The Oh Wells

Back in the….

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 20:48:30 +0000

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 to La Paz where the coffee is twice the size.

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Vienna last moments II, 2022

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 17:30:34 +0000

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, again to Prater. Fewer people, but the trees are still amazing. Whilst there I visit again the WU University and discover more fascinating architecture. And on the way back via the canal this time the graffiti positively assails one.

One of many single tracks in the Prater

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Vienna last moments I, 2022

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 14:48:31 +0000

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 trip includes a coffee in bustling Cafe Museum.

Overall, a very successful Austrian trip: new bike, Irish passport, UK NHS transfer to Austria, Austrian residence, check ups for both of us at Friesach, change of insurance, the Erl Wälkure, Syberberg’s Parsifal and not least, a German course. And not forgetting of course the Baku trip to see Larry in his environment!

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Globenmuseum

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 13:07:01 +0000

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 NÖ card. The Esperanto Exhibition comes with. The museum is the only one worldwide which is devoted to globes.

On Wednesday, a public holiday, we meet up at Secession and then dine at Scarabocchio.

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Days pass

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 12:57:13 +0000

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 by train to Eichgraben to the Wienerwald Museum. The weather was awful, rain and mist, but the museum was infinitely worse.

Tuesday 25th October was a wonderfully sunny day. We met at Freiraum before going to the Allianz office to sign up for travel insurance.

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A Streetcar to Desire – the tram

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 18:18:33 +0000

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.

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Augarten Museum

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:21:00 +0000

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 Archduchess who married Dom Pedro of Brazil in 1817. Afterwards a fine spritzer was enjoyed in Cafe Sperling in the same wing.

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Wienerwald again

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 20:17:00 +0000

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 woods after 4pm with light slowly fading with the temperature, so time to abandon the planned route and return. Some amazing places seen, including a tree to match Costa Rica’s roble amarillo.

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Schönlaternegasse

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 23:52:00 +0000

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 beast.

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Vineyards

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:57:33 +0000

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 that, is enough to spoil the idea of taking the bike to Weissensee later!

On Wed Mungo has a physio, so we take 35A and get off at last stop (Neustift?) to walk through and up the vineyards to Sievering. The route is almost the one I biked along on the Sunday of the Weinwanderung.

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