Blogs from Austria, Europe - page 293

'Eiskaffee' at Demel's in Vienna--after watching marching bands, we attended the 'Erntedankfest' (harvest festival) where sugar beet farmers erected large signs protesting the globalization that caused them to lose their livelihood to the Brazilians due to their lack of child labor laws. Displays of fruits and vegetables mounded and wreathed:cabbages, red and white, eggplant, carrots, onions and peppers; apples, plums, strawberries, blackberries and all sorts of berries we don't have, all in front of booths serving small meals, beer and coffee at long tables on the meadows behind the Hofburg, the imperial palace. Back in the smaller courtyard, the castle was just expelling the guests of a big society wedding. Remarkable, large brimmed hats in every color of the rainbow, Paris coutoure, men in morning coats kissing the hands of ladies shaded by the wide brims ... read more

Due to train scheduling issues, we had to write Prague out of our travel agenda, but on the upside we are spending an extra day in Austria so we got the chance to visit Salzburg! On the train over to Salzburg we read about "The Official Sound of Music Tour" and we happened to be arriving at about the time it started, so we decided to try it out (plus it meant we get to sit on a bus all day rather than following a map to find our way around!). The movie, "The Sound of Music", was filmed mainly in Salzburg so the tour went all around Salzburg and also visited some towns outside of Salzburg. We saw the house that was supposedly the Von Trapp family house (Leopoldskron Castle), took pictures with the pavillion ... read more

Just got into Austria after a crappy 3 hour doze overnight in Stansted airport. I busked in the London underground for 3 hours last night near the parliament houses and Big Ben. I only made one lousy pound, but the acoustics were great! And no coppers bugging me either! Had a bit of a busk here just now as well, but Europeans don't seem to know what it means... either that or I just suck... :P The weather here is beautiful and I'm heading off again in an hour down to Slovenia to meet Ash & Alaya! FINALLY! Their van is apparently up and running again so it will be peace love and wurst for all! (do they have wurst in Slovenia? ...i'm not sure...) Anyway, this is pretty much just a post to prove that ... read more

Boarded the train to Upper Austria, which takes about 2 hrs from Vienna. And what a great train ride that is. You pretty much ride the train on the banks of the Danube River - very lush and green. Our destination: Linz. The Ars Electronica Festival to be precice. This electronic arts festival is an institution in Linz and invited people from all over the globe to participate. Really cool and very unexpected in this otherwise sleepy town. The only cafe around is called Cafe Traxlmayer...so make sure you go there sit on the terrace and enjoy your coffee. ... read more

After an exhausing shopping day I decided to go to the famous state opera to see Mozarts "The Magic Flute" - and for just 3 Euros I was able to get great standing row tickets. That is clearly a treat, during intermission everyone strolls around. I went up to the tea parlor to get a glass of champagne.....the highlight of my day. ... read more