Tag Archives: Vienna

The Ruster Loop – great day trip from Vienna

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The day trip round Neusiedlersee is one of my favourites from Vienna.  All visitors are taken there, and I often go, just like that to inspect the storks and geese and wine. Friends from another country, CarlosNotTheJackal and his wife, the KiwiKween were in town to inspect Vienna as a potential location for their next life phase.  IMG_1152

It was Sunday and we had no need of motorways, so we drove through sleepy little villages and got to Rust in time for a look around and an early lunch.  Rust is the “urban” highlight of the World Heritage Site and is particularly proud of its role as host for storks who arrive in Spring to raise their young.

stork count

13 pairs, 38 young and 1 single=65 storks in total. The one single is there all year round as he cannot fly.

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We managed to arrive just a little before the busloads of German tourists and enjoyed a walk around this beautiful village.  Storks are the main attraction, but meanwhile, some shops have appeared selling things that people with time on their hands like to buy: ceramics, decorative items, baskets, wine coolers, artisan groceries and of course, wine.

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More people passing through is not necessarily a bad thing:  Rust now offers a couple of upmarket restaurants, cafes and overnight accommodations.  When I first came here in the previous century, it was schnitzel and candlewick bedspreads.

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Next to Rust, is the border village of Mörbisch.  You can walk into Hungary.  Before Schengen, and Hungary’s accession in 2004 to the European Union, cyclists and pedestrians could have their passports stamped here.  Mörbish, although so close to Rust, looks totally different, the houses being all white and arranged in terraces perpendicular to the road.

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On one such alley, we found a charming little fixer upper with two staircases that might do CarlosNotTheJackal and the KiwiKween as a project.IMG_0549

But once we crossed into Hungary and stopped off on the Hungarian side at Fertod Castle, this dual staircase abode was preferred.IMG_0552

Fertod castle has been restored and is a venue for festivals and concerts.  Haydn spent the summers here with the Esterhazy family.  Opposite the castle there is pretty market selling leather goods, plant pots, sheepskin rugs, paprika, salami and jam.  And why not?

Wine festivals are held in most of the villages during the summer.  My trips this year took me to one in Mörbisch, where only the bar staff were in the mood for dancing.staff start off the dancing

In Rust, the local brass band was celebrating its 40th anniversary.  Look at the joy on the faces of the people.  Perhaps they were just concentrating on their grilled chicken or schnitzel. We found a very nice lunch at Buschenschank Schandl and on other trips, we have been well looked after at the Hofgassl restaurant.

cheerful facesOur journey round the lake continued, back into Austria at Apetlon and on through the villages on the other side of the lake.  They make Eiswein here.  Last stop before we leave the lakeside for the motorway back to Vienna is Podersdorf.  paddlers enjoying the water Podersdorf is much loved by the surfers and the atmosphere here is much more holiday.  One lakeside cafe offers live entertainment with someone singing songs from the 50s 60s,70s and 80s.  German and Austrian tourists dance a strange kind of quick step while others sing along.  Down near the lighthouse is the perfect bar for watching the sunset with a cocktail.  And then it’s time to get back to the motorway and back to the city.  A trip round Neusiedlersee, however short, always feels like a little holiday.IMG_0568

http://www.schandlwein.com/index.php?node_id=Buschenschank;3&lang_id=1

http://www.hofgassl.at/

http://www.eszterhaza.hu/de/startseite

http://www.rust.at/index.php/unesco-world-heritage.html

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/772/

Roses in the Volksgarten for Life Ball 2014

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Excitement in Vienna as everyone prepares for the biggest event of the summer. Three times a year, the world’s media notices a party in Vienna. There’s the Neujahrskonzert at the Musikverein; the Opernball in the Opera House, and the Life Ball in the Rathaus.  The first two are long-standing traditions that confirm that  traditional values sexism, racism, homophobia and snobbery are still held dear here.  The Life Ball tells another story and gives us hope.

Now, Austria is hardly the model of liberal tolerance, but since Conchita Wurst’s victory at the Eurovision song contest, maybe change is afoot.  Conchita is a guest of honour at tonight’s ball.

I went into town to take a look before the crowds gathered. I could not resist walking through the Volksgarten to see the wonderful roses. The theme of this year’s Life Ball is “Garden of Earthly Delights.” So, here some photos of roses in the Volksgarten. You’ll have to imagine the earthly delights.

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http://www.lifeball.org/

Burns Night 2011 in porkandcabbageland

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Dr. Who always seems to have strange experiences in familiar places.  Burns Night 2011 was a bit like that.  Here in porkandcabbageland there are some fans who organise a Burns Night.  There is even someone who has gone to the trouble of translating Burns into the local dialect.  So, off I went, dragging along my  friend for what promised to be an interesting experience if nothing else.   


There they were, almost 300 porkandcabbagelanders with a smattering of suitably kilted Scottish Ladies with their leader the redoubtable 86 year old Ruth. She had the frilliest blouse as befits her status as chieftain of the waltzcityscottishladies.  We had not ordered haggis in advance and so we had to order from the standard bill of fare.  We had pork.  And lettuce.  The evening started with Burns songs as set by Beethoven, Haydn, Schumann, Mendelssohn and others.  Then the haggis was ceremoniously piped in by the first waltzcity pipe and drum.  Oh yes, they have their very own pipe band.  A father and son. Not Scottish.  


Our neighbours had ordered haggis and we watched them shrink as if the haggis was going to jump off the plate and wrap itself round their head and press their brains out through their ears.  The haggis looked like its normal furry cute self.  However, it was served with mashed potatoes done the porkandcabbageland way – that is to say sloppy, very sloppy, like school dinner semolina.  Turnip is not a recognised vegetable in porkandcabbageland.  There are few recognised vegetables.  So, our haggis and potato flavoured semolina dish was completed with a spoonful of sliced carrots.  Once the first forkfuls of the puddin’ race chieftain were tasted, the fear dissipated and they gobbled it up, as well they should.  


The next part of the evening was mainly Burns songs given the blues treatment and translated into waltzcity dialect. My highlight was one song done in German German, Swiss German, Waltzcitydialect and Lallans.  They have promised us a translation of Tam o Shanter for next year.  My friend went home and ordered Eddie Reader’s Burns album.