Vienna – Day 3: One Last Hill
Vienna
Day 3: One Last Hill
March 17, 2024
I woke up to the bitter realisation that I’d have to leave Austria and Amelia in one fell swoop. We hadn’t seen each other for a year, and I’d be leaving after just two days.
Short though our reunion had been, our goodbye was nothing like the one we’d had back in Central America. This trip only seemed to reinforce our friendship and the fact that we could meet up whenever we wanted. In fact, by the time we parted ways, we already had a solid plan for our next trip.
And so, with a tight embrace and a tearful goodbye, I hopped on the metro and made my way to the train station.
Kahlenberg and the Accidental Trespasser
With some free time before my flight, I left my luggage in a locker and made my way to Kahlenberg – a scenic hill in the Vienna Woods, just outside the city. Standing at around 484 metres, it offers an incredible view of Vienna, the Danube and, on a clear day, the surrounding hills and distant mountains.
Apart from that, the hill’s history is also worth noting. In 1683, during the Battle of Vienna, Polish King Jan III Sobieski and the allied relief army launched their decisive attack from the Kahlenberg area against the Ottoman forces besieging the city – a major turning point in European history. Today, St Joseph’s Church stands on the hill, tied to the memory of that victory.
My time there was fraught with adventure – mostly because I got hopelessly lost through the hill’s vineyards and woods on my way up. After jumping over a fence and landing on private property, I had to once again jump over another fence to finally arrive at the top of the hill.
There’s probably some CCTV footage out there of this random guy in a fancy coat trekking up the hill, accidentally trespassing and then enjoying a cup of coffee in front of a scenic view. Honestly? Worth it.
The Locker Ticket Crisis
You’d think that was enough adventure for one day, but you’d be wrong. Back at the train station, I realised I had misplaced my locker ticket. I had to practically beg the very unhelpful staff to help me sort it out.
Luckily, I managed to get my stuff back and get to the airport just in time – thus maintaining my thus-far perfect record of never having missed a single flight.