A Day Fit for a Queen

They say that like attracts like.  I certainly believe that on an energetic / vibrational level too.  I therefore set out yesterday for a day of feeling abundant, delighted, awed, free, inspired, joyful, and grateful in so many way. The sun was shining and it was pleasantly warm with a cooling breeze. What a perfect follow up to my previous post on switching channels.

Kreuzenstein Castle:

It only took an hour and ten minutes to get from my door to the village of Leobendorf. Public transportation here is amazing.  I was there by 9am. The U6 subway is minutes away from my residence and once at its end station, Florisdorf, I took the S-bahn (fast train) #3 to Leobendorf. Total: 4.20€ ($6.25 Canadian).  The highlight of that ride was seeing a field full of bright red poppy flowers.

Once in Loebendorf, it’s about a 45 minute walk to the castle – through the village and up a lovely forested path.

The castle was beautiful – got my imagination going as I took in the vibe and walked around it taking photos.  I didn’t take the guided tour of the inside (never was much into museums and photos weren’t allowed anyway- part of my fun). Nor did I visit the adjoining birds of prey centre for their 11am show.  The cheers from school kids and the occasional raptor swooping up from behind the wall added to the atmosphere though.

Instead, I had brought my tripod and had fun playing fashion model.  I was wearing two of my favourite Kaliyana Artwear pieces, so thought I’d create some more submissions for their Facebook Travelogue.  It’s challenging because they’ll eventually crop long horizontal images when castles would lend themselves better to verticals.  All part of the creative challenge.  I was lucky. There weren’t too many people.  Just me and my camera having fun!

After a couple of hours, I was ready for lunch.  What a feast! I would return to the castle just to eat at the  Burgtaverne-Kreuzenstein again.  The weather was perfect to eat outdoors, the staff were super friendly, their menu was a great read (they gave me an English version), and the food was the best I had had in Austria so far.  I chose the monthly special (see photo) – a chicken stew on bread dumplings. I felt like a queen having a luxurious picnic overlooking her castle. As I sat there enjoying my meal surrounded in such beauty, I could feel my entire being basking in the vibrations I was meant to both emanate and attract.

After lunch, I headed back down the hill, taking twice as long as when I came up. Nature’s splendor had me stopping every few steps all the way back to the train.  I was particularly taken by an iridescent being having its own lunch.

By 3pm, I had washed off the sunscreen in a cold shower and was lying on my bed with my legs up the wall – refreshing!

Watch What You Think:

By 5pm, I was ready to leave again for the evening portion of my luxurious day.

I took a convoluted route and walked another hour to downtown with music leading my steps.  I had an interesting experience on my way there that was totally in line with what I’d been listening to on the Abraham-Hicks videos.  I was on the shady side of the huge Mariahillferstrasse pedestrian mall with my hat dangling from my hand and my Kaliyana pants swaying in their uniquely beautiful way.  As I passed a gorgeous white puppy of the sled-dog variety, I thought how tempting all that flowing material must be.  A few seconds later, I felt a tug from behind and turned with a huge smile.  That darling little puppy had read my thoughts and responded to the images I had put out there in the universe.  The owners were shocked and so apologetic.  They seemed puzzled by what had happened.  I wasn’t.  I only laughed at the clarity of the lesson and crouched down to spend a moment in love.  Although I’ve never had a dog, most of my encounters with them are counted as the highest of blessings.  Watch what you think people – the universe responds!

Sacher Torte:

Sacher Cake is a Vienna tradition  – internationally recognized and still handmade to this day. It was invented in 1832 by a 16 year-old apprentice who had make a special desert for royal guests when his boss was ill.  Needless to say, it was a hit.  I decided that I had to partake in this tradition and headed to the Sacher Hotel for this famous chocolate & apricot jam treat.  The hotel is a family-run 5-star hotel with a lot of history.  You’ve got to be careful though – the most visible café at its base with its huge outdoor terrace, the Mozart Café does not serve the original recipe, which is a family secret.  They did tell me theirs is better, but did not claim it was the original.  After they failed to entice me to their establishment, they directed me around the corner to where I found the Sacher Café.  It was only after I had enjoyed my delicious treat and read my second historically interesting menu of the day, however, that I realized that the much nicer Sacher Restaurant (which also serves the Sacher Torte, of course) is nextdoor to that (I took a photo to show).  I considered going in for another piece, but let that go.  I had had a taste of the Original Sacher Cake with unsweetened whipped cream and I’m glad to say it was much better than the piece I had had at the Schönbrunn Palace last year (a disappointing dry and tasteless experience).  I had to give it one more chance before leaving Vienna, and I’m glad I did.  I was only a bit baffled when I gave the waiter a 10 and asked for 6 (here that means charge me for 6 and give me 4 back).  He said thank you and gave me back the exact change, not leaving me any coins for a tip. I tried to get his attention several times after that, without success, so left without leaving a tip (something tourist guides say is usual for cafés, but not something I like doing).  As I was replaying the scene in my mind, it occurred to me that I may have asked “Sex please” instead of “Six please” as the pronunciation in German is so close.  Perhaps that request had been tip enough.

La Traviata – Vienna Opera House’s Free Outdoor Screenings

The Opera House is right across the street from the Sacher Hotel, and so I didn’t have far to go. The crowds had already started gathering in the outdoor seating area to watch the live screening of that’s night opera (May-June and September).  You can actually get standing room inside for 2.50€ or 3€ , but I imagine you get a better view and are more comfortable if you’re early enough to get a chair outdoors- as I was.  By the 7pm start, however, hundreds were sitting on ground all around.  I actually enjoyed La Traviata (not usually a big opera fan) and so glad I had read the story beforehand. It’s not one with a lot of action, props, or other cues and the German subtitles only helped me a tiny bit.  The music, however, was beautiful and I was really in the mood for it.  What a lovely evening.

At 9:30pm, I walked home through the huge crowds at the Museum Quartier enjoying the warm weather and ever-present festive atmosphere in downtown Vienna at night (something I don’t often experience since I’m usually in bed so early).  I felt absolutely royal (without the responsibilities of any monarchy).  My task today was to enjoy myself.  And that, I did!