Twin cities

Many of my friends do not realize how close Vienna and Bratislava are and that it only takes about 40 minutes by car to get from one capital to the other by car. It takes a bit longer by speedboat but it is probably a nicer way of traveling. The route has become very popular and a new terminal is currently under construction next to Schwedenplatz, on the border between the first and second district.

Glad that Praterstrasse is not my garden !

Lots and



lots of



BIG leaves !

Memories from the bad old days

You do not have to walk around Vienna for very long before you see reminders of the Second World War. The largest are so called “flaktürme” which were built in a triangle around the city center, consisting of two towers in each location. The main towers were used as “fighting towers” while the smaller towers in the pairs were used by those who guided the shooters.

The two largest of the towers are in the Second District's Augarten and are 55 meters high with walls that up to 2.5 meters thick. Truly colossal buildings that can be seen from far away.

A good description of the towers as well as their history can be found on

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiener_Flakt%C3%BCrme

Kottan...

As you might remember, I wrote some time back about "Hotel Weisses Lamm" and its role in the films about police detective Kottan.I had at that time not seen any of the episodes but thanks to the well supplied public library on Zirkusgasse, this is not longer the case. The films are funny although a bit difficult to understand for a non native and the hotel's status as a cornerstone of the Kottan cult is now well understood :) It is obvious that it is not only the one way streets that have changed since that time!

Sunshine at last...

After several days of rain and fog, the sun came through and many from Vienna took their cars and went away for a lunch in the countryside or just for a walk in the sun.

Donnerskirchen

Time to clean up!

A very common site in Vienna



In most quality of living surveys, Vienna ranks very high if not at the top. Communications are excellent, health and school services as well and the cultural life is outstanding. The restaurants offer a wide variety of international and local menus that can satisfy even the most demanding tastes and so on and on.

There is, however, one big problem that everyone who has been walking around this lovely city has noticed. The dog poo that you see, step in and smell in all but the plushest streets. One can hardly walk around the block without getting upset and wonder why it is like this. You will not find a lot of cigarette butts or paper waste but dog poo...

The city council has, of course, noted the problem and started a number of campaigns but so far the results are very limited. It seems as if the dog owners do not care at all and the fines they risk are obviously not having any deterrent effect or they are simply never implemented.

Among the measures taken are signs saying how much the fine is and then an arrow at the crime scene.





Special dog toilets have been clearly marked and special dispensers of plastic bags set up but to no avail.







My own suggestion is that the many parking inspectors are given a wider and new mandate to be able to fine those who let their dogs make a mess of our lovely city! Maybe we can learn something from Singapore or other cities with a lot of dogs but still clean streets?

Rain, rain and more rain...

The weather in Vienna is typical for this time of the year. Lots of fog, windy and rain, rain and more rain. I got a bit scared the other day when I heard a noise that reminded me of the old TV series M.A.S.H. when the alarm went off and the helicopters brought in the injured. This time is was only a peaceful exercise but I still did not like the sound.

Tree trimming time in Vienna

Next to my bedroom window two tall birches have told me a lot about the wind and the time of the year but that will be more difficult from now on since I cannot see them any longer. An efficient man managed to cut down most of them in a few minutes time and it will only be those living two, three levels below who can admire them when spring comes.

Hamburgers in Vienna

The burger in Vienna is not like any other burgers! It tastes good but looks a bit strange to most foreigners since it is just a slice of meat loaf = leberkäse (kind of) in a bun that has been cut in halves. You can, of course, get ordinary hamburgers at McDonald's etc. but this for many the fast food that you get in the supermarkets.