Jan 1: Gösting Ruins, Canadian Movie Night!

On New Year’s Day, most shops and other buildings are closed, so C and I decided to visit the Gösting castle ruins. You might have read my post in October about the ruins, because I visited the castle in the fall when all the ivy had turned red. Although there was no red ivy this time, the sun came out, making for a really incredible visit!

Coming up the path towards the castle.

The chapel is in the long part of the castle.

Since my first visit, I’ve gathered a bit more information about the castle. It dates back to at least the 11^th century (first mentioned in 1045) and was under sovereign ownership until 1622. The city of Graz chose to store a large quantity of gunpowder there, and when lightning struck in 1723, much of the castle was destroyed. The castle is currently privately owned (I believe it belongs to the Auer family, famous bakers in Graz), and since 1925 there has been quite an effort to preserve the ruins and the Romanesque chapel that still remains. There is a little café/kitchen at the top, where you can order coffee, tea, and some hot food.

C and I had a lovely walk up – there weren’t too many other visitors and it was nice to get away from the city a bit. The view from the top was incredible, and I had great difficulty putting down my camera. ;-)

C on the walk up (see the path?)

C in front of the castle arch. You can see the hills behind.

Unfortunately the chapel wasn’t open, but the kitchen was! C got tea (big surprise ;-), and I got their house coffee (think WHIPPED CREAM!). It was wonderful to warm our hands with our drinks and look at the view as the sun inched lower in the sky…

Another shot of the ruins.

House coffee and tea! (I told you there was whipped cream...)

The view....:-D

Once back in Graz, we stopped by E & P’s for a movie night. C brought over the Canadian film “Gunless” for the two of them, and it’s really a fantastic movie, if you’re into some Canadian humour. J It follows in the tradition of classic Westerns, but this time, an American gunslinger finds himself stranded – where? In the Dominion of Canada! At first he can’t understand the sleepy town and its peaceful inhabitants, but it does grow on him…;-)

Anyway, we had a lovely evening, and devoured an unholy amount of gummy bears and chocolate. Are you surprised? Welcome to life in Graz!!! (You taste the gummy bears here, you never go back…;-)