Things to do on a Hot Day in Vienna

 


Swim in the Danube. We were returning home on the U-bahn here after swimming, dancing at a Green Party concert and then swimming again.


Sit on a comfy bench in the free air-conditioned Wien Museum listening to classical music under headphones while looking out at these lovely sculptures and in the distance, paintings from the Hapsburgs' collection.










Walk around Vienna, reveling in its grandeur 




and then stand at the Soviet Memorial and let the wind bring water from the fountain to soak you.



Soak your feet in the canal.

Go to the Vienna Museum of Applied Art, MAK. Presently there is a super fun exhibit, a choreography collaboration with Impulstanz. One exhibit was a lot, maybe 200? pendulums swinging a few inches above the ground and you got to run and sway through them to avoid being hit. Another exhibit was high-tech; kind of like those amusement park mirrors that bedd your body image, only it took the optics up a notch and you could coil in and out of your pals. 






The permanent exhibit is cool too. Klimpt's pre-final painted diagrams with notes scribbled on them and sweet furniture like this desk. The college students there decided to add another layer by setting the pieces to music.




As evening approaches, head over to the Rathaus to the international food and film fest held every night all summer and catch an amazing film.








You're looking at a young Derek Trucks and JJ Cale on stage with Eric Clapton at a performance in 2008. A stellar one, I might note.

Stumbling home, this is the scene along the quiet side of the Danube around midnight Saturday night. Across the river are loads of people laughing and music from the informal clubs and cafes and you can just sit here with your buddies listening. It's Europe, so it's fine to bring your own beer or whatever you'd like.



Then wander home and sleep so you can do it all over again.