Vienna

Hi guys

I have been asked by some of you, where I and when I am exactly going to Southamerica. I will be flying on 7th April to Lima (Peru) and will then continue to Cusco (Peru) on the 8th April to see inca ruins. I will meet with my travel partner Alice (link to her blog below). Together we will travel back to Lima and then up north to Ecuador. On 7th May I will fly back to Europe from Quito.

But first let me tell you from my expirience in Vienna. Let's start with the small Fokker 70 plane in Zurich. That aircraft is real small... and had these old carpet like fabric as a cover for the seats. Compared to the Swiss plane on the way back it was bad, however worse was that sweaty smell there was in the area of my seat. I am not sure, whether it was the voluminous lady behind me or the seat... I think it was the seat.

In Vienna I joined my friend Renato and we went to his place... very interesting. You have to go through the back yard to get to the entrance of the appartment building he is staying for his internship. There is quite some stuff lying in the backyard.

Ok, then we went to the Leopoldsberg to see a first overview of Vienna. Then we went back to his place and tried to bake some pizza. Let me emphasise on the word "TRIED"... (Renato, you have the pictures). After that we went to see Vienna by night and enjoyed a nice Viennese Coffee and a nice Sachertorte. Ah, coffee drinking in Vienna is really fun and so pleasant... (my paradise!) See in this picture the mayors' office.
On day two we went up the Donauturm...for free. It was quite windy up there. Then went into the butterfly house... where there were more people than butterflies!

On day three I went to see Schönbrunn. I was there about 10 mins after it opened. When I was finished with the visit, the Japanese masses were starting to stream in. For me it was time for a Viennese Breakfast (Egg, 2 Semmeln and Coffee). I liked Schönbrunn, but having seen a lot of palaces in the UK as well as Verseilles, I must admit there are nicer ones.

Sadly the weather was not the best that day and it was always on the change between rain and sunshine. I made some pictures, but had to be carefull that the cam did not get wet! In the evening I joined Renato and his collegue and together we went to the Opera to see "Der Evangelimann". For EUR 1.5 for a standing place, its not bad! However, I think that my first time in an opera looks like the last time for some time.... I am not a fan of operas... but maybe this very dramatic piece is not representative.

On my last day in Vienna I went to the "Globenmuseum". Now this is where a Geographer's heart is beating faster!!! I tell you, that place was full of globes! Everyone who has been sitting in "Einführungen in die Kartographie und Visualisierung" knows when I am speaking of Mercator and Zylinderprojektion (or at least should know). There were nice illustrations and animations of how a globe is being constructed. Everyone who has looked at the powerpoint slides of that lecture and who might have peeked into the Haake/Meng/Grünreich (or whatever that green book is called) should know what I speak of. However, it was more educational than the whole book or lecture. After that I went to see the "Prunksaal" of the National Library of Austria. Very impressive.

To finish off my days in Vienna was the visit to the Heereshistorisches Museum and to the cinema to see "Michael Clayton". In short, Vienna is a very nice and beautiful city. Although it's size is about 2-3 times of Zurich, it's less mondial. Not that there are not foreigners, but these people are more of the Eastern European type. Zurich on the other hand is more intercontinental.

Till the next time!

Regards,

Philippe