I have been here before
I look at the landscape as scenic destination. I recognize the grand entrance to the historic structure. The marble stone palatial walls, the magnificent gold encrusted framed art masterpieces adorning the immense hall of the horses. The polished floors, the feel of large and hundreds of years of hooves echoing through the corridors.
This is The Spanish Riding School in the very center of Vienna, Austria.
And I have been here before.
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My first time was as a teen reading the novel of Mary Stewart’s “Airs Above The Ground.” I fell in love with the Lipizzaner, the white dancing horses and the green hills of Austria. The same hills as ‘The Sound of Music.’ The author wrote in such a way that I was transported to the moonlight performance of the retired Pieber in the picturesque meadow, I stood outside St. Peter’s Church gazing up, and found myself in front of the Hofburg and Burggarten and the Heldenplatz.
It was August of 2018, my journal entry: #My Perfect Day.
‘Why Not Vienna?’ asked my life problem coach (Heather).
Why not? Honestly, I knew I must do this! From that day I planned to be in Vienna and seated at the Lipizzaner Performance for the August. The date of August 26, 2019. In memory of my mother, Irene The Brave, the finest natural horsewoman and trainer. I am to watch the Lipizzaner Stallions’ performance on her birthday and meet the great Pieter. I reserved an apartment only 500 feet from the entrance of The School. International airfare and tickets were in place. In April, the global event ended travel from the USA to Austria. I was not even able to order a saddle pad from The School due to global shipping regulations of an 8 oz. limit. Perhaps another time.
Here I stand. I have been here before.
Winter writer’s Sanctuary 2023