Wanderung

In summer I went on a hike in Steiermark, Austria with my friend Paul and his work colleagues. I like the German word for 'hike'. There's such a romantic nuance to the word, 'Wanderung', although no one truly goes 'wandering' on a mountain climb (unless you're an idiot or if you're lost). In New Zealand we also call it a 'tramp'. Charming.

This was a darn tough climb, lasting from late morning until evening. When we finally reached the cabins at the apex, sunburnt, aching and spent, there was a lovely restaurant serving organic food, which we consumed ravenously and gratefully, followed by a few mouthfuls of schnapps. Never slept more like a log than on that mountaintop.
 

Sunday.

 

    

It was my flatmate Nina's birthday in the weekend, and everyone was looking lovely in the sunlight. We ate and drank to beyond contentment and reveled in the beautiful weather. Thanks, Vienna, for looking lovely for us too.

In the woods

Kahlenberg, Vienna, Austria

Vienna from the rooftops

This lovely Spring afternoon was one of my favourite days in Vienna ever. It was early May, and still a little chilly, but the sun had finally emerged, splashing some colour onto buildings and on us pale dwellers of Viennese terrain. Winter in Vienna is really something else - under that seemingly permanent ceiling of grey, I think people just die a little bit for about 4 months, then one day the sun comes out, and people - even the Viennese - come back to life and go out to play.

We gathered at the rooftop of the apartment at Traungasse - otherwise known as the Traun, home to many a night of hooliganism and lovely times with good friends - for the first BBQ of the year.

A little later on, some of us headed around the corner to the Wiener Konzerthaus to hear the soprano Measha Brueggergosman's recital. Beautiful. A perfect ending to a perfect afternoon with great people. (Slash wait, we totally went back to the apartment for a few more hours of wine drinking afterwards...)

Thanks once again, girls of Traun.

The hills are alive...

A perfect Easter in Steiermark