Biker chick

 Sorry about being so photo-loaded but a "picture is worth a thousand words!"

We've had a couple of really great weekends traveling and cycling.  There are so many beautiful locations within a few hours drive.  So here goes!

Wednesday evening we headed off to Ljubljana Slovenia.  It's about 3.5 hours drive from Vienna.  We were astounded by this little city.  It's gothic, storybook, brutalist, hip, quaint, dynamic, it's got it all going on!  However parking is a biatch!  This was a little stressful getting the car into the elevator but we knew it wasn't going anywhere!

This was the entrance to Parking 2 at our hotel!

Part of the charm of the old town

View from the castle (There's always a castle!)

Whimsical streetlighting.

Proper, rubbish graffiti not like Vienna's sanctioned "graffiti".

 

Massive morning market in the central platz.  

I got a real sense of how tourism is overwhelming some parts of Europe.  I had to dodge other tourists to try and get "that shot!"  I can't imagine really living in a place like Venice.  At least in Vienna, it's kind of corralled downtown.  So I just avoid it!

G had business here so I goofed around and then in the afternoon we headed out of the "Ljub" for the hills or rather the Julian Alps.  There's nothing much higher than 2000 meters but wow!  Our destination was about an hour out of town in a place called "Radovljica".  It was really just a stab in the dark destination but turned out to be a charming place perched on the edge of the valley overlooking the Sava river.  

The hideousness of our view.  The abundance of beauty...yuck!

We were about 5km from Lake Bled and on the bike routes.  However, lake Bled is overrun and not fun to ride as you are competing with buses, trucks, pedestrians, and DEATH.  I blew it off and went into the countryside which was gorgeous and quiet.  Being able to do a 30-40km loop without fear of being squashed by a bus is such a treat.  G likes the hills so I rode alone, but you know you never cycle alone when you're a schizophrenic! It was nice to have the balance of riding what you want.  We did cycle together along the path that's between Mojstrana and Kranjska Gora.  G likes the elevation so he rode up into/onto the pass and I continued on.  The Slovenians are building tonnes of cycling infrastructure.  It's such a joy.  Good infrastructure + beautiful countryside = license to drink Pivo (beer). Okay, not the best math.

Riding to Lake Bled.

On the path to Kranjska Gora.  "Yes, that 's the colour of the water!"

On Saturday the weather was threatening so we hopped in the car and drove over the other valley to the Soca region where the famous battles (both WW1 and WW2) of the Isonzo were fought.  Hemingway wrote of it and driving through the valley you have got to wonder "WTF? It's nuts!" It's a very good museum.  However on the way G and I came across this bizarre, brutalist monument to the Partisans in the middle of nowhere!  Had to pull over and explore.  Then, as one does, we drove to Italy for lunch!

 

It's about 3 stories high and has relief as well as full form sculptures.

There's also this amazing mosaic portraying the struggle, very cool.

We were both sad to return to Vienna.  "Yeah, I know...wah wah! I live in Vienna." 

Just a few Instagram moments 'cuz you know I gotta.  Thanks for reading.

Indoor market Ljubljana.

Ljubljana.

Church oculus window, Radovljica.

"The Hills are alive with the sound of whinging..."

 Okay a little housekeeping from my previous Scotland post.  Forgot to show what Clark's I bought.  Gawd what an oversight!  So without further adieu...

Too Scots-like to resist!

Seriously, I am tempted to wear socks and sandals.

Out this morning on a recovery ride (more about the wkd to follow) when what did I spy along the edges of the Danube?  Obviously I had ridden soo fast that I had gone through a time/space portal, what could be any other explanation for it?

Kinda creepy as their tails wagged and their heads bobbed.

Anyway, last weekend, we went to the Salzkammergut region about 2hrs away from Vienna.  It's next to Salzburg and prerhaps the most stunning area we've been to so far. We got a place in Altmunster near Gmunden which is famous for it's cream and green striped pottery.  But I will never know because we did not get to the factory!!! G always had some trick up his sleeve to divert my attention away from it! 

View from our balcony.."pretty gut", I'd say.

So we set out on Saturday for a 65km loop over to the next lake.  It was a pretty mild incline and I didn't suffer too too much, but I still whinged though!  When we hit the height of the pass I was so glad that we had chosen this particular route as the other side was a long, long, long climb at about 13% or as I call it "divorce hill."

Top of the pass.

Means "slow" in German, like I had a choice?

The return part of the loop was more pastoral through farms and small towns.  

This groovy place is probably 3x as old as Canada.

Indecisive horses ass, there's always one on the path.

G's birthplace.

Closer to our return to Altmunster I spotted this guy mowing his lawn in the most ingenious fashion.  He had the machine on a strap which he would release then pull back up again.  I watched mesmerized for quite awhile, I figured that it would have to end in tears.

Austrian know-how.

That night we went into Gmunden for dinner by the lake.  There was a concert going on in town and the place was rockin'.  

Across the lake is a gondola ride.

Hard to see, but the people on the dock released a whole bunch of balloons (99 Luft ballons?)

Gmunden had funky little streets like this one.

Sunday G wanted to ride down to Hallstatt (one of the most photographed towns in the region) but I needed a more sedate ride so I rode along the see to see what I could see!  Afterwards I drove down to Hallstatt to pick up G and it was literally overrun by tourists.  We had agreed to meet on the outskirts of town where we had a picnic and then drove home to Vienna.

Sunday morning ride to Traunsee.  Just about perfect.

All in all , a very commodious trip.  (I crack myself up.)

 

"Grandad, why did you ever leave these bonny, bonny shores?"

The bustling streets of Edinburgh.

I am apologizing in advance, this is going to be a picture laden entry!  Firstly, because the city and environs are so gorgeous and for the entire time I was there, there was this hot, yellow ball of fire in the sky. Quite unusual I was told.

The city is quite compact and easy to navigate.  I was staying on Lothian Road which wends it's way down to the Uni and the National Museum.  It also crosses Princes Street, a quite good high street (shout out to the staff at Clark's Shoes!!💕).  It was fun to see all the British brands and Scottish tourist rubbish.

Steps into the wee Kirk where Greyfriar's Bobby rests.

Some of the faculty offices at the University.

The "Quad" and a rotunda lecture hall.

Looking down the Royal Mile, away from the castle towards the Firth of Forth.  (Dunno where once, twice, etc. are, but I kept my eyes peeled.)

One of the closes off of the Royal Mile.

The other end of the Royal Mile, the Castle!

The heather coloured hills surrounding the city, spectacular.

Part of the skyline from Princes Street Gardens.

It sounds kind of old lady, but I really enjoyed sitting in the park, drinking milky tea and watching people. The crowds weren't horrendous and the pace was leisurely.  Plus a great free public washroom near the bandshell!  You only rent tea.

Some housing from the Haymarket area.

Haymarket was fun because it isn't a true touristy area in the same way the rest of the city is.  People live here.  This is an example of some of the housing which I found very charming.  It also had a working class feel to it like "Coronation Street."

Part of Arthur's Seat, Holyrood Park.

I didn't get a chance to go through the park as access was partially restricted.  There was a "Royal" in residence at Holyrood Palace.  I saw their standard flying.  This end of the city I did by the "Hop On Hop Off" bus.  My feet hurt and I am too short to get a good vista. It was okay. 

Simple memorial to such a great writer.

The actual reason I was there was the conference on new research being presented by members of the Association Of Dress Historians.  It was truly an amazing experience.  The day before the conference, the curator of the "Diversity on the Catwalk" exhibit for the National Museum of Scotland gave us a tour.  It was really interesting and quite well done.  It highlighted 5 things the fashion industry is struggling with, race, mobility, LGTBQ, size and age.  Of course the last one really interested me as I am in 2 diverse demographic groups, the vanishing customer from the high street and media but also one of the largest groups with discretionary income..what gives?

Only one shot of the conference because it was so interesting I forgot to photograph!

The topics ranged the gamut but all were interesting in their own ways.  The presenters themselves were an interesting group from really diverse fields and countries.  The presentations that I thought that would be a snooze were sooo captivating.  It was a chance to really geek out.  Plus I got to meet 2 Canadians whose work I have been following for awhile.  Total Girl Crush!!  Rest assured they are invited to stay with us if they ever come to Vienna.

I didn't go to the dinner afterwards but instead decided to pop over to Edinburgh Fabrics which is in the University district.  OMG the neighbourhood was so lively it being so close to the University.  Had I only been several decades younger!!

Hard to see, but a shop window welcoming Orange 45's upcoming visit.  The one on the upper right is a toilet brush.

Of course everyone's curious about the cuisine of Scotland.  Being at bit of a gourmand, I sampled it all.  Please note: I did have Fish and Chips but ate it so fast, I forget to photograph it.  Also thought about a deep fried Mars bar!

Breaky at Uni.

Jacket potato, Royal Mile.

Dinner at "Bread, Meat, Bread."

Breaky at "Tasty Buns."

Heart Attack Breakfast at Grassmarket.

Lunch at Tasty Cakes/Boozy Bakes.  Sticky toffee spice layer cake.  Good, but made my teeth ache it was so sweet.

Finally, nothing like toilet paper for motivational thoughts!

Finally, MEN IN KILTS.  The moment you've all been waiting for.

Wedding Party at City Hall.

On the Royal Mile.  Had to smote a Chinese tourist to get the shot.

Again at the castle.

Outside Princes Park.

And who could forget these lads!

I was quite pleasantly surprised to see many regular men wearing kilts.  One guy in particular, was rocking the black utility kilt look but was moving at such a pace I couldn't get a shot.  Damn.

Arriving back in Vienna.

There is so much more that I experienced.  The people were super nice, every corner a new adventure, and the city just drips with history and charm.  

"Grandad, why did you ever leave these bonny bonny shores?!"