I finally made it to the new Mariahilfer Straße with pedestrian zone. The implementation process was the worst kind of political mess, but it looks as if the fuss was worth it.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
8 DecA holiday in Austria and slightly brighter weather than the last week or two. (It’s all relative!) What better way to spend it than on a walk in the Vienna Woods–and afterwards the new Woody Allen film at one of Vienna’s several cinemas that show films in the original language?
An artist who adds happiness to life
6 Dec
Welcome to the world of Rosemarie Benedikt, an Austrian artist born in Baden bei Wien in 1939, and still active. I have adored her work for years and last year was even lucky enough to be able to buy one of her coatis as a present for the friend who told me the anteater (Ameisenbär or ant-bear) joke. Imagine then my pleasure at opening my Saturday Kurier this gray, damp morning in Vienna and finding an article about Benedikt and her work, accompanied by lots of photos. That helped a lot!
“Es zieht” (“There’s a draft.”)
23 NovIt’s a perfect November Sunday in Vienna–gentle blue sky, temperatures just above freezing, but “es zieht” (there’s a draft). It was only a year or two ago that I learned the difference between “it’s windy” and “es zieht”. If you say it’s windy, that implies that you can see the effects of the wind. Tree branches are tossed, paper is blown about, and so on. When “es zieht” you feel the wind (and, boy, does it go right through you), but you don’t see it. Before I came to Vienna, I had never heard of having a draft outdoors, but now I know one when I see–sorry, feel–one.
Two news tidbits from yesterday’s free newspaper, “Heute” (Today)
22 NovDunkin’ Donuts has finally made it to Vienna. Yesterday they opened a store on Mariahilfer Straße. Apparently, there was already a line when they opened at 7 a.m, and at its peak the waiting time was two hours!
The other bit of news that caught my eye was that 6% of Viennese apartments still have their WCs outside on the shared hall. It’s not so bad when you’re young and healthy. My first year in Vienna I lived in such a flat. It’s not so great as one’s bladder capacity starts to fail or when one has stomach flu. (Ick!)
(I hope everyone realizes that these are two *unrelated* news items!)
Autumn 2014
4 Nov
I *thought* everything was late this year. Last year I posted a photo of these trees with more gold and fewer leaves on October 12th!
End of summer time (as daylight savings time is called in German)
27 OctIt was amazing how many people were out and about at seven o’clock this morning. The last few weeks my morning walks with Mylo were fairly solitary, and dark, and chilly, for that matter. Yesterday we set the clocks back, and suddenly everyone has come alive again. The Viennese, especially the ones in my generation, tend to be pretty early risers. Now they are back in form.
Halloween in Vienna
19 Oct
This sign made me think again of a client who, about fifteen years, was lamenting the fact that the concept of Halloween was invading Austria. “After all,” she said, “we already have Fasching [Carnival].” Still, where there is buck or euro to be made …
In this case, however, there is the chance to win some euros. The only word you need to have translated above is “Gutschein”–in this case it means “voucher”–and you get the picture.
EuroSkills 2014
12 OctThe EuroSkills competition, like the Olympics but for professional skills, took place about a week ago. True to form, Austria did extremely well. The “Best of Europe” title (rather like “Best of Show” ;-)) went to Oliver Anibas, an Austrian competing in the area of Industrial Control. An additional 18 medals (8 golds out of 41 disciplines) went to other Austrian competitors, among them a tile layer, a florist, a decorative stone cutter, and (not surprisingly, given Austria’s reliance on the tourism industry) a hotel receptionist.
The Kurier put the success down to Austria’s excellent system of apprenticeships and vocational education. (More about that in my earlier post: https://ecbinvienna.com/2011/11/07/we-are-the-champions/ ) They followed that comment up with a reprimand to Austrian companies who complain loudly about the lack of qualified young employees!
For more information about the EuroSkills competition: http://www.euroskills2014.org/index.php?lang=en
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