Nature

So I say to myself, Nico, you really should do this blog thing; not only can people find out what you're up to, but you also get a personal record of your trip. It was a hard decision - take a few hours out of each each week to blog, or... go have fun in Vienna and tell people about it when you see them - but you know, I thought this would be the right thing to do. And what do you think I get in return? An inbox full of messages asking for photos! Come on folks, I'm doin' my darndest here! But, as any 5-year-old will tell you: nag and you shall have. So once my battery is done recharging, I'll figure out some fancy way (i.e. suitable for non-Facebookers - in case they sill exist) to let you see my photos.

Now, back to business. In response to your lovely (non-photo-related) request for my reaction to nature here, Marina, I have found you an aerial photo and a link to some video footage of Vienna.

The photo (compliments of airshoots.com) is only of the city; if I'm not mistaken, beyond the bottom and left edges, there are some beautiful field- and forest-covered mountains (47% of Austria is covered in forests - the famous "Vienna Woods"), and beyond the top and right edges, there are some plains covered in by farmers fields, scattered with small Dörfer (villages) and windmills. The river seen is the picture is the "schönen blauen Donau" (beautiful, blue Danube).

Now really, need I say anything more? Vienna is a wonderfully green city and although much of the greenery is urban or preserved/restored imperial grounds (with exquisite flower beds, mazes, and Ann of Green Gables-style tunnels made of massive trees which lead to little statues, fountains, clearings, and gardens), the foot of the mountains (with some pretty fine hiking, apparently) is just a couple of minutes away on the subway. So even in comparison to rural Sackville, I find Wien has a lot of natural beauty to offer, and it is so beautifully complimented by the city's architecture. To give you an example, the picture to the left is... the city's garbage incinerator! Beautiful! And so much potential for Sudbury...

As for the weather, it's been between 25C and 35C the whole week with only a little rain. I could complain about the heat, but really, it would just be to complain. From a geographic perspective (this sentence is dedicated to Dr. Fox), I find Wien does a good job of measuring up to Canada's natural beauty. Oh, and how could I forget: I haven't got one mosquito or blackfly bite here!