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Wednesday, October 4th, 2023: A perfect sunny day to take them to a privately owned castle outside of Vienna on the North Shore of the Danube. Castle Kreuzenstein is a majestic medieval castle, with a moat, 2 draw bridges, a very pointed fall gate and an amazing collection of medieval armaments. This 12th Century fortress has an amazing history of wars and destruction over the last 1000 years or so. In the 18th century, the castle came into the possession of the Counts of Wilczek who had amassed a large fortune through their coal mines in Silesia. In 1874, Count Johann Nepomuk Wilczek, best known as a polar explorer, began reconstruction of the castle but in a style entirely different from the original Romanesque-Gothic architecture. The existing ruins were incorporated into the new castle, in particular, parts of the outer wall, the east tower and parts of the chapel. (Source: Wikipedia)

We enjoyed a tour of the entire fortress, including the amazing underground kitchen with a 30’ long kitchen table hewn from a tree trunk which is so large that the castle was built around it. One of the most fascinating places in the castle is the armory with its vast collection of medieval armor and weapons.

We then returned to the city for one of Austria’s most pleasurable experiences . . . an Austrian pedicure. Pedicurist professionals have to work as an apprentice for 3 years, go to vocational schools and practically get a medical degree. I haven’t danced in a while, but I guarantee you that you feel like dancing afterwards.

A beautiful day was crowned by a magnificent dinner in the private home of one of our executives in Austria. Hans & Gitti and their kids: Denise, Sophie, Lukas and Taifun (Sophie’s boyfriend). It was a fabulous European table setting. The champagne and red wine flowed freely complementing an appetizer spinach strudel. It was followed by THE very best Wiener Schnitzel ever. By the way: Schnitzel by itself is not a dish, but the way the meat is cut. If you take a chateaubriand and cut it vertically you create a series of Filet Mignons. If you cut it perpendicularly, the cut is called a Schnitzel Cut. It was a truly memorable evening and what a pleasant change from eating at a restaurant every night.