Still in Vienna!

For those who are interested! How often has the dog show and his detectives appeared on our screens...the Dom Of St. Stephens...being the centre image? Who cares we all think? But when you see the church you wish you'd looked a bit more closely rather than watching the Alsation longing for his breadroll containing a sausage...a Bratwurst or a White sausage...who knows?

However if it is there it is there to be climbed...after a good look around on the inside of course!

 We were only allowed to climb the steps of the South Tower but a seat was built in for those who almost didn't make it. The Stephanturm was the highest building in the early days and before the tourists claimed it the Turmer or watchmen used it to keep Vienna safe...that is safe from fire or other trouble makers such as Turks way before the wars of the world. The views of Vienna from some of the windows will give you some idea of course Vienna has grown immensely since the 16th century.

If you are wondering about the green, black and yellow roof tiles, these glass covered tiles were a part of a huge refurbishment during the fifties. Whose idea? Who knows but there must be some significance. In 1956 the last of the Turmer (the watchmen) left their jobs.

 Some of the artifacts used at the time of fire or attack are now displayed on the walls. Canon ball from the time of Turkish attacks sits proudly there for instance...the lantern displayed on the side of the Turm would indicate a fire on the North, South, East or West. A rusty old siren sits on the floor yet still attached. A major fire did follow an attack post World War II.

Vienna at last!

Yes 8 hours were more like 10 but then what train journey doesn't seem like that! Excitement was still with us...the taxi trip was quite short and before we knew it we were stepping out into the main thoroughfare of Vienna. Our hotel was only a few steps away. Again our booking wizard had decided to pull out all stops and have us there right in the middle of Vienna...walking distance from everywhere. Wow! Were they celebrating something these Austrians? Of course the decos from Xmas and New Year were still in place.

 We stepped out...rugged up in our best Antarctic  gear...it was minus something or other...and we didn't quite know what to expect. The decorations took our breath away and people everywhere seemed to be so friendly and trustworthy. Everyone was out and about and all had a jollyness about them. It put us in a good mood too...and why wouldn't it? But one difference...they actually had snow here in Austria...and everywhere we looked the streets had been cleared and non-slip 'stuff' had been sprinkled about...how considerate...amazing council workers or whatever...! And the tourist hadn't been forgotten. Steam breathing the horses waited with patience...yes the traditional way was still available...the romantic horse-drawn carriage beckoned us but no, we were intent on walking around tonight.
We did spy the Opera House and the museum known as Albertina not far from our hotel OMG! I don't believe this! That is my name: Albertina! But why? All sorts of questions bothered me when I saw that. Even the statues against right wing politics and wars filling a park had remembered the rest of the world.

 And there we were in what seemed like to us the most cultural city in Europe...no we recalled Berlin and then the GDR as it was...Leipzig and Dresden...the palaces etc. oh dear! Let's eat! This is becoming too much to handle on an empty stomach! We can't be here?
We spied a steak place...you know...the seventies... piece of steak done to your liking plus a potato and sour cream...wow! We could look towards a nice steak! Meat is sooo expensive in Switzerland!! And guess what? The owner of the restaurant was an Asian...what? But we're in Austria aren't we?

Train trip from Zurich to Vienna!

So it took 8 hours and it wasn't cheap but we thought the scenery would make up for it. From a no snow zone to a much snow zone! It was just what we were hoping for and we weren't disappointed.

Fully armed with a visit to the local bakery we climbed on board to fined not only a dining car awaiting us but a food trolley to come thundering down corridor of the train. Our window seats had been reserved  so it was just a small matter of ejecting the occupiers and we were settled....or so we thought...but a small issue of the train speed and the reflections of lights in the windows made us realise the real challenge was about to test us.The scenery was there for us to capture if only we'd be quick enough. My camera although full frame didn't sound like a machine gun going off...as my partner's did!

 So there was no time to relax...the views were changing at an alarming pace...OMG! How will I ever achieve those decent photos? Even the clouds had me pointing in their direction.

The snow seemed to be eluding us. But then..we saw it!

 Then suddenly Austria was there. How did we know? We didn't but we could tell the weather had changed. The railway racks alone told us all. Then of course the advertisements made us feel cosy and warm inside the train...more than the bare body showing the word IDEAL! Not likely! I think it may have been minus7 degrees at that stage.

Even the sight of the caravan park made me feel at home! But how did the occupants keep themselves warm? In a caravan? In this weather? It must be a place for caravans in the summer only I decided.

How exciting! Photos this time!

Yes the last entry for January will have photos available to me, and you of course, courtesy of my accessible files on my desktop. I've just re-read the last two entries without photos and they did read a little dry. So let's start in Zurich!

Yes you guessed it! No snow! None for Xmas or for the New Year. What ? But we have come all this way?
Be happy! There are enough walks along pathways to keep you satisfied. and if you know a little GERMAN as it is spoken in Germany and written in Hoch Deutsch in German- Switzerland you will realise that the Swiss graphic artists do have a sense of humour. Yes they are advertising the spicy secrets that can be shared amongst the Swiss men.


This limited view of snow on the far off mountains and across the Zurich See was taken from our train station.  The train service
is unbelievable...only 15 minutes to Zurich (express train) in a train so clean and spic and span and at all times remembering that some passengers may not speak German, but they should be able to understand the English Instructions. A train could be taken which will take the tourist immediately to the airport. WoW! How easy is that?

 This ruin I have a feeling has been on my Facebook account however we still are no closer to knowing what or the origin is of those interesting leftovers. I did try to walk to these ruins to find out more, a slippery up hill path, moist from rain and rotting leaves, three days after lying in bed and not eating, with no hydration, hence I had to give in... by fainting. No photos this time!

However our hosts were kind enough to attempt to satisfy our desire for snow by taking us to LAAX up the mountains and all we could find was man-made snow runs and bare-looking mountains. The Swiss food made up for the lack of snow...as it would do anywhere. It seems melting cheese (Raclette) or sausages helped fight off the cold air. Yes the temperature was very acceptable in the sun and we found ourselves peeling off our layers.
The best was yet to come!

Museums plus in Vienna!

Yes we are all Museumed out! You guessed it. And today we spent the day walking to the Belvedere...the old and the new palace...the lower and the upper palace...all within walking distance. And each palace having different exhibitions. So when the young man behind the desk asked do you want to see the lower exhibition? My inner child answered before I had a chance to hold back "Do we have to?" My answer at least brought a laugh...we had just walked at least 20 mins to get there...so my answer wasn't too hard to understand.
This palace was Baroque throughout. The walls and ceilings covered in paintings and sculptures. Enough to make one sit and ponder for hours but this wasn't on the schedule nor was it allowed to take photographs of exhibitions. Hence behaved as instructed but both palaces are well worth a visit.
Of course the first museum we visited was my namesake ...Albertina...This brought us the history of Austria and the wealth and OMG was it never ending!
Then of course we couldn't miss the Natural Museum. The one full of rocks and meteorites etc. etc.Absolutely amazing even if the most we had seen before in other countries. Then we couldn't miss the History Museum with its huge Egypt exhibition (we'd been to Egypt) but still saw huge stone sarcophagus which left us wondering and my partner finding plenty to photograph.
I didn't mention the treasury of course. Here one can spend hours admiring the wealth of Austria (the Australia without the Kangaroos) and leave totally impressed.
So we have only the free entry Vienna Museum to go having been ignoring the Kunst Museum etc.There must be many more but do we want to know about them? No! Not this visit. Next time....of course!
But can I recommend the Belvedere kitchen...the lower palace? You bet! We had the best soups there of any restaurants so far. As soon as we walked in the scent of the kitchen successes....the Gulash soup and the pumpkin soup hit us. They were delicious! Served with fresh bread rolls ( Semeln) of course. No photos this time because For some reason this IPad won't allow it.

Austria is not Bavaria!

How could I have made this simple mistake? Just because Susi, their queen was Bavarian, when we walked into "Zum Weissen Rauchfangkehrer" I imagined I was back in Bavaria. And my mistakes came on strong and clear! The waiter I assumed would be able to speak proper German or even Austrian German but no...he was from Hungary and spoke only a little English. But he was nice enough...or so I thought letting him know that he didn't look Hungarian but dark hair etc. he looked Austrian. But that was another mistake. He went on to let me know that in the times of Sussi or Susi the queen Hungary had been annexed a part of Austria. Oh heck! I somehow knew that I wasn't winning any points here!
He continued to smile despite all. The wine was served in Reidel glasses and even decanted in a Reidel carafe. The serves of food were small, the cost large but then it was after 10pm and before we knew it we were the only couple holding up everyone from closing including the female pianist from Bratislava. But generally the ambience had been welcoming. The cubicles all in dark wood differed from a Bavarian Stuble because as my partner pointed out, they would have all been in pine wood. Ho hum! Anyone could have made the mistakes I had made even after an apricot Schnaps to warm me up and a glass of champagne. But the waiters were not as forgiving.
As we made for the door saying good night and thanking them profusely they insisted we have some sweets...particularly the ones wrapped in dark paper...chocolate inside! They insisted and we took them at their word. Ugh! The chocolate was liquorice....obviously not a favourite of the waiters. So they won! Their impish grins said it all.
But seriously the restaurant was the best we had experienced in the last week and the food was fresh and excellent...what there was of it! Address: 1010Wien, Weihburggasse 4  plus43 1 512 34 71 www.weisser-Rauchfangkehrer.at Worth Trying for real Austrian Food!

That time of the year again!

Yes even in the country with the highest interest rates and numbers of people living in poverty it doesn't cost anything to walk in the park of BuenosAries and be reminded that there are opportunities

to give. Just look at these pictures. These we found in 2011 and all were made of recycled materials. The Christmas tree can just be seen behind the white building.






And in front and a few steps away we found someone's idea of creativity ...something one wouldn't expect to find and so unusual...a huge stainless steel-like flower in the middle of a lake.This flower computerised to open with the morning sun and to close after sun set did so faultlessly.

And on the petals were reflections of the surrounding city scape. A wonderful environment and all for free. Even the weather obliged!

So 'don't cry for me Argentina'...this is a country well worth visiting.