Out of Vienna and on to Linz

Our parking validation was due to expire at 11:00 a.m. All fines now paid, we were ready to leave Vienna. It was cold and very windy as we loaded our bags. As we have traveled now about 5 weeks, we have in addition to our 5 suitcases and 5 backpacks, several other bags of souvenirs, groceries, laundry supplies and guidebooks. It’s a slow process.
In the courtyard of our building, DD6 tried an experiment with her new white vest. What would happen in the windy courtyard if we put it on the ground? The vest flew up 4 stories into the air, adding great excitement to the work of the day. All present dropped their duties to capture the flying vest.
I was the last in the apartment, wiping counters and checking under beds. At 10:45 all was clear. DS11 came up to give me the report on the status of the vest and luggage. Time to go.
I went to leave my set of keys on the table, looked into my purse and they were not there. Sent DS11 to check my coat pockets in the car and report to dad that keys were missing. No Keys!
I was willing to live with the fact that I had ‘lost’ my wallet. I am often distracted, clumsy and forgetful. I imagined that I had pulled my gloves out of the purse in a hurry and the wallet slipped out. Now without keys too, it was clear something worse had happened. We would have to phone the apartment owner who had been clear to say “We do not collect a deposit for the keys, but expect you will return them.”
I had not used the keys even once. Brett always unlocked the door. He came up now, even his Pollyanna façade was fading. No keys? He was back down to the car- adding time to our parking to go through my coats and bags again.
I was out of resilience for mishap. That may not say much for a strong character, but I lost all enthusiasm for adventure. And I will use this moment to evangelize the great glory of God for small miracles. My husband walked in at this point- surprised himself to have found the keys in his own pocket. How and why we’ll never know- he doesn’t know. We plopped the keys on the table and went straight to the local church with prayers of thanksgiving (we had more time on our parking for a reason, right?)
It did seem a greater shift had occurred and we were again in the graces of the Good Lord. We drove to the town of Linz.
Not long ago a Disney promotion allowed you to enter a name on their Web site and a short video of Magic Kingdom played, using your name all through the park and dialog. Cinema marquees, newspapers, parades- all included your name.
Well, once again our travels have trumped Disney and we found ourselves in the kingdom of Linz! The city of Linz, Austria has been designated as the “Cultural Capitol of Europe” for the year 2009…so when we arrived, it was as if they were expecting us! There was a special visitor greeting office, a sightseeing train, fancy buses and cultural events. We passed Linzer Castle, Linzer Apothecary, Linzer Taxi Service and at least 2 “old” family bakeries claiming to be the home of the “Original Linzer Torte.” We felt a little famous. Even DD6 would say, “I think it has my name on that sign.”
Forget waltzing through the windy palaces of high society Vienna. I’m on a yellow bus with torte, waving at my castle.
By the way, I left my hat on the bus. Brett was able to retrieve it 2 hours later. He’s keeping a close eye on me.