Still no signs of spring

It is still very cold in Vienna and winter has a strong grip of the city. The signs of spring are few but you can still find beauty if you look carefully.

OPEC

OPEC (www.opec.org) has for a long time had its HQ in the second district and countless times have reporters from CNN, BBC and CNBC been standing in front of its rather dull facade to tell us about what to expect the price of oil to go. That era is now over since a new HQ has been built and the old one is being completely removed to make space for a much higher bank building.

Freezing birds

The birds are suffering when it is as cold as it is now and more and more are gathering along the channels and rivers where the water has still not frozen.

Ice skating in the Centre of Vienna

If you are interested in ice skating, you can now do just that right in front of Vienna City Hall. What is walking paths in the summer have now been transformed into skating paths and other areas are also covered with ice. A well functioning system is in place to allow the general public to rent skates for a nominal fee as well as taking care of your belongings while you are out on the ice. Very impressive. As can be expected, there are plenty of food and beverage stalls.



Although it was Saturday afternoon it was still possible to really enjoy being on ice again and even if it is about eighteen years ago since the last time, the balance was not too bad.

Not only cold...

The weather in Vienna is really going on my nerves. One day it is minus ten, the other plus five. An other the snow is covering everything with a shiny white cover and the next it is all melting away and just look awful.

Even the snow looks sad.

Cold, very cold....

It is cold in Vienna now. When the sun does not shine, the cold, damp winds make minus 4 C feel like minus 10 C. And most colors are also gone but where?

Invader from outer space?

Vienna hosts "United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs". Is that the reason for the presence of this creature?

Season's Greetings

Kitchen window December 2009

Lucia in Vienna

Christmas Flowers?

It is today the 12th of December and my flowers on the balcony look like this. Wonderful but tomorrow the weather gurus have predicted that it will be freezing temperatures and they will all be gone.

Lucia is coming to Vienna

and we meet and greet her with Lussekatter!