Beatiful pollution?

Although I have seen many spectacular sunsets, I always grab the camera when the sky starts to turn red and try to get a picture with the right exposure and composition, never thinking of the fact that the redness is actually the result of some form of particles in the atmosphere, often natural like sand or droplets but sometimes man made pollution.

Enlighted buildings

The Eiffel Tower is celebrating its 120th birthday by putting on a light show. Thousands of small LED spotlights will make it look like a huge Christmas tree for the enjoyment of its onlookers.

This is nothing new to Vienna and the Second District! We have for a long time been able to watch and admire the Uniqa Tower, next to the Aspern Bridge, when it transforms from a beautiful steel and glass tower to a symphony of lights and colors. One evening huge snow flakes are falling down the facade while other nights the whole building looks like a giant Christmas tree or a ski slope with a skier coming down in full speed. Amazing!

Roses !

Despite the snow and the cold weather, this is what my roses on the balcony look like. Amazing, isn't it?

Tilting Vienna

The Second District's border towards the First District is changing rapidly. The Danube channel has got a series of bars, sand beaches and other meeting places and the new buildings coming up next to the channel are very modern constructions, mainly made of steel and glass. The reason is partly that such buildings are not allowed in the city center.

The latest addition to this trend is a new hotel in the corner of Taborstrasse and Grosse Mohren Gasse. Its facade is tilting a bit and since the neighboring house is also "tilting" a bit, you can easily get the feeling that you have had a bit too much of something...

Even if the new buildings are very modern and fancy in many ways, it is comforting to see that the old Vienna is still reflected in their architecture :)

Bikes in Vienna and Delft

Parking lot for bikes in Delft, Holland



Bicycling is a popular way of getting fit in Vienna. During the summer months hundreds of young and old are biking along the Danube, the Danube canal, in the Prater and on the thousands of specially made roads for bicycles. The bikers often dress up in very tight clothes with lots of advertisements that make them look like the are participating in Tour de France. Some look more like the famous Michelin man :) The bikes are, however, not used very often as just a way of getting from one place to the other like they are in the Nordic countries or, and in particular, in Holland. I was shocked when I saw the parking lot of bikes outside the Delft railway station and compared it to a similar parking lot in Vienna.

Parking for bikes in Vienna, U1 Stadion station

Snow and rain

A week ago we could sit outside late in the evening and have dinner. The day temperature was above 25 C and the wind felt like a hairdryer when it brought the warmth from Sahara to Vienna. Today it is snow in the air, the temperature is around 2 C and the wind is coming from the North pole. Guess what I like...

Hotel Weisses Lamm

There are several smaller hotels in the Second District, probably to accommodate all travelers who used to come to the northern railway station. It has stopped receiving long distance trains but the hotels are still here. Many are three star hotels but some do not reach that level in the grading system. One such hotel is “Hotel Weisses Lamm” on Zirkusgasse, but it is still famous after it featured in a series of TV shows called “Kottan ermittelt” or “Kottan investigates”. ( http://www.kottan.info/ ) I have so far not seen any of its episodes but I will try to find a DVD and see if I recognize the hotel and the street. The news is that the hotel’s entrance has just received a bit of care with a new sign and lamps to show the hotel entrance.

Before…



After …

To make us all remember.

I mentioned a couple of days ago that there are several small plaques on the sidewalks in the Second District to commemorate those Jews who lived here but were murdered during the Second World War. Here are some just outside my house. As always, click on the picture to enlarge it!

Pumpkins

Many shops in Vienna are now selling all kinds of pumpkins. Some are for eating but many are just for decorations. It is amazing to see how different they can be and what kind of shapes and colors they have!

Sukkot

The Second District in Vienna is center for many Jewish activities. During the second world war, it was from here most Jews in Vienna were deported and small brass plaques on the sidewalks tell us all the names of those who were murdered. Most recently the Jewish community celebrated Sukkot by dancing on the streets and playing joyful music. You can read more about Sukkot on

www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4126/jewish/Sukkot.htm

Kellergassen

Kellergasse in Krauttal




This is the time of the year when the grapes are harvested and prepared for the new wine. To celebrate this and to get a first taste of the grape juice, before it has fermented, parties are held in each and every little village with even the smallest of wine growing area. Usually all wine growers have a cellar where they make their wines and they are often along a small hilly road or "Kellergasse" the parties are therefore called "Kellergassenfesten". On a small trip outside Vienna we ran into one of these parties and had to go in the opposite direction to get home but first we took a stroll down the road and enjoyed the party. Sadly, I could not taste any of the many wines on offer since I had to drive home but it is really nice to see how all generations and people from all walks of life come together, drink a glass of wine but hardly anyone gets drunk.

Kellergasse in Stammendorf

Neews ??

Dear All,

It is time to tell you a bit about what is going on in Vienna in general and the Second District in particular. The strange spelling of "news" is just because "Vienna News" was not accepted by blogspot but I hope it will not upset you too much :)