Die Rückkehr

Die Rückkehr

22 May – 30 May

Day 1 22/05/12                     Early morning and a breath of Viennese air

I roll out of bed sometime around 04:30.  I give myself a quick lick and hurriedly dress scanning the room to check that I have my packed bag, then that my passport and my boarding pass are on my person.  I repeat this action several times even at the airport, not satisfied until I am actually seated on the plane.  Then, I relax. 

Even though I thought I had factored in time for a quick cuppa and wheatabix it seems my chariot awaits.  Linda, my kind ‘taxi’ for the day, is keen to spirit me to my destination.  I offer her some green tea and cherry chocolates.  We reach the airport in good time.  I walk in and, possibly owing to fatigue, get a little dazed and confused.  Within a short time I regain my sense of direction and head off for the boarding gate and security.  I get through with relative ease and, security was surprisingly polite.  I make a mental note of this.

I am on a plane from Dublin to Bratislava.  We leave at about 06:40.

We land in Bratislava about 10:30 local time. 

I push through passport control.  (Note to self: the shorter queue is short not because of haste and efficiency but because delay has caused everyone else to abscond to the adjoining queue).  I drag my suitcase to the appointed bus stop.  Within minutes a big red bus squeals to a halt.  It has come from Vienna.  A lady steps off.  I smile as the busman helps her by yanking the only piece of luggage from the side compartment.  He speaks to me in broken German.  I hear ‘Pause!’  I hear little else.  He informs me that the bus will not leave until 11:30.  It starts to rain.  A little group of people slither towards me and crowd around the sealed bus door.  Some look tired.  Others look terribly hungover.  Sure enough, at 11:30 the busman returns.  Having had his coffee break and cookie there is a notable spring in his step.  We board and we buy our tickets.  I am headed to Erdberg in Vienna.  I dose, read and write a little.

We reach Erdberg a little after 13:00.  As I step off the bus I see my old comrades, Dietlinde, Jeannine and Kirsten.  I immediately worry about conversation and what to say if it dries up.  One simple question will prevent this.  Vague enough to open up a variety of possibilities. . .

So, I am hungry.  We’re off for lunch.

We walk and talk to the ü-bahn eventually making our way to Schottentör and the Votivscafé.  After a great delay we have a disappointing lunch here and discuss what else we could/should/would do for the duration of my visit.  I drop my luggage at Wassegasse and we enjoy some more conversation and tea.  Jeannine kindly offers to make dinner.  So, after we leave Dietlinde to her online class, we (Phil has joined us since) venture off to the nearest Billa and buy our supplies.

Having eaten our fill, and sufficiently embarrassed all parties in attendance we chat some more and then we part ways.  I travel with Phil some of the way and we finally go off in separate directions.  It’s late and I’m pretty tired at this stage.

Day 2 23/05/12                     ‘The Best Sandwich’

I wake up.  I think about being back in Vienna.  Dietlinde kindly offers to make me breakfast.  I graciously accept.  We go for a walk after and I buy some berries in Billa.  We mix and share berries.  We hang out and lounge for a time before she leaves for school at midday.  Jeannine suggested we meet to lunch and ‘have the best sandwich’.  Kirsten texts me to arrange a rendezvous.  Jeannine takes me the reputed bistro and I buy a chicken and avocado sandwich.  I see the ravenous hunger in her eye and I know we had better proceed to the park with great haste. 

At the park we meet Kirsten and Phil.  We sit and soak up the sun for a few seconds before it abruptly vanishes and an unholy downpour occurs.  We wisely take shelter under the nearest tree.  We hear thunder.  We see lightening.  We retreat to the nearest café and marquee.  After a few minutes of huddling for shelter and dear life we agree that a caffeinated beverage is the order of the day and decide to proceed to Café Hawelka.

I order a melange.

It is at this time that I noticed the berries I had bought earlier have dispersed within my bag and some have even been crushed.  I mop this ugly mess up with numerous tissues and devour the remaining intact berries not content to let them defecate my rucksack again.  Fool me once…

Jon had text earlier inviting us all up to his apartment.  Liana was leaving that very evening to return home briefly.  After a short while of people watching we manage to wave down a Kellner and pay our bills.  We set off for the U3 to Ottakring.

Liana’s rabbits are at the apartment.

Jon makes us a delightful and tasty dish of spag bol.  David B. pops up having mastered a duel with the dreaded flu.  He and Phil buy some wine, radlers and beer and we enjoy these (and later coffee) with our meal.  Alan joins us.  Dietlinde joins us.  We chat, listen to music and speculate causes and solutions for most of the world’s problems (no one takes written notes).

We call quits after and head off our respective ways.

Day 3 24/05/12                     Climbing trees and catching zzzzz

Breakfast and after there is a walk in the intense sun.

I am glad I bought some sunscreen the day before.  This blinding heat worries me.  We, Dietlinde, Jeannine and myself meet for lunch (shortly after breakfast).  We have curry at a delightful little restaurant.

We wander for a bit.

We make our way to Prater and we all hover close to several different rides.  No one ventures on any of the rides.  We loiter outside Schweizerhaus discussing our options and in the end opt for a walk in the park.  Alan joins us. 

We take some photos, climb some trees (some of us), take photos of people climbing trees and in the end we disperse.

We head off to Shebeen and enjoy some dinner and a few drinks in the Biergarten.  Kirsten had planned to join us at Shebeen after feeding the rabbits but wires are crossed. 

Afterwards we take the bus to Pilgrimgasse and have tea at Alan’s.  We watch some youtube videos while sipping on the delights of Punjama.

Day 4 25/05/2012                                        Crazy Lady

It’s Friday.                                         

I have been warned that a cleaning lady is on the loose and might be popping in sometime around 8am.  I rise at 7:30 and hope to be washed and dressed before she arrives.  I managed to get showered but just before I get fully clothed and make my escape.  I hear the door open.  It is only 7:50.

I confront the mildly psychotic cleaning woman as she rolls her trolley of utensils in.  She and her daughter march in look me up and down.  Then, she yells ‘Putzen!  Wir putzen!’  I nod and smile as best I can and reply ‘Ich verstehe.’

I fill a bottle of water toss it into my rucksack and make a hasty escape as I hear the two women cackle in the kitchen.

The day before, Phil had agreed to meet me Friday morning.  We would hang out for an hour or two until everyone else rose or finished school.

I loiter at Karlsplatz for a bit.

After some confusion Phil tells me he’s gone to Starbucks.

I try to rendezvous with him there but he’s already moved on.

I order a Latte.  Phil backtracks and finally after a minor malaise we are on track.  Phil and I walk around admiring the sites of Vienna.  After a time Jeannine is finished and joins us.

We go for some brunch.

Then, we go for some lunch.  Simon join us.

We venture to the Happy Wok, where Jeannine tells us it is all you can eat.

I have just had brunch so I order a green tea much to the confusion of staff.

We talk about going for a picnic.

We drop into Billa and pick up some supplies.

Kirsten texts me and we agree to go for coffee.

I hop on the tram and travel out to the Pilgrimgasse direction.

We meet and I order a melange and schinken kaese sandwich.

Kirsten shows me her new flat and we have some more tea.

By this time, it’s time to head up to Jon’s for a manly dinner.

Kirsten has to feed the rabbits. 

A lads night in Jon’s inspired by Epic meal time.

The gents set about creating the masterpiece that is jam toast ravioli or some other similar abomination.  Some of the bread is layered with jam, peanut butter and nutella.

After devouring some of this heart attack food and petting the rabbits (not a euphemism) we set off to the pub. 

Firstly, there is some minor confusion – to Charlie P’s?  To the Highlander?

We head to the Highlander for one and meet Jon’s future camp employer.  A charming fellow from Oz.

We then head to Debakel.

There we are joined by Dietlinde, Jeannine and Erol who have just come from their skating night.

The night ends with a falafel.  Nom.

Day 5 26/05/2012                                        Eurovision for your own Pleasure

It’s Saturday!  And day of the Eurovision, every European’s guilty pleasure.

We start the day off with breakfast and a little wander around.

Tori gets in touch and we agree to meet up later.

I print off a few CVs and inquire in Charlie P’s if they are hiring.

We go to a little café not far from the Votivskirche and while there we make plans to go to a heurigan.

We make our journey up to the Heurigan and enjoy some food in drink in the sun.  We chat and take a few photos and the atmosphere is nicely chilled.

Afterwards, Jeannine has kindly invited us all to her apartment to enjoy and bask in the cheesy glory that is the Eurovision song contest.

We call it a night after.

Day 6 27/06/2012                Brunch!

We have brunch at Weltcafé.  The long talked about, much awaited brunch at Weltcafe actually happened.  I bet some found it hard to believe.

Just a little over €13.  A delicious latte and some yogurt, and some cereal and some sweet things.  It was a good brunch.

We hang out at Weltcafé discussing plans and the world’s problems.  After several helpings we consider leaving and moving somewhere else.  Jon, Chloe, David and Liana are at Shebeen.  We head to Schozzigasse and enjoy a few Radlers.  Jon and I mosey back to his then, chill out and chat before he’s off to meet his girlfriend.

Jeannine has a movie night planned.  She has been promoting Ondine and it’s multi-layered story that crushes the boundaries between fact and fantasy.

Movie night is to be held at Dietlinde’s.

We watched this while enjoying some fantastic Lyons tea.

After some more chats, the crowds disperse.  It is a bank holiday weekend so we discuss the prospect of visiting Bratislava.  We decide on somewhere else.

We decide on St. Polten and call Simon to request him as a tour guide.  He kindly acquiesces.

Day 7 28/05/2012                            Wet Picnic

It is a bank holiday today. 

We roll out and get moving.

We are to rendezvous at Westbahnhof.

Dietlinde and I meet Jeannine at the top of the escalator.  Phil arrives shortly after.  We loiter and people watch for a short while before moving towards the ticket counter.  Simon, who had spent the weekend in Vienna, has left earlier and made his way to St. Polten to roll out the red carpet.  David calls and tells us he’ll be late.  It’s after 12 and the girls are anxious to get moving.

After much ado we buy our tickets and board the train.  We’re moving and the plan is for David to follow.  He calls and we discuss possibilities.  In the end, because he has Nachhilfe early that evening, David decides against a trip to St. Polten.  We arrive at the station and meet our guide, Simon.

We are then taken on a brief taster tour of the delights of St. Polten. 

A vote is taken and the unanimous decision is to have our picnic at the lake first.  We set off in the direction of the lake.  We walk taking in the delights of this little town, coloured by the tales relived by Simon. 

After a long(ish) trek and much puddle dodging we arrive at our destination.  No sooner have we reached the water and dipped our feet in than the rain comes.  A thunderstorm breaks.  But Phil with the iron Eier is determined to go for a quick dip and does just that.  We take shelter under a nearby bush and consider our options.  We gingerly push towards the lake a few times but are driving back by the roll of thunder.

We take shelter at a little picnic area and dig into the rations and supplies brought by the girls.  After the storm has blown over we move on to the next part of our expedition – the tour.

Simon guides us around the delights of St. Polten.  It’s beautiful architecture, hot spots, coffeehouses and night spots.  He likened it to the hustle and bustle of Vienna.

We nod receptively soaking up tales of woe and wonder.

We have lapped the town and come back to station.

We are off to Melke.

Melke is a joyous little town with wonderful little streets and a skyline dominated by a beautiful castle that could have housed Vlad the Impaler.

We mosey and nosy before selecting a café for some rejuvenating beverage and sustenance.  I order a schinken käse and a Große Brauner.

While we admire our surroundings the heavens open and a torrential downpour threatens to sweep this little town away.

After further chats we decide to make our way back to St. Polten and Vienna.

We run briskly through the rain dodging raindrops the size of small stones, navigating our way to the top of the cobbled hill and diving for the train station.  Our train is delayed so we sit wrapped in soggy towels and think of hot showers.

The train journey back is largely uneventful.  We say goodbye to Simon.  He and I shake hands and exchange good wishes, hopes and the possibility of a coffee/beer in London.  It really all depended on what the gods had in mind.

I have a hot shower and feel somewhat closer to humanity.  After a tasty meal prepared by Dietlinde and briefly checking my electronic correspondence I make my way to Charlie P’s to meet David and his girlfriend, Laura.  Laura’s friend, Emma is with them.  Charlie’s is quiet presumably owing to the bank holiday.  We enjoy a few beverages and have a long and elaborate chat.  What was to be a few quiet ones turns into a late night (as such ventures should be –the best nights are those where we say, ‘we’ll go for one.’).  At roughly 0130 we leave the premises, we stand and chat outside for a bit before we part way.

Day 8 29/05/2012                            Hurling and hunting

I wake up.  It’s my last full day in Vienna.

We decide to brunch at Kleines café.  I break from tradition and order a latte but for food I rely on an old favourite and ask for the Bauernomelette. 

Here, we reminisce about the many lunches and brunches and coffees we have had here.  The charming Kellnerin puffing like a steam engine (she was not there that day) and the food.  The glühwein and the punsch.

We pass by a shop selling Trachten and several of the party go in and admire the many wonderful designs.

Jeannine and Dietlinde are on a mission to find employment for me.  We ambush a few bars and cafés and shower them with CVs (to no avail).

Jon has text and told us of plans to relax and soak up some rays by Prater.  He and David B. are anxious to whip out their hurleys and burst into some gaelic action.

We hit a few crosses, run solo and smack a few skulls.  All in all it is an energetic and rewarding experience.  Some of the group even venture to dip in the nearby water.  We buy and eat a few calippos and relax.

Afterwards, we decide it is time for some grub.  Most of us make our way to Flanagans.  Jeannine coaxes me to make inquiries regarding work I do so but fail to drop a few names.

By this time, it is late evening.  A few of the gang are off to watch a movie, some to gym.  Kirsten and myself feel the time is about ripe for more tea and caffeine.  We go to the 5^th, chat, drink and browse the net.

It is getting late now and I am conscious that I have an early start the very next day.  We say our goodbyes and I take a tram back in the direction of Schottentör.

Day 9 29/05/2012                            Tea in a Jar Wrapped in a Sock

I get up and have a quick breakfast with Dietlinde.  She is off to picnic with one of her teachers.  Dietlinde has made me some tea, poured it into a jam jar and wrapped it in a sock.  A little something for my journey to the airport.  We part ways and I drag my luggage to the U-bahn, thinking all the way how I wish it had legs. 

The flight leaves on time and I am soon back on Irish soil.