Danube Reflection - Grein, Austria

WELCOME TO GREIN, AUSTRIA! A small village of about 2,900 people on the Danube River. Grein roughly translates into "shriek" or "scream" in old German. The Danube use to be very treacherous here and the city was named after shipwrecked sailors yelling and their widow's cries. 

Stadttheater Grein. Notice the three dates on the building. 1468 was the year it was constructed as a granery. 1563 is when it became a rathhaus (city hall). 1791 is when it installed a theater. Emperor Josef II encouraged the construction of theaters so the proceeds could be used to fund poor houses. A cause that was really supported by citizens after a major flood. 

Inside Stadttheater Grein, the oldest theater in Austria. Lots of funny and interesting facts about this theater. The first couple of rows had an early form of season ticket holders. To guarantee your seat, you were given a key. When you weren't at the show, you'd fold your seat to the back and lock it so there was no place for a person to sit. 

Shows use to be very, very long. So, there's a small bathroom located stage right for the audience. The only barrier was a small curtain. This meant if an exciting, funny, or climatic scene was about to happen you could peek out the curtain and not miss a thing. "It didn't smell nice near the bathroom, so these seats were cheaper..."

This building also had a small jail that was located stage left. To keep the prisoners entertained, they gnawed a hole in the wall so they could watch from their cell. The audience was very kind to the prisoners bringing them food and drinks during the show. A somewhat selfish gesture though because this was to prevent them from yelling and disrupting the show.

I think this is my favorite theater.

Volksbank Niederösterreich Building 

St. Giles Church - Saint Giles was a hermit living in the woods of Septimania and Provence. He foraged for food and drank the milk from a deer. Because of this, St. Giles is the patron saint of lactating mothers.

Looking toward the Danube from Böhmergasse

View of the Wachau Valley from the Grein cemetery.

View of the Danube from the grounds of Schloss Greinburg

View of old town with mist rising of the mountains in the background.

DANCE PARTY ON THE CRUISE!

And yes, Marianne is to the far left dancing with her tiny hands... YEAH!!!

More vacation posts at:

Vienna, Austria - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-vienna-austria.html

Bratislava, Slovokia - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-bratislava-slovakia.html

Wachau Valley - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-wachau-valley.html

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic/Linz, Austria -
http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-cesky-krumlov-czech.html

Passau, Germany - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-passau-germany.html

Regenburg, Germany - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-regensburg-germany.html

Prague, Czech Republic - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-prague-czech-republic.html

I < 3 NY - Part Four - Taughannock Falls in Ithaca

Megan and I at Taughannock Falls State Park.  

More hiking and more gorges! 

Taughannock Creek 

An old railroad bridge that we'll be crossing that's way the hell up above the gorge. 

Another waterfall  

View of the Taughannock Creek gorge

Taughannock Falls 

 The 215 foot drop is 33 feet higher than Niagara Falls

Unfortunately, it started to rain and Megan hurt her knee.  Scout was pretty tired.  So, we cut out most of the hiking we planned to do.  But, as I said about Lucifer Falls, it's a good excuse to come back. 

Waves of rain crashing against the woods.  Cayuga Lake in the distance.

INDIAN VILLAGES

Occupied by Taughannocks situated north and south of stream burial ground on bluff west of John Jones home site Indians named Lake-Guenguch

First white settlement 1794 by two Goodwin Brothers

That's it for this trip.  All you really need to know though is:

ITHACA IS GORGES!

Part One: Albany

http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-one-albany.html

Part Two: Buttermilk Falls In Ithaca

http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-two-buttermilk-falls-in.html

Part Three: Lucifer Falls In Ithaca

http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-three-lucifer-falls-in.html

SUMMER DAYS! (Limited Time ONLY)

Bringing a little bit of Chicago to Rochester.  Take a nice walk on a 80 degree day, running errands, with an adult Capri Sun...

Unlimited entertainment.  The neighbors are chopping down/trimming a bunch of trees.  I've never seen such creative use of a chainsaw before.

FINALLY!  Megan walking Scout through Linear Park for the first time on my commute to work.  This was a really big weekend for Scout with all the walks and all.  With the warm sun out, she discovered that she does like going outside now. 

Megan and Scout along Irondequoit Creek.   

Heaven is sitting on the porch chewing a stick 

 A good place to cool off and hide from Megan's scary rake.

This was a good weekend.

Time to rest now that winter is coming back...

Please check out my art at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

Don't see anything you'd like, let me know and I could create something special for you!

Quesobago

Hiking at Thousand Acre Swamp (http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/newyork/placesweprotect/centralwesternnewyork/wherewework/central-thousand-acre-swamp.xml) in the Polar Vortex!  If there was ever a time for the Quesobago to appear, this was it (http://www.quesoforall.com/).

This is the first time we've been out here on a winter hike.  During the summer, it's so primordial.   You almost expect a dinosaur or something to pop out.  

More vines overtaking the trees. 

A clearing in the middle of the forest.  It appears to be old farmland.  You can't see it in the picture, but theirs an old stone fence just slightly in the woods.  In the summer, the grass and other plants are over your head.

Snow covered boardwalk leading into the pond.  Just follow the little animal prints. 

Megan stomping through the snow. 

Steve's Diner (http://www.simos.net/steve/) for lunch.  We've only visited for breakfast and we've been missing out.  This is the O.C.D. Burger with sauerkraut, fried pickles, swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing.  You had me at steak fries...

After eating that burger, time to burn off some calories with more winter hiking through Linear/Channing Philbrick Park.  With the fresh snowfall, it looks like a scene from Calvin and Hobbes.

Snow hanging out on the rocks in Irondequoit Creek 

The little island in Irondequoit Creek 

Well, if there's one dog ready for spring, it's Scout...

Not sure if anyone else is on Reddit, but if you are please friend me at: http://www.reddit.com/user/mikekraus/

Our New Dog Scout

Here's our new puppy, Scout.  She's a nine week old Lab/Terrier/Shepherd/Squirrel/Kangaroo/Meerkat mix.

 And, especially for Katie, here's a puppy photo extravaganza!

She has a quick and sneaky tongue (Scout, not Megan)... 

She's a pretty calm dog unless you release her from her crate.  Then she's a blur. 

 Belly scratchin'!

She will do everything in her power to be in your lap at all times.

Pose...  Pose...  Sneak attack! 

 Licking the ears.

STOOOOOOP!!! 

Megan and Scout at Corbett's Glen watching the salmon. 

That's a fur baby photo montage...

Fishermen at Corbett's Glen.  The guy on the left is lugging around a giant salmon.

APPLE PICKING UPDATE:  Per my last blog, we went apple picking.  Therefore, Megan's been on an apple food marathon.  Here is apple cake, which is a great substitute for every meal.

Mmmmm...  Baked apple

That's it.  I'm going to bother our dog now...