Brom goes up

Coocoo

Today was a busy day packed with fun stuff. The first thing this morning was a visit to the Lipizaner horses at the Spanish Riding School. They were having their morning training and we were there to see it. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any photos, but Mara had snuck a few in before they said that. 

An 'eleve' or pupil who is in the first stages of learning how to become a Lipizaner rider

Lipizaner horses are a special breed. The foals are dark brown to black but within a few weeks they start to 'whiten', starting with the tail. By the age of twelve they are completely white, although some only take six years. 

This is where the horses and their riders train and perform

The boy horses are used for the trainings and the shows because what they do or train to do is something they would do in their natural behaviour as well. The girl horses are either sold or used for more foals. 

The world's largest horse walker with room for up to 20 horses!
We only saw two

We did see a dark brown horse as well and they said it would never change colour! He was a special horse because as long as there are dark horses, there will be the Royal Spanish Riding School! 

Horse Mara is a bit younger than Mara
These horses can live up to 35 years!

Another special thing about the boy horses is their names. Their first name is the name of their father and the second name of their mother. But then they will be called by their mother's name! We even saw a horse called Conversano Mara and he was a boy horse!! Mara wasn't allowed to take a photo of the horse Mara, but the plaque was okay!

After the afternoon's tour around the stables (no photos of the horses) and the training areas, we had a few hours left to do something else. First we went walking around a bit and took some photos of really nice buildings. And an elephant!

We love this photo the best

But then Mara thought: why not go to the Prater. You can't go to Vienna and then not visit the Giant Ferris Wheel!

On our way up

A few stops in the U-bahn (underground or metro) and we arrived at the Prater park. Mara bought the tickets and only a few minutes later we were going up and up and up. Gera didn't like it very much, but I loved it! I could see all of Vienna. I could see churches and the amusement park in the Prater park and houses and tiny little people. I thought it was brilliant.

Right before it started

Our last stop (after dinner) of the day was another treat for me: a concert with music from Strauss and Mozart. 

He was a funny drummer!

There was a drummer who did bird noises and hit an anvil and stole the conductor's Playboy (with a picture of a little dog as a centerfold), there were singers and there was beautiful music. It was a perfect end to a perfect day!

Yum!