incredible huge lake but also basketball courts, volleyball courts, running tracks, bike tracks, slides, a mini beach, a cafe, a barbecue area, baseball courts...and hardly anyone was there. Tulln is about 20 minutes from Vienna (by train, not bike!) and I quickly decided that, if I ever lived in Vienna, this was where I would live. It was so good!
Andy, Jack and I went for a quick jump in the lake then went back to the campsite to tell the others how awesome it was. We all came back and spent the next few hours jumping, sliding, swimming, sunbathing...this was definitely my 'happy place'! We didn't want to leave but, after a few hours, hopped on our bikes and began the journey to Vienna.
Today was so so hot and we had to stop more often than usual to have a drink and a rest. Andy and Jack sped ahead, powered by drum and bass tunes and about 5km out of Vienna, we finally caught up with them for a Radler (shandy) and to plan how we would get through the city to our apartment. It was still pretty hot but I'd had a quick splash in the Danube along the way (the only time I actually got in the river, the whole trip!) just before the bike paths gave way to roads.
It was so strange coming in to Vienna and having traffic around us after so long of being by the river or in the countryside. It wasn't too hard to find our hotel and, as we cycled up the last street to get to it, there was an overwhelming sense of sadness. We had done it. We had reached our final destination; hot, tired, and so so proud and happy.
Any sense of achievement or joy quickly disbanded however as we went to check in and were caught up in a 20-minute confusion about how much it would cost to park our 'buses' (€20 a night if you're interested in ever bringing a bus to the Josefhof Hotel in Vienna - or eight buses, which is what they thought we had brought?!). We eventually laughed, went to check in and had a shower.
I can't describe the feeling of finally having a proper shower, shampooing, moisturising, and not having to get back out and put on clothes that smelt of mould. Good feeling! The hotel was lovely and really central, so we were happy. An hour later and we were all back outside, as the 'kids' were off to an M83 gig. We found our way across town, having a lovely 20-minute walk in the sunshine after an easy tube ride, and found the gig venue. Cue more time of sitting in the sunshine drinking beer and making friends with random Americans through the medium of the 'Tonight Matthew' game.
When M83 came on, they were amazing. Absolutely brilliant. We danced and sweated and cheered and had loads of fun, then left afterwards to find a bar. Not knowing Vienna very well (or at all) we ended up stopping outside a sausage vendor stall and staying there for about the next hour, trying his various wurst.
It was hard to believe this morning we were at the beautiful lake, feeling a million miles from anywhere and by the night time we were in the middle of a (albeit stunning) capital city surrounded by people, buildings and noise.
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