After more than a week of residence, the apartment was looking a little dusty. This was rectified after breakfast by the locating of a vacuum cleaner, and other miscellaneous cleaning supplies. By the time I exited, it looked very much as if I had only just arrived.
I had missions to accomplish. I had already found glass recycling near the apartment, and cardboard recycling was located in a courtyard down the stairs. I needed to find plastic, and metal recycling.
Research told me that there was a depository by the station, and indeed I found this to be the case. As interest would have it, as I was depositing said recycling, a gentleman with a shopping bag was what could only be described as “hovering” nearby. As I departed, he made a “bee-line” for where I had been, presumably to pick up and exchange money for items I had deposited.
I have noticed this in other areas of the city. It is the sad indication that while homelessness is not as seemingly prevalent as say, New York, London, or even Edinburgh, there is still a significant poverty gap here.
My next mission was to refill my hair care products. In times gone by I had completed this task at “Grain and Sustain” in Burntisland. Now that this establishment has closed, I do this at “The Storehouse” in Penicuik, when I am in the town to visit my family.
Some research suggested that “Lieber Ohne”, and “Füllbar” might be able to satisfy my requirements here in Vienna. I walked to the former and did find a number of refill options. However, I was not keen to wash my hair with toilet cleaner, and there seemed to be little other in the way of products that would fit the proverbial “bill”. A walk to the latter was much more fruitful. The gentleman serving spent quite some time weighing, and filling the bottles I carry with me when I am not at home. He even labelled them, with hand-written information about the contents, and gave me a list of ingredients.
While this method of shopping is more expensive, and slower that say, a supermarket, I really did feel I had received value for money on this occasion.
I walked back to the apartment to drop off my purchases, such that I should not have to carry them on further adventures.
My feet then took me back into town, where I frequented “Café Schwarzenberg”. This is a well known coffee house on the Ringstraße. I enjoyed a “Melange”, accompanied by Esterházy Schnitt. This is a multi-layered walnut cake sandwiched with cognac flavoured cream. It was quite delicious, and revitalised me after the extensive walking I had done.
I intended to visit St. Peter’s Church. This I did, and found a service in progress. I thee fire made a brief viewing of the beautiful interior and moved on, keen not to interrupt proceedings.
The drinking establishments in the area were busy, but I did manage to find one with some outdoor space. Here, I enjoyed a “Schnaitl” beer, and caught up with some correspondence.
Dinner was taken at “Rinderwahn”, where I very much enjoyed the burger, and fries. I am always pleased when I am asked the level to which I would like my burger cooked, as I was in this establishment.
My evening entertainment was to be had at “Porgy and Bess”. This is a jazz/music club that sources had recommended to me. The act performing was “Lari + The Wolves”. They are a Vienna based soul/pop band, and the stage was prepared with drums, guitar, bass, keyboards/organ, and a vocal mic. I was looking forward to the experience.
I ordered a glass of white wine, and an Austrian beer during the interval.
I enjoyed the performance very much. The band were characterised by some strong vocals from Lari, with expert musicianship from the rest of the band. All the music was self-written, apart from one song written by Joss Stone. I noted that they were to support Ms. Stone the following day. One would assume that they’re “on the up”.
The U3 took me back to the apartment in a timely fashion. I felt that I had experienced a very fruitful day.
