In Search of Nature (with my iPhone)

What a great day yesterday! I can now say that I’ve traveled the underground trains, the fast trains, the trams and the buses.  I’m glad to report that I have successfully used and followed the instructions on the public transport’s Internet trip planner, even if it’s in German. My quest – nature!  Yesterday marked 1 month since I left Newfoundland and Labrador, and although Ottawa has its own unique charm and plenty of green spaces, it didn’t feed my soul as much as the wilderness and energy of The Rock.  I know peace is an internal state, but there’s something very grounding, connecting, peaceful, uplifting, serene about being in certain natural spaces and that’s what I was looking for.

University Botanical Garden
This morning I went back to the Belvedere area to explore the Botanical Garden that is attached to it.  I had cut through it for 2 minutes on my way to a get-together on Saturday.  It was nice, but just like the Stadtpark, I don’t think I’ll feel the need to return to it.  If you’re into studying zillions of species of plants, it’s great.  It simply didn’t satisfy me energetically (I know, I’m hard to please at times).

Since I was there, however, I returned to the Belvedere Palace and its gardens.  I do enjoy this space very much!

Schönbrunn Palace Botanical GardensAfter lunch at my place, I headed back out and made my way to Empress Sisi’s former summer residence, where I did a brief photo shoot last week for Kaliyana’s travelogue. This time, I walked around the grounds for more than 2 hours and only covered part of half (the free parts).  There’s also a zoo, labyrinth, palm house, and more.   I’ll definitely be back!  This will definitely be a go-to place for me.  As I walked into one of the side gates into the grounds, I instantly felt that connection to Mother Earth, that sense of relief, that being one and at peace – I felt home (OK, so I’ve been called a princess before, but I’m not talking about the palace or palatial gardens  – although these were great too!).  There are a lot of old growth trees here and countless tree-lined walkways, some of which feel like a hug.  Each part of the garden is big enough to create a mood as you walk around or sit in the multitude of secluded corners, and unique enough that when you exit, you immediately enter into a whole new world – not better or worse, just different.  I’ve tried to give you an idea through photos (I let go of weight and perfectionism today and chose to only bring my iPhone as my main goal was to walk).  I can only imagine this place in the spring.  Not sure what winter will be like with all the leaves gone, but I’ll try that too.  One thing that was really nice is that the park is big enough not to hear the cars outside (instead, I enjoyed the sounds of nature, even the surprising call of a monkey before I remembered there was a zoo here).  In addition, although there were lots of tourists around, they were dispersed enough, especially once outside the main garden alley with the palace at one end and the Gloriette at the other.  Notice the photo of the guard with lions  – its face is actually a tree trunk… interesting.  To congratulate myself for walking up there and to give me energy to continue my explorations before finding my way home, I treated myself to a famous Sacher torte … I can now say I’ve had some, but I don’t think I’ll order it again unless I become curious to know if there are different qualities – this one almost tasted stale, but I’m sure it wasn’t with the traffic that café has.  It’s a heavy and dry chocolate cake with apricot jam. Next on my must-try list is the equally famous apple strudel with warm vanilla sauce and whipped cream.

Oh, I’d like to thank the considerate patron who put toilet paper in between the door jam to stop it from locking – I’m not fond of the idea of paying the equivalent to 75 cents to use a public toilet. I’m not much for breaking the rules, but this is one I’ll have a hard time adjusting to.  For a few dollars more, you can use a toilet for free and eat a large pizza too.  They just didn’t have a pizza restaurant in the middle of the palatial gardens, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer (is that too much information? 🙂  )

I found my way back home on the bus and underground (along with the newly married couple I saw up at the Gloriette – they looked just as exhausted) and successfully cooked another meal.  We were 3 today doing the kitchen dance – Ellen from Belgium has just joined us.