A Village On The Move.

Our social club's excursion through the woods.

Once a year our village's social club organizes a long walk through our various vineyards and or forests. Usually around this time of the year and as this is the third one we've been able to walk with it was rather shocking to see the change in weather. Two years ago we slugged it through snow and cold rain and only were kept warm by Schnapps and Glühwein, last year it was kind of nice but still cold in contrast to today, where it was sunny and warm all the way through. Middle of February no less!

The nice weather must have played a factor in the amount of people who showed up. Almost 70 or so our mayor told us, came along. Part of the walk was new to both Bob and I. A long stretch through the forest proved to be magical although rather difficult trying to evade broken branches, puddles and pine cones. Stunning and magical to walk among such tall trees with the sun bearing down upon us through the bare branches.

There were pit-stops along the way and in true Burgenland style they served beer, spritzers or water. Coffee and tea are so not thought of here. At the third stop we had vittles and beer and another chance to mingle with people we would normally not meet. That is one of the great aspects about these organized walks. An opportunity to get to know our neighbours a bit better. I love talking to people and finding out more about themselves, their work or their family. Brings a bit of depth to them.

All in all we must have walked about 12 or so kilometers amid our beautiful bit of Burgenland but in the end, when Bob and I attempted to walk the last stretch home we threw in the towel and phoned my parents if they wouldn't mind to pick us up and take us the last bit in the comfort of a car. Thankfully they were happy to fetch us and thus we were saved from the last 4 kilometers...not such fun after sitting down for lunch.

A nice day indeed. Sun, exercise, friends and Bob...

Biggi