Eddy seems to be doing plenty of blogging about Beijing, so I would like to reflect a little on the past. After our great stay with the Fabians, we stayed in the city with our friends Kurt and Diana. Which by the way was the reason we stopped in Austria. To help them celebrate their marriage that happened last year in the Yucatan and celebrated this year in Vienna.

All four of us were ready for a little down time. K & D had L.A. family to take care of for the last week and we needed a break. So the remaining days in Vienna were spent taking strolls around the city and seeing some historic sites then heading off to the farmer’s market to shop for dinner. We wanted to take advantage of their kitchen while we could. Since from that point on we would be able to cook for a while to come. We just made simple things that we missed such as Eddy’s mom’s soy sauce chicken, salad, spanish rice, etc. Then at the end of the week Diana had some time off work Friday afternoon and took us for a nice strolling tour of Vienna. We first stopped off at the Sacher Hotel to try their orignal recipe sacher torte. It wasn’t that great. So if you know of better, skip this expensive experience. Walked to and along the Danube for a bit. Then went home to make Korean BBQ. Not so great, I think we got the wrong cut of meat, too chewy.

On Saturday we got the true Viennese experience before leaving Vienna for Beijing the next day. We woke up and went to the Imperial Spanish riding school, saw the amazing horses practice their struts. Then we were off to the Turkish Farmer’s market, had food at the Lela, then walked around some more before heading back to apartment for our swimming gear. Spent a lazy afternoon laying by the beach off the old Danube on the recreational island. Saw a bunch of horny teenagers, topless girls, and drunk Austrians. It was nice. Finished reading Me Talk Pretty Some Day by David Sedaris. Got a tour of Donau City. Very nice. Walked along the New Danube. (Cutting through Vienna is four Danubes.) Took the subway across town to Tichy, good old ice cream parlor. Yummie! Then we were close to done. But it being our last night we went out to get our last spritzer at a Croatian restaurant. Very nice. Clemens came out to meet up with us. Nice ending to our trip in Austria.

Tempted to move there. They have everything we like to do almost all within the city limits. Windsurfing, good eating, public transportation that works, modern city, old city, culture, diversity (maybe without all the acceptance that would be ideal) and snowboarding a short drive away. Plus I love the cold weather. But maybe after one winter I will change my mind.

Thanks to the Robleto-Sattlers (I hope I got the order right) and the Fabians for a great time in Austria.

Picture

Our host and hostess in Vienna proper, the reason for our fabulous trip to Vienna, Kurt and Diana.

Vienna’s biggest hazzard - dog shit. I can’t tell you how many times I nearly stepped in the stuff. It’s everywhere! On the streets. On the sidewalks. In the Grass. Otherwise Vienna is such a clean city. Hardly any trash laying around. There are recycling bins all over the city. But when it comes to dog shit it’s a fecal obstacle course out there. (I hear it’s worse during the winter - it’s difficult telling the difference between dirty snow and Fido’s poo). I guess the Viennese don’t believe in pooper scoopers or walking around with plastic bags. I don’t get it, it’s okay to recycle but let’s ignore the poo.

We went and left Prague wihout time to blog. It is an extremely small city, at least the main part. We spent two days walking around and saw everything. Even had time to watch Star Wars Episode III. By far the best of the three. Then we went for a microbrew taste testing around the corner from our hostel. It would be better labeled as a drink fest. They gave us 7 full glasses of beer and two liquor shots. I barely skimmed the surface of the beers I got and was totally thrashed. Fo r all those that know me and drinking, it doesn’t take much. HA!

Then we were off on the noon train to Vienna. Where we were met by a confused Martin. Martin, our friend Kurt’s cousin, and Kurt both thought he would have no problem spotting two Asians on a train from Prague. Little did any of realize what a meca for all sorts of tourist Prague is. Half the people that got off the train were Asian. We had never seen Martin before so had no idea who to look for. We walked past him with the friends we had met in the hostel, but he looked so confused that I thought that might be him. So had Eddy approach him to see if it was. Luckily for all of us it was. Navigating the trains right away would of been challenging not to mention trying to find his parents house out in the hilly suburbs of Vienna. He had his brother, Clemens, pick us up at the train station so that we wouldn’t have to walk up the hill with our backpacks. So as you can see so far Vienna has been a vacation from travelling. We’ve been well taken care of by the Fabian family, especially Franz and Maria. We’ve been lead all over and shown the sites between breakfast and lunch. Of which they have supplied plentifully. Anything Kurt and Diana didn’t plan, Franz filled in. He drove us to see sites and then took us for a bike ride to the Danube dam. All the while showing us his childhood sites and where he and Maria met and married. It has been super. Not to mention the heaps of food and drinking. DRINKING! Oh my, this must be the most consecutive days of being drunk in my life!

A short summary of events so far in Vienna will show you that we have been living the life!

Day 1 - summarized briefly above. Once settled at house, Eddy gets his first two shots of Franz’s self made schnapps. Then we are off to meet up with Diana and Kurt for dinner and drinks. Great cheeseburger and a beer. Then off to next bar for some red wine. (We took it easy the first day.)
Day 2 - Woke to huge breakfast spread (Thank you Maria!). Then Franz took us for a driving tour of his area and great view of Vienna. Before going home for lunch, we stop at a heuriger (wine tavern) for an appertif. A glass of white wine. Then home for a fabulous salmon lunch with Franz’s homemade alcoholic apple cider. By now it’s maybe 3 PM. By 5 would be off to K & D’s wedding celebrations. Full buffet spread and endless supply of Sattler wines, red and white. Plus Champagne. Didn’t stop drinking until about 2 AM. (technically day 3)
Day 3 - Started early, but then we woke to another amazing breakfast. Afterwhich we went for the bike ride to build up our appetite for the weinerschitzel lunch that Maria was going to make. Biked to the dam watched the boats move transfer from one side to the other. Bike back but then Franz decide to stop for an appertif at Martin and Regina’s place. They were not home, so her parent’s served us the appertif. And off we went. Let’s just say I had to walk up the hill, drinking, asthma, bike and hill just don’t mix for me. Lunch was great. I passed on the beer. We went around 7 to meet the wedding party at a fancier heuriger for more drinks and food. Spritzer! Wine and bubbly water. Ended the evening in Vienna at Palmenhaus, for more drinks. (BTW for all my SCI-Arc people, guess who I saw there, Karl Chiu!) (No, I did not say hi, I realized it’s been 15 years! what are the chances he would actually remember!)
Day 4 - Off to the Sattler winery. Woke up to same amazing breakfast. Then drove out with Clemens, Franz and Maria to Tadten where the Sattler winery is located. (BTW, you can get their wine at the Wine House in West LA, very good, try the whites or St. Laurent for red.) We ate BBQ and drank all afternoon. Didn’t leave until 8 or so. White wine really is not the drink for me if I want to last through the night. Had an early evening. Poor Maria was the only one awake, luckily she was the one driving.
Day 5 - Off to the Danube wine valley area, Kerms. Nice slow day, walked around the village then went for a boat ride up to Spitz. Only had one or two spritzers. Got home and relaxed while Franz and Maria got ready for their super long biking tour of the lakes by Basil, Switzerland the next day. What a great life. After their packing we had a farewell drink with them. We’re hoping they will join us in South Africa.
Day 6 - REHAB! We’re at long last in Vienna staying with Diana and Kurt. We plan to do very little drinking. Instead we are going to turn into cooks and make dinner for them every night. It’ll probably be one of the last kitchens we’ll have access to and know how to use for quite a while. We went with Diana to the farmer’s market and made our first dinner.
Day 7 - It’s Wednesday and we are now trying to figure tonight’s menu. Friday is set for Korean BBQ. The challenge is to find a butcher who will humor us and give us the right cut of beef. We’ll see…

Pictures

Prague.

The brother’s, Clemens and Martin, with Grandma and sister to mother of groom.

Kurt’s Grandmother.

Eddy and Franz.

Maria on the way to fancy heuriger.

Us and Clemens in back seat on the way to fancy heuriger.

View of Vienna at night.

Drunken subway ride to Palmenhaus.

Clemens and I at the the Palmenhaus.

Franz and Clemens helping with the BBQ lunch at Sattler Winery.

Lunch at winery winds down.

Clemens in lederhosen.