This morning B. had to go to the dentist and could not find her car keys. They'd vanished. She ended up rescheduling her appointment for next month...
My plan was to roam around by myself today. They have different public transportation passes here. Today I used the "24 Hour Card." It costs 5.70 Euro, as opposed to 1.80 Euro if you buy one ticket at a time. The way this card works is, it's good for unlimited bus, streetcar, and subway rides for 24 hours from the time you first use it. (You validate the card when you get on the first vehicle.)
I used this thing to drive all over the fucking place today. I started by going to the other end of town, to B.'s parents' place, to pick up the spare car key her dad had. They were surprised to see me. Me, on the other hand, I was happy to have remembered how to get to their place using public transportation.
Visited with the parents in the back yard, and scored three fresh apples, three hot peppers, and a raspberry (one, singular) from the garden.
Then I took the subway and a couple of trams all over the place. But mostly I walked, snapping pics along the way. Had my backpack with me, and two full containers of water, so I spent almost nothing while roaming around---2 Euro for a slice of pizza and a can of Lipton Ice Tea, and another Euro I threw into a sax player's hat. He was playing jazz under a bridge along the Danube Canal (pic below.)
I left about noon, got home about 6:45. I must have logged 6-10 miles of walking. Got back to find out B. had finally found her car key after hours of searching---she'd worn two different pairs of pants yesterday but forgot about the second pair, the one with the keys still in the pocket from last night's outing. But she was happy I'd schlepped my helpless American ass all the way to Simmering to fetch the spare key. I was the Big Hero.
Walked down to the Mayer heurige to turn in the old wine bottles and buy another couple of bottles of their excellent white. B. made an excellent appetizer for supper, and I made the main course (pics at the end.)
So: here are a few things little Johnny X saw on this warm summer day in Vienna.
Click on any pic to enlargify.
You're invited to taste their meat.
The Gasometer complex. Now converted to apartments and shopping.
If your kung-fu cannot be strong, your tung-fu should be.
Graffiti on the Danube Canal: "And then Mother Earth will eat us all."
For my paisano John M.---a joint along the Danube Canal.
Tragically hip and relaxed along the Danube Canal.
Uh, not really. But I'll do further research.
Not really sure what she was looking for.
But I was sure she didn't want my help finding it.
Jesus' mommy in a gas mask. Not something you see everyday.
A neat old iron (or steel?) bridge over the Danube Canal.
I saw a guy painting grafitti. He stepped aside for a moment so I could shoot this.
I heard this guy before I saw him. He was playing Brubeck's "Take Five."
I threw a Euro into his hat. He stopped playing a moment to say "Danke."
The acoustics under the bridge were really good. Not to mention the shade.
Zen Man playing his flute on a foot\bike bridge, crossing the Danube Canal.
See Spot. See Spot's asshole.
Lots of dogs and their, uh, you know along the Danube Canal.
The Viennese are very active outdoors.
They enjoy activities such as this...
...and this. I turned these people in to the Polizei for illegal kissing.
Their fine was 500 Euro.
No, not really. It was only 400.
Believe it or not, this plant designed by famous Austrian artist
Hundertwasser is used to convert burned trash into heat. Enlarge
the pic and check out the cool tower!
When you get home after a long day of hiking and voyeurism, you want something like this waiting for you. B made this excellent appetizer out of fresh tomatoes, basil, and buffalo mozzarella.
I need to make some of this for one of my famous bi-weekly dinner parties.
I need to make some of this for one of my famous bi-weekly dinner parties.
And this pasta dish is what I made for us tonight.
