After being used to the early springs of Houston, the dragging on of winter here was really depressing. But when spring finally arrives, it comes suddenly! In a matter of just a few days everything turns delightfully green. Trees blossom, the dead-looking grapevines begin to grow, flowers bloom - all the stereotypes of spring! But it felt wonderful to us. The temperature is bizarre though. One day it's quite warm, the next you need your winter coat again. And there has been quite a few rainy days.
Here are two views out our back window.
In the distance you can see the green vineyards.
Bob has a newfound liking for tulips. He says he's never seen them before, but I find that hard to believe. Of course I never grew them in Houston so maybe he hasn't.
These next two are of flowering trees. They are all over the village. There are many fruit trees in this area so these trees are probably apple, apricot or pear.
I love this wisteria bush.
Last year we arrived in Austria the day before the May Day celebration. I was dazed from jet-lag, and it was freezing cold so it was a much more enjoyable occasion for us this year. May Day (May 1) is a holiday all over Europe. As best as I can figure it, it's kind of a combination of the American Fourth of July and Labor Day. The two main political parties both put up huge poles in different parts of the village and provide free wine and beer for the citizenry. You see the poles in communities all over Austria. In the western part of the country many have three circles of evergreens in ascending size (looks kind of like a three-tiered Christmas tree) to represent Father, Son and Holy Ghost. So Catholicism is combined with the patriotism and worker holiday.
The village band plays at both pole-raisings. Consisting of a combination of teens and adults, they play a mixture of marching and what I call oom-pah-pah music.
The restaurant Gregorits is the center of the Christian Democrats, or Black Party, in Klingenbach. The men of the party bring in a tall tree with most of the branches cut off, just leaving a small portion at the top with an Austrian flag already attached. They raised it by hand.
It doesn't take long to get it up.
An example of the hundreds of people watching.
After the pole is raised, a man climbs up and places the "V" party symbol half way up.
The restaurant Ivanschitz is the center of the Social Democrats, or Red Party.
Strong (mostly young) men raise the pole.
I enjoyed watching it with Marija and Miliana.
They got the pole up before dark.
The event brings out a good crowd.
The children learn early the significance of the day.
