Vienna

Now we head to the East. Bratislava then on to Budapest where we plan a bit of a break.

Austria

The misty Danube, and a view from the tent

Matthew swinging into the Danube, a camp in the woods

Riding along on my pushbike honey

Benedictine Abbey in Melk

Outside a milk machine in Aggsbach Markt. I was impressed to find out that this town was settled by mammoth hunters during the ice age!! These Viennese men were passing by and when they saw us looking curiously at the vending machine, they were very keen that we try the milk. You put in 30 cents and get a glass of milk, or you can put in more money and fill a bottle. After much fluffing about trying to get it to work while I idled in the background, the three men emerged with a glass of milk. Success! These two men were also cycle touring, and had done 100 km that day - considerably more than us! They looked about 70. It's surprising and impressive how many older people you see on bicycles in Europe. Sometimes decked in lycra and whizzing past us.

On the right is me with Matthew who turned into an actual Worzel-the-scarecrow when we entered this Austrian town one rainy day (covered in mud and searching for a cup of tea & a slice of cake as per)

Hundertwasser

Friedensreich Hundertwasser buildings were something we wanted to see when in Vienna. He is a painter and architect who is known for his bright individual style and is one of Austria's most popular artists. He has designed buildings across Austria and lots of them are in the capital. He also deigned a toilet block in New Zealand (he moved there as his home in later life (New Zealand not the toilet)).
The first image below is his gallery and has a cafe and restaurant. Inside it continues the organic curved lines that are his trademark with even the floor being wavy and curvy. It reminded us a lot of building design in a community near us in Scotland called Findhorn which focused on sustainable design and working the buildings to fit with their surrounds. Although they were more like hobbit houses and these were more for city Elves???
Its a nice place to spend time. There are lots of plants incorporated into the building and it's just a very comfortable but stimulating place to hang out. The opposite to a lot of modern architecture with its excess of glass and rigid line starkness.




Mullverbrennungsanlage Spittelau
Below is a energy plant with a facade designed by Hundertwasser. It's a district heating system burning garbage to create electricity and heat which contribute to the city supply. Apparently a Japanese politician visiting Vienna on a state visit was so impressed by the design, he built a 1:1 replica in Japan!?

Hallo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cycling along the Danube you get to see lots of cruise ships passing by. Most are very luxurious with resteraunts and private cabins. As we cycled towards Linz however we heard one approaching sounding like a bad club with high energy dance music and we could see a crowd of people on deck. A floating club? But no, as it drew near we noticed the hundred or so people were all pedaling excercise bikes under the guidance of an instructor/motivator at the front with a megaphone. "Hallooo!!!" He yelled to the banks in a heavy German accent as he passed the people on the shore and the whole boat waved at us as bopping and pedalling to the beat.
For a short time we discussed wheather the boat was powered by their cycling. We talked about setting one up in Melbourne down the Yarra for the health concious to cycle to work.
As they passed us up the river we were treated to a techno remix of AC/DC's TNT. Those crazy Europeans!

spaghetti ice cream!

Ice cream parlours are big in Germany and Austria. We were particularly taken with the tradition of making icecream replicas of main course meals. its strangely appealing to get a sweet version of a hearty meal. Jenny, already a fan of hamburger lollies (also big here) took to this new food with gusto, replacing all major food groups with icecream!
My favourite was the Schnitzel with gravy and egg - Yum!