World Austria Wien Vienna

Europe 2009

Ponies! Sep 23, 2009

This morning I had to be at the Spanish Riding School at 10am to watch the Morning Exercise. Got there in plenty of time, and spent the full two and a half hours watching the horses practice. I saw a review on the internet a while ago that said that the Morning Exercise is really dull, just horses going around in a circle. IMHO, the person who wrote that was an idiot! With up to six horses in the arena at a time, all practicing different moves, there is plenty to watch, from the older more experienced horses, to the beginners just starting out.

I saw ponies practicing all sorts of fancy steps, jumping and rearing, and at one stage, a pair of riders practices synchronised moves around the arena, with the two horses pirouetting around one another then moving in opposite directions.

Even the building they use, the Winter Riding School, is pretty interesting, a baroque building built by Charles VI. Even now, the riders all doff their hats to his painting as they enter the arena, in thanks for the facility.

The Morning Exercise is accompanied by music from Austrian composers, and the whole thing is lit by three big crystal chandeliers. The horses aren't necessarily moving to the music, but it does add to the atmosphere.

After the practice, I had coffee and Sachertorte at the School's cafe. Sachertorte was invented at the Hotel Sacher here in Vienna (which is near the Opera House), and it is a rich layered chocolate cake with apricot jam in the centre layer.

Then I went down to the Opera House area to take some photos. I really liked this part of town, the area around St Stephens-Dom is quite dirty, an impression not helped by the roadworks happening there at the moment. The cathedral itself is quite black, though there is some work in progress on that, too. Not sure where the black has come from, in Venice it is from a petroleum plant nearby, but here, not sure.

Then it was time for the tour of the Riding School. We went to the Stallberg, Stable Castle, where the ponies are housed, and saw them up close, also one of the tack rooms, the Winter Riding School, the horse walker and the Summer Riding School. After the tour ended, I went back over to the Stallberg, as it has big windows looking in to the yard from the street, and took a few pics.

Wandered back up to the Cathedral area, and went inside. St Stephens-Dom is a very gothic building, with lots of big arches. Much nicer inside than out, at the moment.

Then I caught the subway to the Hundertwasser House, which must be the most interesting block of Council flats ever built - lots of whimsical decoration, mosaic and plants everywhere, even growing through the building! Can only imagine what it's like to live there.

Finally, I caught the subway back to the hotel, and sussing out the best way to transport my luggage on the way, as this is the same route I will take tomorrow to get to the airport. There are lifts at each of the stations, so touch wood, it should be pretty easy. As much as I have looked forward to this trip all year, and had a fantastic time here, I am starting to really look forward to getting home - though I see from Stuff, there has been SNOW on the Pahiatua Track, and in the Gorge? I hope that's cleared up by the time I get back...