The Oh Wells

Yes, now back almost a fortnight in Costa Rica, the rainy season is virtually over, the cars have been fixed and pumped up, ditto the bike, the house has been de-moulded and sanitized, so it’s time for the first trip…

Sunday starts cold, and stays that way all day. 13°. Low cloud, the sun only once trying to appear but giving up after a few short moments. Determined to escape from packing, I lead the bike for a last sortie,…

As light dims and trees inexorably shed their autumnal plumage, so our time in Vienna shrinks. Departure with Iberia in the darkest of Tuesday’s pre-dawn awaits. I go into the centre looking for gifts for Luis and Eliette etc. The…

A lazy wander into town on a stunning blue sky day whilst Mungo swans off again for a meeting of the Naughty Gals in Salzburg. I spot the Globemuseum on Herrengasse and decide on a quick free visit with the…

Various days pass, and many Babbel Live classes disappear under the bridge along with memory of anything learnt. Monika was visiting from Augsburg so came with us for a walk amongst the vineyards near Salmannsdorf. The previous Sunday I went…

I visit the Wiener Linie museum, charting the history of Vienna’s tram. For transport the city is certainly far better off now than at any time before. But the earlier trams were beauties, although not particularly comfortable.

The Porzellan Museum – another freebie visited thanks to the Niederöstereich card. Located in the Schloss in Augarten, a pleasure to visit. The museum was small but worthwhile. Alongside was a temporary exhibition, “Leopoldina Furchtlos Nach Rio”, dedicated to the…

On Saturday take a leisurely ride to Prater and Donauinsel. Amazing how wild the Prater was where I was (east end). On Sunday I started off at 130pm for warmth, but it was still chilly. Still stuck somewhere in the…

A mouthfull for a small street, highlighted by a guidebook to Vienna given by Mungo. The street of beautiful lanterns, where a fabled dragon once lived. No sign though of any testament to this, apart from one bar dedicated to…

The bike goes for service on Monday at Intersport. On Tuesday I pick up and then continue for a great but coldish ride through the Wienerwald. 2 peaks “climbed”, including the suggestive Vogelsangberg. The cold, if 15-17° really qualifies as…

We finally take a look at the exhibition on the wall of Türkenschanz Park. Good job, as it’s overdue for removal. Yesterday, Sunday, we went to Augustinerkirche. A Schubert mass. Then hung around Cafe Savoy.

A dull day calls for something exciting. The Werkstätte exhibition at MAK tempts. We go. Brilliant! In the evening we all climb into a taxi and go to Harald’s 50th birthday party at Schutzhaus Hackenberg. Good fun and wine meant…

Rendez-vous with Christina and Trude, and also surprisingly Fritz and Mirjam who come from their airport hotel. F&M flying off the next day to Spain. Much Sturm und Lachen, what to expect from such a crowd? Earlier I go for…

Well not quite, thanks to the checkups of Dr Primarius Felix and the cheery staff of the Deutsche Ordnungs Krankenhaus. With Christina we trained down on Monday afternoon, spent the night at the Geake’s lake house, then set off very…

The annual wine hike takes place over a weekend in September. We started one of the 4 routes at Grinzing around 1230, and finally left at 4pm after sampling various new brews. The last heurigens had the best views.