The Bohemian Kitchen, Vienna, Austria

David had a flyer from a nearby restaurant so we went out to see what it was like. The place looked nice enough but it was empty and a bit posh for the mood we were in.

Just down the street was a pub-like place and we wandered in thinking it looked like just the sort of casual place we were looking for. After several staff ignored us (we weren't sure if we should go in, or wait to be seated) we set out exploring to try to find the non-smoking area.

Dead tired in Vienna

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Today we walked around Vienna, had a beer at a cafe and took lots of pictures. By mid-afternoon we were both exhausted. Our travelling had caught up with us. We headed back to the hotel, got some beer and stayed in and watched BBC Entertainment and rested. And as the CBC news loves to say; "There was a Canadian Connection". I watched my first ever episode of 'Casualty' and was tickled to hear a reference to the iconic Canadian CTV show "The Littlest Hobo". 

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Wiener (Vienna) Mozart Konzerte (Concert)

Wednesday October 20, 2010

We bought tickets to see a Mozart concert at the Wiener Konzerthaus from the hotel tonight. The players all dress in period costume and play selected Mozart tunes. The idea is for the audience to experience the concert as it would have been during the Baroque period. And you know what they say; "If it's not Baroque, don't fix it!" (that was for you honey).

It was a great show. It was very entertaining and we had lots of fun with audience participation even!

When we arrived the usher didn't show us to the seats on our tickets, but put us right up front in the second row. There were many empty seats, so I suppose it looks better for them to do this. We also got a 'free' CD of the orchestra.

 

 

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Vienna, Austria

We arrived in Vienna this morning at six am.  The sleeper car on the train was quite comfortable, but I stayed up too late editing and the result is about four hours sleep. The geniuses at Eurorail printed Wien Westbahnhof Station on our tickets and the train stopped at Wien Meidling Station, a few kilometers away. It's like buying a Via Rail ticket to Union Station in Toronto and being dropped off at Greenwood without being told.

I feel like I shouldn't be complaining, but really! It wouldn't be a big deal if we were in a city we knew, but when you come out to the street in the dark and don't know where the hell you are it is not very pleasant, especially at six am on four hours sleep.  We found a coffee shop near the station, waited for it to open and eventually figured out where we were and where we were going.

We are now about half way to our hotel, and have entered the Twilight Zone. It started to rain so we've stopped at the old restaurant that happened to be next to us when the rain began: The 'Cafe Westend'.

I can only describe this place as vintage. The waiters are in full black suits with bow ties, and the place looks like it hasn't been redecorated since sometime around 1944. There are velvet green banquettes built in with black marble topped tables and large chandeliers overhead.

I'm half expecting Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall to walk in at any moment. The smoking section adds to the ambiance, and poor air quality, by the way I have stopped smoking again, for those of you keeping track.  The Cafe opened in 1859/60. The breakfast of bacon and eggs was mediocre, but my cup of tea is perfect.

I can see the Westbahnhof station out the window. It is being rebuilt which explains our rerouting. Too bad they could't have told someone at Eurorail. You can be sure they will be receiving a very strongly worded letter from me in the near future. 

Update: When we left Vienna, we had to depart from the Westbahnhof station. It is open and I have no idea how Eurorail managed to screw up on our arrival, but we will let them know.

Green Party Leader Biking to Montreal To Support AIDS Charity

Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner is raising funds for PWA (People With AIDS) Toronto by taking part in the 12th Annual Bike Rally. The ride takes these fearless fundraisers from Toronto to Montreal. I wish you well Mike. Please join me in supporting Mike by making a donation today.

This is timely considering the International AIDS Conference which took place in Vienna this year ended today, and of course once again our esteemed Prime Minister, Stephen Harper made the news, or didn't when he and his Health Minister were publicly (and rightly so) reprimanded by Dr. Julio Montaner, the Canadian head of the International AIDS Society.

From CBC.CA 

 In his closing address to the International AIDS Conference in Vienna on Friday, conference chief Dr. Julio Montaner slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
"I would also like to have a special word of recognition to the prime minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper … for demonstrating, yet again, their incredible ability to take credit where none is due."
Montaner, one of Canada's most prominent AIDS researchers, said the federal government is "punching well below its weight" in funding international efforts to fight the disease and isn't doing enough to protect Canadians from its spread.  Read the full story here.