12 Feb 08

Some months ago, I featured the Parliament building of Austria.Yesterday, who is going to seat there has been decided.

The parties were able to achieve the following votes, determining how many seats they would take at the parliament:

SPÖ - 29,7 %
ÖVP -25,6 %
FPÖ - 18 %
BZÖ - 11%
die Grünen 9,8 %

Kris, It could be crime related...those that involve foreigners...

Marina, as mentioned here, the candidates pay for ad placements no posters can be seen on the walls, I am not aware of their campaign outside but they do have debates on TV...no noises or anything.

Join us every Sunday!

Have a nice week eveyrone!

22 Sept 08

Golden Ragwort - Senecio aureus or I could be wrong. These daisies have been blooming since summer started, as I have posted some photos of them with bees and hoverflies here. Now that its autumn, I was surprised to see them there although the petals are a little withering but still thriving with color.

You are invited to guess; for what this building is purposed for, tomorrow I will reveal what it is and the one who guesses wins a postcard! (Oh my, Photo Cache, I always forget to bring yours to the post office...my apologies. Tomorrow I will bring it! I had no photos of the sweets in the bakery since I might told off not to photograph them...)

22 Sep 08

The weather has gone down to 8-14° but is still good enough to go out and take photos. =)

Little boy and I went to the 2nd district and had breakfast...Ströck is a bakery founded in 1970 in Vienna in the Donaustadt district.

The hand-made breads, cakes and pastries are produced by the Ströck-Brot Gesellschaft mbH: Most of the products are sold by retailers. Moreover, the network of branches has been constantly growing since 1991 and nowadays there are 59 shops in Vienna. The bakery is open for longer hours, so locals and tourists alike are able to grab some whether in the morning or late night.

They have a variety of bread, strudels, cakes and pastries, though the donut is a little on the hard side...

Meanwhile, at the Stephansdom, a group of students gather to observe the structure of this beautiful architecture. It is a normal scene to see those groups of student and tourists around the city center...I wonder though if this bunch had their breakfast already...=D

23 Sept 08

Vienna has a modern ambulance service/rescue mission system that I had experienced first hand. First was when I gave birth to my youngest, it was the red cross ambulance that came, I was attended by a younger crew who were finishing their Civil Service requirements. Then the next time I dialled 144 was 10 days ago.

There is a wide distribution of the ambulance stations in each of Vienna's 23 districts. There are 12 stations of the Viennese Rescue and 7 more of the Red Cross, Arbeiter Samariter Bund and Johanniter Unfall Hilfe. The stations are in such a way distributed over the city that the vehicles usually reach the place of work within twelve minutes after the alert.

Apart from the very prompt response, hats off to the very friendly attendants who would give a joke or two to put the patients at ease.

(Parked at McDonald's, the crew needs to replenish energy...)

ONE is 'one' of the leading mobile network operator in Austria. It has a blue circle logo all these years, but today September 22, it has been rebranded as Orange, which is the brand used by France Telecom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries.

Hubby told me about this 2 days ago, to take a photo of that ONE cloth which is actually covering the Orange (neon) sign. ONE's main office is very near our place. Coincidentally I was on my way there so I took a shot earlier today (8:30 am) when the tram passed by.

Going back, as I should pick up my daughter from school (around 11:35) the cloth has been removed. I noticed the interior, sofas and stuff to be orange too...

Visit Orange.at, which was designed by Gangl.com, graphics (I'm not sure how much of it) were by hubby.

Join us every Sunday!

Have a nice week eveyrone!

9 Aug 08, 16:56 PM

The sky is clear and so blue, who would have thought that earlier, it was as if its going to rain?

It was very much like the change of weather too. You wake up with the sun shining on your face and the next day twa's nowhere to be seen, replaced by gray skies. I guess there isn't really nothing to complain about, summer officially ends on the 21st and its less than a week now...

Happy skywatching everyone!

9 Aug 08, 14:30 PM

17 Sept 08

September 28 marks the Elections to the Austrian National Assembly. Debates between party leaders are aired on TV and could be read everyday in the papers.

As I do not vote I am not much into listening and reading but I did notice them to be courteous with regard to campaign. Unlike in the Philippines where the election candidates would post everywhere, the parties pay for ad placements. Above, a whole placement at a waiting shed. Below, a small adboard by the side of the shed.

13 September 08

Two days ago I posted about the Socialmediziniches Zentrum Ost - hospital where most commented was really clean. Little did I know I'd be back there so soon because of an injury.

Today, around 3:50 in the afternoon, my youngest cried in pain more than he usually would. I screamed when I saw blood gushing down his right eye and cheeks...he was running when he hit the edge of the door jamb...he got an inch of a cut and all I can do was cry while I wipe the blood away...I called the ambulance (144 as my 7 y.o. daughter said, glad she remembers as I am confused with emergency numbers) and I was stuttering as I spoke, the ambulance arrived shortly after (like I mentioned the other day too, they are very reliable)....it was less than 10 minutes when they came. The attendants have their first aid kit ready (and it was a really big bag!) checked on baby boy's head and had it gauzed.

We were taken to the SMZ ost (where my youngest was also born and when I first experienced ambulance service). Along the way, important information was asked and written for admission to the hopsital...the medical personnel were really nice, they even showed my other son how the sirens work. We arrived at the hospital before 4:30 pm, and I could only say thank you to them as my mind was still whirling a little.

1. Before being called in at the hospital's emergency room. He didnt recieve stitches only a glue (I forgot what it was exactly) but its fine coz then it means the cut isnt so deep. He underwent the Röntgen and we were sent home afterwards.

2. He smiles as if nothing happened...

Same street but at different times of the day. Above, at 12:50,while below is at 19:03.

10 June 2008

The Socialmediziniches Zentrum - Ost or Smz Ost (Socialmedical center - East) is one of the bigger hospitals in Vienna. It is located in Langobardenstrasse 122 at the 22nd district, the eastside of Vienna.

I took these photos the last time that my older son was confined because of asthmatic allergy. (ouch!)

The travel from home to the hospital (via bus and tram) takes almost an hour, but the trainline U2 has been under contruction and extended to cover the travel to Smz ost. This is the same line extended to the stadium were the Football championship was held last July.

Anyway, one can always call the ever reliable ambulance services of Vienna than travel by car or public transpo.

As mentioned, the Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) is enjoyed by families especially since it is held on Fridays-Sundays...I spy on this family while they were sitting and enjoying the cool breeze by the lake.

Join us every Sunday!

More photos from the fest:


Grilled Chicken Station ---------------------------------------Horseback riding

Karaoke ----------------------------------------------------------Police Patrol

6 Aug 08

The Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) is an annual open air music festival held at the grounds surrounding the Danube. It takes place towards the end of June (Friday through Sunday) - except for this year, which was held since Sept. 5 until today. The change is due to Austria (& Switzerland) hosting the European Football Championship. Despite the season being school beginning, a huge crowd was still present.

The festival is free and, some 1500 volunteer assistants plus a reasonable presence of police make the Danube Island Festival one of the most secure big events. To ensure this, "rules of the house" were successfully established by 2007. They disallow for instance to bring glass bottles and liquor to the festival area. There are big plastic glasses that one can use for 1 euro.

Families and friends enjoy this event which includes fun rides for kids and wild rides for adult as well as grilled food, ice cream, free balloons and great music performed by different artists and bands. Last night, there was also a little plaza provided for ballroom dancing.

(photo by hubby)

The Donauturm (tower) is one of the more frequented attraction in Vienna. It is situated in the middle of the Donaupark, which was built to host the horticultural fair in Vienna's 22nd District, near the northern bank of the Danube.

Two high-speed elevators or 776 steps can be taken up to the tower's viewing platform at 150 metres. Each lift takes only 35 seconds to reach the platform, which also bears a bungee site used at times during summer.

Two revolving restaurants (at a height of 160 and 170 metres) offer a varied view over the Austrian capital. It takes the platform either 26, 39 or 52 minutes per revolution.

The Donauturm also carries antennas of cellular phone networks, private VHF radio stations and several other radio communication services.

(photo by hubby)

One of the Carnival attractions at the fest.