This Means Nothing to Me, Oh Vienna - Ultravox

Immersed in the Blog, I almost missed the 13-00 train from Zagreb to Ljubljana capital of Slovenia, where the countryside continued pristine throughout. This time almost all of the journey was through a shallow tree lined gorge with a fairly major river running alongside. Small Hamlets were dotted along each bank and with farming seeming the most prominent way of life, things looked idyllic.

The train now standing at platform 1 is the 13-00 to Ljubljana.

Slightly late, the train duly arrived at the small city where I had time to take a quick look around. That was all that was needed, as Ljubljana is tiny to say the least, so with little to see it was easily covered withing the hour. Returning to the railway station, I was lucky to find a train heading for Vienna in just15 minutes time. Not wishing to delay matters any further I hopped aboard and that is where I am now. The only new birds added to the trip list were Pheasant, Magpie, Stock Dove, Mallard, Grey Wagtail and Common Kestrel.

A couple of shots from the train window on the way to Vienna yesterday.

Not ideal but tells the story.

A final shot from yesterday as we reached the Austrian lowlands.

Vienna, Austria

After a 6 hour rail journey, I finally arrived in Vienna, Austria, or to be more accurate on the outskirts. It was an interesting trip once again, through lush montain habitat, including the Kara Wanken Mountains along the Austrian border, while at every station stop it was good to note the 'Wheel Tapper' is still alive and well. Unfortunately, nearly all the way here the rain didn't stop, nor did that change at our destination making hotel finding a little more difficult. The 'cheap' one that was recommended by a fellow traveller turned out to be 120 Euros which I hoped was just this establishment and not an indicator of price generally.

Across the road I sought temporary refuge in a garage coffee bar where I met Tony & Christine from Russia, Andy from Austria and the most helpful of the 4 of them, who's name I don't remember, from Turkmenistan. They seemed alright, and while I'm not given to taking too many risks, I decided things would be OK and accepted the lift they offered to a cheap hotel. It was in fact a Hostel, and not particularly salubrious at that, but as luck would have it there was 'no room at the inn'. However, the people did help by saying there was a Pension within walking distance, which on the face of it looked a bit grotty. Checking, what was an apartment, I was pleasantly surprised especially with the price tag of E35. Bidding farewell and thanking my new found friends, it was always too late to be thinking about Blogs and with no Internet on site I left
yesterday's post until this morning.

Breakfast was a sparse affair with just 2 bread rolls butter and jam plus a cup of coffee, but all I needed at that time of the morning. The local Internet Cafe couldn't facilitate (I need to use my lap-top to down load photos) but the hotel next door did the trick.

Immediately after that I got the Metro into the city and started my sightseeing tour with a 'day ticket' on the usual 'City Tour Bus'. That got off to a smashing start as the coach in front backed up, but despite directions, crashed into our bus! The city of Vienna is probably the most cultural place I have ever been with a choice of just about anything from music to architecture, theater, opera, art,history before you even get on to the good stuff. Pressing time didn't allow for one of the many Mozart (or the Strauss', Beethoven, Wagner et al) concerts advertised or a look at The Spanish Riding School of Vienna with their fabulous Lipizzaner Horses. In addition a look around the National Art Gallery would have been an eye opener, said to be crammed full of early Klimt, Egon Schiele (although sometimes a little too pornographic for me) and even an Andy Warhol exhibition beingstaged at the moment. It was also interesting to note that Jethro Tull, Supertramp and Faith No More are also playing in the city this week, but there was no mention of the world famous Bot's Choir which I once saw at the Albert Hall, London.

In addition to all of this there was also the parks and gardens, which are said to cover over half of the city area, plus restaurants and cafes which the city boasts having more per capita than any other in the world. I did try both the schnitzel and strudel, but unfortunately no room for the array of cakes, pastries and wonderful coffee.

St Stephan's Cathedral, the central point of Vienna.

Some detail of the Cathedral

Reminded me of the immortal line uttered by the wonderful Maureen Lipman in the 5th best movie ever made 'Educating Rita, wouldn't you just die without Mahler?"

The mighty Danube

An impressive church on the banks of the river, but can't remember name.

The Opera House, oh for an evening there!

One of the many City parks, all very spring like.

Statue commemorating the immortal Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The City Hall from a distance.

Maria Theresa

The National Art Gallery

directly opposite and twinning, The Natural History Museum.

Entrance to the Palace of Heroes.

The Palace

Famous Austrian General but name forgotten.

These horses and coaches are an integral part of city life.

Some architectural detail.

some more,
and more.
Roman Remains,
discovered and unearthed in the early 90's.

Back of the Palace of Heroes.

A typical Viennese street, can you see the litter?

another church with no name.

Preparing City Hall for the Spring Recitals.

Plaque above the house of WA Mozart

Just one of his many homes in Vienna

Time is of the essence so please forgive any mistake. Hope to be able to get 'on line' again tomorrow as the trip continues.

PS
Paul Harris says yesterday's insect may be a Carpenter Bee!

The 'Whistle-Stop' Tour Continues

After a 5 hour train ride to Gatwick and an overnight wait of 6 hours plus a full day yesterday, I was happy to reach any hotel especially The Astoria in Zagreb. A great nights sleep, shower and even better breakfast I set off to discover some of the city. It was a similar day weather-wise to yesterday with most of the sky covered, some sunny spell, little wind and a temperature of about 24C.

This is to be a Capital City hopping trip, hoping to cover 13 countries in the time allowed. The only problem might be Albania which I believe to be little visited as a tourist centre, but the Foreign & Commonwealth Office put no restrictions on it and say that the welcome is 'friendly', so I'll be looking forward to that if I get so far.

The Croatian Flag unfurled in the windless conditions

Hooded Crow breakfasting in the litter free environment of a park. The only other species added to the 'trip list' today were Chaffinch, Great Tit and Collared Dove (total at present 20).

Part of the old Zagreb at the top of the gradient.

This post will be mostly be a pictorial, but it will be interesting to see if the reader can spot any litter or rubbish. This is by no means my first city in the world, but it is by a mile the cleanest, in line with what I saw yesterday. It just highlights what a shower of slobs the English are, with just a moments care we could be like this!

The Catholic Cathedral from afar.

The immaculate Old City

Closer to the Cathedral, pity about the scaffold but you can't have it all.

Detail of the Gothic Arch doorway

Jailed 'Fallen Angels'.

The Cathedral Square

Monument of Angels

Part of the Old City walls.

An Orthodox skyline.

One of an amazing tram system, which I soon found out was free to the over 60's (had to get the grey wig out again).

At that price it was worth a ride out to the suburbs, which were once again 'clean as a whistle'. Every garden looked immaculate, all recycle bins in place and a feeling of pride for their country. The people, as I have found many times in the past, are friendly and most helpful, one lady even going out of her way, several hundred yards, to make sure I got on the right tram back. While this has only been a short stay in Croatia, I can't see that things would change anywhere you travel and would strongly recommend a visit.

Hussar Monument in the Main Square.

This afternoon I took the train to Ljubljana capital of Slovenia (no coaches run on this route). With shortage of Internet access I will need to continue this evening 04/05/10.

A Fairly Average Day At The Office

With the wind in the west and the sky best part covered it didn't remotely feel like a good bird day, but as I set off down a path I have never used before, this striking

Yellowhammer flew into a tree right next to me. Further along on the beach it was the turn of this

Serin to grace my gaze, which immediately flew onto a wire fence

giving me the chance of this second shot. And as if to make up the hat-trick this weird looking

House Sparrow popped out from nowhere, but I am still totally miffed by it!

Oh, by the way perhaps I should have mentioned I'm in Croatia? Now come on how many said "he's spassed up on the Yellowhammer and clicked the enlarge button on the Bunting"? For those who wouldn't know anyway it is in fact a Cirl Bunting, while the strange House Sparrow is a Spanish Sparrow, but what a day it has turned out to be.

I heard the Cirl immediately I left the small, beautifully appointed airport at Split on the Adriatic coast and followed it up without delay. It was one of probably 3, but a bit flighty it was difficult to prove. In the corner of the car park there was a small, c7, gang of Spanish Sparrows which took little time to depart when they heard me clicking away. As for the Serin, 'they' are just 2 of lots at all locations.

It was at this point I decided to investigate the little (broken) road opposite and I was not disappointed, in more ways than one.

This Hooded Crow put in a brief appearance but soon departed, with quiet a few more seen throughout the day in various places.

As for this Herring / Yellow-legged Gull someone will have to fill me in on just which L argentatus occurs on the coast of the Adriatic Sea hereabouts.

Over a mile down the road, and a few birds in the log, I simply fired a cheery good morning to the local cafe own, who reciprocated in the same way, and continued my search. On the way back I decided to see if they had any coffee, which Ivan said they did and summoned his wife Milka to put 'ut kettle on. I hadn't even sat down when he announced I was to eat breakfast with them, making two things clear, 1 it would be fish, caught that very morning and 2 there would be no charge. Luckily he had some English and we all started to get on very well together. The coffee was excellent, for which I paid, as Ivan got down to the serious business of BBQ'ing.

In the meantime, this rather strange insect appeared on his grape vine which we attempted to catch to photograph, but failed. Maybe one of the entomological squad can put me right on this please! By now the list was increasing by the minute, with Ivan giving me the local names for Blackbird, (proper) House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Swallow, Blackcap,Starling, House Martin, Feral Pigeon and even a Common Sandpiper. There was also a suspected 'fly over' Lesser Kestrel, but it was now time to eat.

I never did get to know the proper name of these fish, but they looked rather like a type of Bream.

These little critters were quite boney, but at sweet as a nut!

Dressed with a little 'home produced' olive oil, they have 120 trees just up the road along with a small 'market garden' where they grow a multitude of things.

It wasn't long before first the home made white wine was served, after which there was an insistence that I try the red, brilliant in both cases. While there was no urgency to leave I could see this turning into 'game on', so soon after their daughter arrived with one year old Rocco, we exchanged fond farewells and I beat a retreat.

Thank You Ivan, Milka and Family for a moment to remember.

Back at the main road it wasn't long before the Trogir bus arrived, and seeing a single Black Kite on the way, spending the next couple of hours looking around this quaint town of about 40,000 people.

I have no idea of the age of this beautiful little church, but as well as the architecture there were Pallid Swifts nesting in the little square holes in the stonework.

The Town Hall was similarly attractive and ancient

and the frieze in the colonnade was also interesting.

By 14-00 I decided to make the move north to the capital Zagreb about 350 Km away. A lovely comfortable coach took me through some of the most pristine countryside I have ever seen in the developed world, this is truly a fantastic country. No rubbish (not even small amounts of litter), no rusting farm equipment or other plant, no supermarket trolleys, watercourse clear as a bell with nothing to mar the banks, and very few huge hordings advertising McDonald's or the large hotel chains.

Petrol I noticed was a little cheaper than at home (about £1.05p), the toll highways were in immaculate condition with subsidiary roads about the same, but there were not a lot of birds. However, as we past through towns such as Trogio, Trogovina, Sibenik and Krpani (had to be careful with that one) Grey Heron, Common Buzzard, Jay and a male hen Harrier went into the log. The fantastic beauty of the mainly bush and scrub, much boulder strewn rough grassland and the majestic Dinaric Alps can readily be enjoyed from a coach, while the city of Zagreb will have to wait until tomorrow.

The end of month Statistics for the Blog show a massive increase as compared with March, showing 3,295 separate visits (an average of 109 'hits' per day) from 43 different countries, the latest being Pakistan, Japan and Bulgaria. I doubt it will be long before this fine land joins the list, it being good to know the word is getting around!

PS
Received a most welcome e-mail from Mark Forster today clearing up the mystery behind the ship entering Portland Harbour in yesterdays post. I was correct in thinking it was the former Stena Inspector apparently, but it is now re-named as the RFA Diligence (A132). Many thanks Mark.