The Hills are Alive

Today started off much the same as yesterday - delicious breakfast at the hotel and then an enjoyable drive to work.  This time I was able to get MBMell a picture of a castle on the hillside:

And here are a couple miscellaneous pictures from the drive:

Work was more routine today.  By routine, I mean that in the context of aviation and certification - could not do tests because some equipment was down.  Luckily we are ahead of schedule and can catch up tomorrow and have Thursday as a complete fall back.

Not much else to report on the work side.  At lunch, I had the local favourite drink - apple juice with water.  And wouldn't you know it, some local (Manitoba) connections could be drawn:

The drive back to the hotel was equally enjoyable with one train at the crossing this time:

Just to give you an appreciation of the country side, I was able to record this;

(Editor's note: this video may or may not work depending on whether the music I had playing is audible and caught by copyright filters...)

Back at the hotel, I decided my daily exercise today would be a hike/walk.  I spotted a trail with people walking on it as I approached the hotel so figured that would be a good idea.  I took this picture of the map as a reference point:

I was going to do the green loop which was 5.12km (yes, German-like precision).  So I set out on my hike.

The first observation - a snake:

At this point, I started to wonder "are there poisonous snakes in Austria?"  I did not intend to find out.

I thought about going the opposite direction as to what was shown on the map and direction sign.  I started that way:

After 20 steps, I reconsidered and went the other way (the correct way), thinking that perhaps I should go the way that is marked, might be easier to stay on the path.  Ha...

The temperature was a balmy 31.5*C - I would say a HOT 31.5*C but others might not.  I had my iPod and headphones in but fairly early in the walk removed one headphone to hear the birds in the trees.

I wasn't sure what this sign meant but figured I was ok going past the gate.  Looks like the path was an old/current logging road:

This was the start of my short elevation gain.  According to the map above, I was expecting a 30m gain in elevation.

Evidence of logging;

Shortly after this mound of logs, I came to an unmarked fork in the road.  To the left you went down, to the right you went up.  I chose up.

I came to an opening in the trees to a pretty amazing view:

I looked at the map and figured I was on the correct path.  Below me (and to the left) was the road I was driving on each day and the map seems to show that you stay near that road for the next 1.25 km or so.  So I continued to walk.  When I got to a right turn and a path going away from the road, I decided to stop and check my app (Map My Run) to see where I was.  I did some calculating from miles to km and figured that yes, I was on the wrong path.  So I turned around and went back to the fork and to the road "left" traveled.

I was correct - the left road was the one I was supposed to take (but wouldn't have had the same vantage point ;) ).  I continued on my walk:

At this point, I looked at my picture map again and realized that I goofed when I did my calculation - 1.25 miles is not 3 km.  I probably was on the correct path.  I had two options - go on the road to the left (as seen above) back towards the hotel and finish on the red path which was 2 kms or so.  Or I could go to the right and walk the green trail backwards.  I wasn't ready to go back so I chose right.

The walk was quite peaceful - a bicyclist passed by and so did a kid (20-25 years old) on a skateboard.  Sorry, no pics.  But I did get one of this crop (corn?):

And this one of a small river/stream:

And a bug on a blossom:

I entered the village of Brunn an der Pitten which borders on the road I drive to work.  I also ended up walking along the side of the road which is the correct path according to the map (I know because I saw a 2.0 km green marker on one of the road markers).  It is a pretty quaint Austrian village:

The building to the right with the half-doors is a barn.  In town.  On the side of the road. 

A fire hall (Feuerwehr)

A few mins later, I entered Linsberg which I also drive through.

Would be a tight squeeze in a North American car...

I'm guessing this was a cold storage room.  Or a shelter...

I then came to the same point I had already walked.  This time I went left to go back to the hotel. And apparently took the same picture as before...

This is the village of Bad Erlach.  It's not so bad:

In order to cross the tracks, I had to go down:

In the 322-xxxx phone number district, this would have just been a gravel path that intersected with the tracks.  There would have been a crossing made of wood so you could take your bike over the tracks (safely) and maybe a crossing marker.

What was supposed to be a 5.12 km walk ended up being 5.16 miles.  But it did not disappoint.

(68m elevation gain)

Where I took some pics

I was ready for a shower and then had to get on a conference call for work.  Afterwards, I talked to Lola who was on her lunch break and went for dinner at the hotel, this time outside.  Goat curry tonight.  Soooo good but I am soooo full...

After dinner, it was time to get some more work done - getting on another conference call and then going through emails.

Tomorrow will be a slightly later start time (9:30 at the facility) so I can get a little more sleep as I wrap up this lengthy blog at 11:45pm.

Good night / guten nacht!

Montag in Österreich

Unfortunately today's blog probably won't be as interesting as yesterday's.  However, with the viewership I should keep the blog up-to-date.

Today was a routine work day in Austria, from what I could tell.  I got up at 4:00 to close the blinds since I am apparently facing due east:

3:57am

After getting up at 7:00 and showering, I made my way down for breakfast at the hotel.  The buffet spread was delicious:

It was then a short 20 mins drive to work.  The drive was very scenic, going through many small towns and on narrow roads.  It certainly made driving interesting, having to up and down shift, steer and make sure you didn't hit the buildings in the town or the oncoming cars.

Work was good - accomplished what we wanted to today (reviewing procedures and paperwork).  Tomorrow is testing - should be quick, then more paperwork.

I met tons of people, some of which I have met previously - like one guy who traveled all the way to Winnipeg to deliver test samples only to have his bag lost and delivery delayed two days.  I also met another guy who used to work at Bombardier when I was in Montreal - small world.

Lunch was at the company cafeteria - soup and spaghetti, for all salaried employees (from what I could tell).

We reached a point at 3pm that made sense to call it a day.  I made the short drive back to the hotel, this time snapping some pics on the way:

At the hotel, I hit up the gym and got in a 1.5 mile run and stretching.  Then it was time for a quick shower and get some work done before dinner at the hotel again:

Apparently "roasted guinea fowl breast" is roasted chicken breast, or at least that's what it tasted like.  I thought it might be a Cornish game hen but I don't think it was.  And, I seem to have my appetite back - helps that I am one meal ahead, eating at 7pm which is 12pm at home.  And yes, that beer went down much quicker than yesterday - no risk of falling asleep.

After dinner, I jumped on one of the weekly meetings that we have and got some more work done.  Now, at 10:37pm it is time to try and wind down and get to bed.  I shouldn't have trouble sleeping tonight - it was a busy day and only 2 cups of espresso (that were likely double shots...).

Good night!

ps. "tag" means "day" in German.  "Gutten tag" = "good day".  Montag = Monday, Sonntag = Sunday. ... Mittwoch = Wednesday, apparently even in the Germanic language Wednesday sounds dreary and odd.

Correction

My rental car is a BMW 116i. 

More blogging to be done tonight (mid day 204 time). 

AA

Gutten Tag

Gutten Tag (Hello) from Austria!

Once again, work has me travelling almost halfway around the world - this time to witness some tests at a company about an hour outside of Vienna.

My journey started Saturday at 9:45 when Lola dropped me off at the airport.  I had a short flight to Toronto where I would have to kill 3 hrs until my flight to Vienna.  While making the transfer between terminals in Toronto, my carry on roller bag decided to have a tantrum - the rubber on one of the wheels came loose and jammed the wheel.  Because of the friction either from the rubber causing the wheel to turn slowly or from being jammed, the bearing is toast - literally.  As I attempted to fix the wheel, I practically burned my finger tips - at one point I thought I was going to have blisters.

Oh well, Lola has already ordered a new one (The Bay has a sale on luggage right now).  I will just turn the bag around so the other two wheels will do all the work, and carry my laptop bag.  I will likely check my bag on the flight home so that I do not have to deal with it.  Plus, if my luggage is lost, I'm at home.

The 8 hrs flight to Vienna was routine.  I got some sleep (maybe 2 hrs in two bursts), ate some food, watched some movies and generally relaxed.

I arrived in Vienna at 8:00 local time (7 hrs ahead of home).  After a quick change into shorts in the washroom I made my way to get my rental car:

BMW 1126

After spending 5 mins trying to figure out how to start the car, I was ready to go.  It is a push button start so naturally I tried to start the car multiple times the way we start the Q5 - press in the brake and push the button.  No luck.  I started to think maybe the car was a hybrid so put the car into first gear and let out the clutch.  Nope that didn't do it... but wait - you need to press in the clutch to start the car normally.

Yep - that was it.  Clutch AND brake in and press the button to start the car.

I spent about an hour just driving around trying to find some parks or historic monuments but didn't have much luck.  On my way to one park (which I did find but the entrance seemed to not be made for cars), I saw a shopping center with lots of people.  On my way back, I stopped in mostly to get a coffee.  I then learned that all stores are closed on Sundays (restaurants are open) so I could still get my coffee.  And then I wandered around the parking lot which was filled with cars and motorcycles as the reason everyone was there was for an impromptu car show.

Cougar

Opel GT

Some Ferrari's

I then pulled out the map I got at the rental counter and had another realization - "Vienna" in German is "Wien" - that's what was all over the signs as I was driving.  No wonder I couldn't find "Vienna" on the signs...

On the map was an exploded view of some historic buildings and a garden - perfect way to kill time and check out the sites in Vienna.  I punched the garden into the GPS and made my way to what I will call historic downtown Vienna.

On the way, I saw many cars which I wish could be in Canada:

Passat Wagon

TDI A3

The sites did not disappoint - huge old stone buildings, many statues and tons of people milling around with the same mission as me.

A statue across from the University of Vienna

National Library

A statue outside the National Library

Outside the gates to the National Library

Natural History Museum

The other Natural History Museum (or perhaps an art museum) - opposite the one above

Inside the "Museum Quarter) - about 15 different museums in one location

Rathaus

Parlament (yes, that's how it is spelled)

Still at Parlament

Looking at Volks Garten and the National Library

Outside Rathaus

Burgtheater

Inside Volks Garten

At 1pm (4am body time), it was time to get something to eat and try to acclimatize myself to the time of day.  I stopped at a small cafe/restaurant in the area and got a pizza (I know, not the typical Vienna delicacy - Wiener Schnitzel but I wasn't yet up to some breaded, deep fried veal).

Once fed, it was time to make my way to my hotel, Linsberg Asia, located in a small town 1 hrs outside of Vienna in Bad Erlach.

The drive was peaceful.  There was traffic but was calm.  You were on a two-lane highway which passed through small towns and cities of varying sizes.

For Lola

It was very interesting seeing the mix of homes, apartments, industrial, commercial and agricultural land.  Towns are often 2 kms apart and people can easily walk or bike between them.  I saw many people doing so on the highways while driving 70 km/h.

I'm starting to get the hang of the signage here.  For example, this sign had me confused for a bit (except it had a 70 inside the circle):



However, thanks to the GPS, I realized that this meant that the previous speed limit is no longer in effect which then means that the speed defaults to 100 km/h.

The hotel is more of a resort than a hotel.  There is a large onsite spa which I have access to if I wish.  I might go for a massage later this week, we will see how things go and if my hunch comes true that we will be done Wednesday.

My room

The grounds

After a 2 hrs nap and then talking to Lola and Ernie (and by talking, it was more AA listening and waking up), I decided it was time to try to get something to eat.  I first went to the front desk to get an iron and ironing board to iron some of my clothes that were crammed a little too tight in my carry-on.  Then, I went for dinner to one of the two onsite restaurants.  I ordered a pork stir-fry - rice and vegetables were what I felt I could stomach.

And I was right - the food was delicious:

I was curious what the cost of my meal was going to be.  You essentially got a 4 course dinner - pick one of the five entrees and then help yourself to a salad bar, appetizer buffet, cheeses and desserts.  I wasn't worries about the beer, the price was probably going to be the same as a bottle of water as I learned at lunch.  Well, it didn't break the bank at 22 euro which was less than I thought it was going to be.

After supper, I went for a quick swim as the pool closed at 9pm.  The pool is approximately 30*C, no joke.  It was like swimming in a bath tub and was very relaxing.

Well I should wrap this blog up and try to get to sleep - luckily I do feel tired but we will see what time I fall asleep...

Hopefully Grandma Phyll has mastered her new iPhone so she can show Gramps the blog to help pass some time - thinking of you both.