No turtle doves, but Vienna is showing itself from its best side. Weeks of grayness are very common in November, December, and January, so we rejoice over every hour of sunshine. At the same time, today, the temperatures are hovering around freezing, making it feel like Christmas. And, of course, who could do without the walk in the Vienna Woods (in the picture, you see the Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark in the 18th district) after the celebrations yesterday — and, in my case, this evening again?
I just heard from a colleague who is currently in Vienna with a group of U.S. American students that two of his group were walking around yesterday and ended up chatting with the Austrian president, Alexander van der Bellen. They even got a selfie with him! (With or without his shelter dog I don’t know. )
A very grainy photo from my first ever mobile phone
My Facebook memories just reminded me of an exchange with colleagues in January 2010 that gave me great pleasure.
First post I had to work late yesterday and missed going skating. So this morning I went for a walk even though it was snowing pretty heavily.
This haiku is the result (in German first): Viel Schnee ist heute In Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark Aber wenig Leut’
… which translates into English more or less like this: Lots of snow today In Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark Very few people
Later As I was waiting for the tram to make its way back into Vienna I sent it by text message to friends and colleagues. One of my colleagues challenged me to write a limerick and I came up with this (long tram ride!):
Eliza went out in the snow She had nowhere else to go She slipped on the ice Said something not nice And now when she goes she goes slow. 🙂
ecbinvienna 