Thu 05.Sep.2013
Bratislava, Slovakia
I am Back in California for a few weeks, for the semi-annual Scanning of
the Innards
and Gathering of the Prescriptions.
Isn't old age an adventure.
The "road" home from Bratislava led through five countries including my own,
producing a handful of pictures, and another of entertaining signs. The
signs first...
Bratislava, Slovakia
An old street name in Hungarian and German, neither of which is the language
of Slovakia.
A mere century ago, this city belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire. This
sign in Kapucínska ulica must be an old one.
Vienna, Austria
A defunct tanning studio. At least I assume that is what a brownings
studio is.
On leaving Bratislava, I had a leisurely afternoon to wander around Vienna
before my night train to Switzerland, where I would visit friends before flying
home from Paris.
The Austrian capital proved a rich trove of signs, providing a dozen of
today's photos.
Town Town? In English?!?
It is a re-development project near the Erdberg
neighborhood. I didn't see the actual project; from it's web site, it looks
like an ugly blocky subsidy for some giant construction firm.
More language mangling: Hair & Mehr. Hair and More, but what
would have been wrong with Haar (hair in German)? Presumably
alliteration won the day over consistency.
Keinergasse sounds like "no street", but there definitely is a
street at the top of this Vienna metro exit. To be fair, its name really
is Keinergasse,
and it still sounds to me like an oxymoron.
A small park on Weinlechnergasse in the Erdberg neighborhood
of Vienna. It now bears the name of a musician who grew up on this street.
Josef "Joe" Zawinul (1932 - 2007)
The gifted jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and band leader
from Vienna/Erdberg spent his youth on Weinlechnergasse, and launched
his global career from here.
'Nuff said!
Flaming Katy
Sidewalk board outside a flower shop.
To the memory of People's Doctor Oskar Bohr, who year after year
brought healing to the poorest of the poor.
Mariahilferstrasse
Western Vienna's great shopping street.
Feel like calling somebody a name? Here is a list of food names to choose
from.
Across the street from each other: Wine and Wurst. Both of
them come with company.
The road home
I love these traditional Pub / Inn signs in the German-speaking world. This
one is in Zürich, Switzerland.
Toronto Airport
No matter how I try to interpret this, it feels uncomfortably like Soylent
Green
is on the way.
Frankfurt Airport
A touchscreen questionaire at the exit to the men's rest room.