Steemit is a platform where people connect for real and not only virtually. It was just 3 days ago, when I saw the first article about an upcoming "Stammtisch", a meeting arranged for July1st, 2017 by @flurgx, who will probably write his own article about an interesting get-together at the famous Wiener Prater.

I will share some of my snaps I took on my way to a first Austrian meet-up and some information for tourists who would like to visit this charming area.

Praterstern /Subway Stop

Many deja-vu childhood memories were crossing my mind, thinking about the days, when my parents took me to the popular amusement park, called "Wurstelprater" and the smaller section of the recreational area called "Prater".

The name Prater originates from the Latin word Partum=Meadow.

The Giant Wheel, "The Riesenrad", famous due to its appearance in the classic 1949 film 'The Third Man' / Orson Welles.

https://youtu.be/r9yyDEDGlr0

The enormous wheel turns at a speed of just 75 cm per second. From a height of about 64 meter you have a great view over the Prater. Source

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The History of the Vienna Prater from 1766 onwards

1766, Joseph II opened the park for the viennese public, who came for picknicks or relaxing walks through the park area.

During weekends, the Hauptallee was the place to be seen. World War II, bombs destroyed large parts of the area and the Wurstelprater was on fire 1945 but the grounds were rebuilt with the help of private initiatives.

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The Prater was once imperial hunting ground and only accessible for the aristocracy, until the Austrian Emperor Josef II donated the area to the Viennese in 1766 as a public leisure center. The Emperor also allowed the establishment of restaurants, a small wonder that it didn’t take long until the precursors of today’s Wurstelprater appeared on the edge of the former aristocratic hunting grounds. Innkeepers, coffee brewers, and gingerbread bakers (Lebzelter) hung out their shingles, seesaws and merry-go-rounds as well as bowling alleys were not far behind. - Source

Hauptallee, Lusthaus with the famous Wachsfiguren Kabinett Madame Tussauds!

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Here you can read more about the history.

The Prater Museum, located in the distinctive building of the Planetarium will take every visitor on a charming journey to see curiosities from the past. Beside various photos and paintings, there are also historic merry-go-round figures and an old fortune teller machine as well as wrestlers, midgets and artists sawed in half.

Austrian Steemians Unite!

7 out of the list below attended and we hope for many more in August. Check with @flurgx (to the left) to stay updated.

Join our steemit.chat group "Austria" and keep in touch

@flurgx @nicoletta @artpoet @reconnectnature @geschichten @argekunst @derboersennerd @thomasheindl @mammasitta @jogi @psywalker

Click their links and follow for many creative and interesting articles via my home country.

The final call came in Saturday morning and it was well worth to join in with all Austrian Steemians who made it in time for lunch, where I probably ate the most of my beloved, delicious Austrian dishes, offered at one of the famous restaurants called Luftburg, next to the more well known Schweizer Haus.