On the bike & walking around [Hundertwasserhaus, Prater, Donauinsel, 1. Bezirk]

Saturday and Sunday of the last weekend were so good in terms of weather conditions that staying home during the day would have been a terrible mistake and I would regret it. Thus I decided to go out when it was such a nice beautiful sunny day and very warm as well. To warm up I planed to use the CityBike first and then.. well, we will see. I did around 25 kilometres with bike and then walking. I would like to share with you my route of the day and the places I checked and passed by.

Developing analog photographs

It was about 11. 15 a. m. when I finally woke up, had breakfast, picked up the laundry and was ready to go. Since the day earlier I went to pick up my developed analog film and CD, I could not open it and see the photographs on my laptop thus I headed to Alser Straße where a friend of mine helped me with sending the photographs to my email. And the moment of excitement when I had no idea whether the photographs were going to turn out good or bad. I have to say this was my first film ever that all of the shots were good or perfectly exposed, the technical details, and the portraits of the friends I made were more than good. By the way, there are several places for the analog films to get developed but one of the best (they say here) is CyberLab close to Burggasse-Stadthalle U-Bahn (around 6-7 minutes walking from there). I had the negative film I bought in DM (the price of the 200 ASA pack of 3 films, 36 shots, negative, costs 12 Euros). You can also develop the film in DM for around 8-9 Euros and they will as I heard print it directly on the paper. In CyberLab they scan it and the standard procedure costs around 11, 5 Euros. I find it better since I can have the pictures in high resolution on my computer and print later... whereas in DM (and Müller) it is not that good quality and probably directly developing on the paper. So far I printed twice the analog photographs in Müller on 10 and 11 size of the standard common paper and the quality is very good and looks awesome.

Walking to CityBike - Schottentor - Universität

Source

Anyway, after seeing the successful results of the photo shooting in 3 weeks in January with my friends (because of them and people I might never see again and I dragged to go out for the photographs I had felt a bit of pressure while waiting for the results). Then I headed towards the Schottentor and walked along the Alser Straße. It was warm and getting warmer (and Sunday was even warmer, I was walking around with t-shirt and shirt only). When I am not in hurry I prefer to walk around and enjoy the thing around me rather than using the public transport (okay, except for the bike but you know what I mean).

I passed by the Votiv Church which is still under construction "packed" with the advertisements. Now entering the green area or park and got to the CityBike Station. It was luckily half empty and two people in front of me leaving the bikes. Thus I had no difficulties to choose my bike. After using the credit card came the moment I'm always looking forward to - pressing the green button to release the bike and the show can start!

Biking along the Danube canal

My plan originally was to go to the famous Hundertwasser sightseeing which was located a bit far away (relatively again) and close to the Danube canal. Thus while at the traffic light (and following the two on the bikes few meters just to make sure I am on the right track) I stopped by the traffic light at the crossing between Währingergasse-Schottengasse and Schottenring which with other "ring-streets" goes around the 1st District. Then I followed the bike route along the Schottenring straight until reaching its end where it cuts with the long Franz Josef Kai Street and the metro station Schottenring.

The only thing now I had to do is turn to the right (direction of the east) and just follow the bike path. I love this part along the Danube canal as it is by the river (though that is pretty small when compared to the river Danube where it comes from and goes back to). But having the opportunity to ride the bike down by the canal or up (where I was) and have a look at the other side or the river bank is precious. And there are lots of recreationists who are running or biking too. It is one of the perfect places to enjoy the sports but without the others bothering you, yet everything is around you and you do not feel lonely. I also decided to take some photographs and do the videos during the whole day on the bike in order to make a small collage and documentary of everything. It was really getting warmer and I already started sweating myself a bit. I tried to take some photos with my analog camera but not which much success (I like to plan everything or just that it looks as much as close to ideal or perfect).

Soon coming to Schwedenplatz and there are several bridges nearby. I did not go on the other side to Leopoldstadt though but kept on my side. It surely is one of the best feelings when you have time (in this case it was weekend) and not need to think of obligations... to go on a bike around with limits and listening to the music. I even did not return the bike before an hour expired in order to keep it free but was in a good mood and went to make a bigger circle that day and paid one euro more to enjoy the service.

Visiting Hundertwasser House

After crossing the bridge over the Wien river I decided to go down along the Treppelweg (check on the google maps) instead of going up along the car road.

Now I was also "down" by the canal and what I liked here was there were benches to sit under the trees. It is more peaceful here though the cars are just behind you (but above), you are in the city but a bit out of it. Had I my own bike I would definitely come here and read a book, write into my diary or sketch! Maybe I will sit there one of the last days here. I really recommend everyone to come here. I continued further and went over another bridge. Here the canal turns to the south-east and I still continued going further and expecting somewhere to see some signs of Hundertwasser neighbourhood. Actually, when I was on the bike the weekend earlier but on the other side I accidentally caught the glimpses of one "interesting" facade on the other side but decided to visit it next time. While being home and checking on the maps where I had been to I got it that it must have had come from the 'Hundertwasser Neighbourhood'. And I was about to see that building 5 minutes later this day.

So, following this road near the canal after 5 minutes (after passing under the bridge) you will notice some signs telling you of the Hundertwasser buildings. And while waiting at Zebra you go under some kind of installation and artistic work that looks like a passage with Hundertwasser sign on it. I was getting excited and after crossing the road quickly went forward to see in which street it was. I went through Krieglergasse and then right into Untere Weissgertberestrasse and there I saw the Kuns Haus Wien - Museum Hunderwasser. The facade is painted in black and white, looks like distorted chess fields. And there are many colourist accents - colourful tiles, squares of different dimensions being put every here and there on the black and white background... and the windows are also in different colours.

I have not unfortunately gotten inside as I was on the bike so after taking some photographs I went to find the famous architecture itself. I came across some 'Hundertwasser village' which at first frightened me that I would have to go inside and potentially pay to see the building from the yard behind the walls... but that was something else. I continued through that street until I saw a church there. I was curious and went a bit off the planned route and thus came in front of the Church St. Othmar under the Weißgerber. But not much to see there and not to waste precious time I was back in Lowengasse where is also a tram station and tram line going through. After a minute I finally reached my desired destination!

And there was this excitement and joy when I found the building and the colourful facade at the corner. Right in front of the building once you enter the street between the blocks is the old 'telephone cabin' or at least its simulation and then I went close to the centre to leave the bike and get out my camera. The facade looks very fun with distorted surface, lots of balconies, different colours (mostly red, blue, white and yellow), the surface goes up in the space and back like a wave... and the architects also made the floor like frozen wave at some point so it is not that flat everywhere actually. There is also a souvenir shop right in front of the building and there I also accidentally met with my friend.

We stood next to each other, she on the bike and I on my feet, both with cameras in our hands. She was biking around with her dad and leaving the other day Vienna back to Czech Republic. We had been talking on the phone earlier and told our plans to go around but never planed to meet or said anything of visiting Hundertwasserhaus so it was pretty funny moment. She then left somewhere else and I spent few more minutes taking lots of photos of the facade and checking the central yard within between the blocks. This is one of the most popular places or most visited places in Vienna and there are visitors all the time. While going back to Lowengasse I also saw some artistic cafe bar probably related to our HWH.

The next thing that was close to me and I decided to take a ride there was Prater - the park-forest and the amusement park with the Giant Ferry Wheel.

Over the bridge into the Prater Forest and Amusement Park

After being done with seeing everything here at HWH I went back to the main road close by and went over the Rotunden bridge on the other side of the Danube canal. For the next 10 minutes or more I was riding alongside the river under the Schüttelstraße. I had no idea actually where I was going (though planed go return to Prater) I just continued going forward to the SE and saw that there in front of me, far away, the industrial zone was approaching and some bigger bridge with lots of roads-curves where probably the buses come from outside Vienna, I mean, there was highway in other words.

I came across the Stadthalle bridge (around a kilometre and half from the previous bridge), went under it and then found the stairs to climb. I climbed up, had a look around and to the north I saw the vast green area, the top of the forest - Prater. There was a road leading straight to Prater and on the both sides of it there was some small settlement, some neighbourhood with family houses, not too big though which reminded me just for a little bit of Japan, of houses in Gobo, pretty organised.

Then there was the sign-table welcoming us to Prater. I continued following the road hoping I would come across the main one that went pretty straight from practically Praterstern until.. the end (I haven't seen it... yet). I was enjoying a lot the smell and the sound of the area and that is what I love in Vienna - you can simply go to one of many green areas to escape the city and relax yet you are still in the city. No wonder why Vienna won many times in row the prize for the most lively city of Europe.

After few minutes I came across this straight main road that goes through the heart of Prater. I checked now on the internet on Google Earth the length of the line (from Praterstern until some rotor even far behind the Stadion U-bahn) and it is more than 4 kilometres long. When compared to Zagreb, that's about 80% of the distance on the dyke from one bridge with the tram line and passengers' bridge till the other end. I hope I will have good weather in the following days to go to Prater by city bike again.

My friend I met earlier at Hundertwasser House told me she went before that with her dad to Prater Amusement Park so I was curious as well to see what is happening there. I have already been once or twice this deep in Prater as wanted to know and see more of it. And here is the thing. From both sides of this "main road" there are plenty of side roads and paths that lead around many lakes, playgrounds, hills etc. The main road is also made from asphalt and thus making the bike ride or with something else much easier. There are several small lakes where you can sit by and watch the ducks swimming in. All these places around with numerous playgrounds are very popular among the young families with children. But you will find there literally everyone! There are lots of people who are running, whether it be young or old, or just walking... bikes, rolling skates etc.

What I found especially amusing with Prater (just the part for recreation, not counting the amusement park) is that it is pretty silent although thousands of people do different kinds of activities there. It was also there that I took off the headphones just to enjoy the silence actually.

I noticed after 10 minutes that I was passing by the Amusement park so I decided to go in there. And it looks totally cool! At first I have not seen anybody so it felt like in movies going around but then I heard noises, some screaming, and went there. Then you saw many people going around, probably most of them just for the purpose of relaxation and exploring the park, and one of few roller coasters was actually working with children and some teenagers having a ride on it. I was recording a bit my whole trip around Vienna on the bike and walking (soon on my YouTube channel).

Prater Amusement Park really looks fun and I am sorry that I have no time and money to go on something. It seems that it's going to open a bit later with everything. There is also 250th anniversary of the park and some event will happen in April.

And the last attraction to be seen there and the first and only you see from far away is one of the symbols of Vienna and the main symbol of Prater Park - Prater Giant Wheel. It is right there once you enter the amusement park. The ride (once circle) is around 10 Euros. I have not gotten there as I heard from my friends it is not worth it for the price... and I have to save for food and maybe some other museum.

I had maybe around 10 minutes to leave my bike back to the station if I wanted not to pay 1 Euro for it... but d*mn, the weather was so good and I felt great after a bit of tough week at the studio so I just passed by the Praterstern and the Railway Station... and went to catch the Reichsbrücke bridge and go to the other side of Danube, to Danube Island.

Over the bridge to Donauinsel and back

I was really excited to go above the river, it is just that it looks all awesome because of the bike path and lots of space to go on the bridge.

It takes about 10 minutes (when counting the traffic that stops you) to reach the Reichsbrücke. You will also come across the Vorgartenstraße Ubahn station. While approaching the bridge you will see that there is a green park around the tunnel, that is the Mexikoplatz (Square of Mexico). More about it later when I come back.

As I mentioned there is a short tunnel and the road goes down which makes a lot of fun if you are on the bike since you just let yourself go down and do nothing but enjoy the speed and the air. However, then you have to climb up a little bit, actually until you reach the horizontal level of the path on the bridge... so you will have to push a bit more than usual. But it goes smoothly so you do not get tired as on some bigger angles. Now the moment of joy. I was at the left side (NW) and enjoyed the view.

So what do you see? Well, firstly, we go above the car road and the railway. Then comes the promenade or riviera along the Danube. I also put one photo here so check the view. Far away you can see the hills around Vienna which are the popular place to go hiking or make some excursions. I wanted to go there and still want but I think I will not have enough time (and money for the transport ticket... ). I stopped a bit there and just watched at the fence what is going on there. The last time I went to bridge was 3 weeks ago when I experience the snowiest day in Vienna, everything was white and a bit foggy. Now one could say it was spring already.

Once you look to the other side of the river bank you see the Danube island, but that is actually the small one and also "narrow" which has some parks and maybe places to swim, I am not sure. I had been there only once and it was colder and foggy. Maybe will have to repeat it. This island probably serves mainly as a help to hold the bridge construction until reaching the other side of the river which is the Danube island (and then again to go on the continent you have to use the bridge).

After passing the first narrow island I saw many people also there biking, running or just walking. I again stopped to take some pictures. And now the Donauinsel!

You actually see it of course even from the "continent" or before reaching the narrow island in the middle. Or more precise - you see the buildings - the skyscraper of the DC Tower (the tallest building in Vienna... or.. ) the Danube Tower where you can go up and have a nice view. Again, I do not think I will be able to afford it. There is also the building of the office of the United Nations. I did not realised that earlier when I passed by.

After reaching the island you still have a fun part with curves that leads your bike into the "centre" or something like this right in front of the entrance of the DC Tower. There I was a bit lost and had no idea what to do when I came there for the first time before Christmas. Now I just wanted to make a quick circle around so I found some stairs and slide close by and rode with my bike there. There are the UBahn Kaisermühlen VC station and the bus stop. You can also come across "the lake" or actually some bay which is pretty close and behind. I just saw glimpse of it but was hurrying back to "the continent". You pass through two more tunnels and then start climbing up, you already made a circle and then find your way back on the road of the bridge.

Now I had the opportunity to watch the other side of the bridge, I had never been there on bike before. You can see to your left the huge promenade with building blocks and lots of people were out on the sun walking along the river. And the river moves pretty fast down below. I passed by the stop Reichsbrücke Ubahn and continued further with my camera in the left hand. Speaking of this U-bahn station, it is really cool that you leave the metro in the edge of the bridge and to reach the other side (for example to go back in the direction of Reuman Platz) you go under the bridge and back up to the other side.

Now when passing by the narrow island again you see the Church of St Francis of Assisi. I saw it back there on my first ride long time ago in October (time flies so fast... ) but had no opportunity to see it more in front or closer in general. So I decided that my next little break after being back on the continent was to check what was this church about.

The Church of St Francis of Assisi looks pretty normal from the front and impressive when looking from aside. It is located at the Mexico Square. And speaking of it - there is a monument in Spanish and German (at least the two sides I saw) telling us that it was raised in honor of the Mexican citizens who were the first ones to protest in public against Germany's annexation of Austria right before the Second World War. I took a few photos of the church and decided to go back to Aspernbridge which was connecting Leopoldstadt with the 1st District... as my 2 hours were slowly approaching to its end and I did not want to pay 2 or 3 Euros more.

Leaving the bike and off to walking!

So, it took me less than 10 minutes to Praterstern (including the traffic light) so I enjoyed again the streets around it. There is one CityBike Station at the Praterstern but I just passed by. You can also find there the bike counter, there have already been maybe several tens or even a hundred thousand cyclists since the beginning of 2016 that went the same route.

I entered Praterstraße and followed my bike route. Any time I go towards Danube I somehow finish in this street from direction of Landstrasse Ubahn and Aspern bridge. So I enjoyed the ride again through the old neighbourhood of Leopoldstadt and after less than 10 minutes (apparently) I reached the Aspern bridge. I might have had 5-15 minutes more till the expiration of the hour so I left my bike there and decided to take a walk until the next one.

Walking along the River Wien canal and entering Stadtpark

Once I left the bike I decided to take a walk until I find some other station after 20 minutes (when the first hour was going to be free again). I went alongside the river Wien that was blending into the Danube Canal. I knew that there was Landstrasse Ubahn station close by and also the infamous (for me) MAK (Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Arts). Since I had started with recording everything on that day I stopped above the bridge for the metro and waited several minutes before the metros appeared to make a video of it. It was also interesting to watch the ducks which were diving in a funny way. After being done with the videos I left the Schallautzerstrasse and went to Stubenring.

Then I remembered something! I was here on my first day of the internship. Back there on 15th October when they sent me with the camera on the rain to take the photographs of the posters for the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra that were on the rotating city light adverts. The building I saw back then but had no idea what it was (looked old with brownish bricks) was actually The University of Applied Arts & Design. And right after it was the building I knew and had visited 6 times already - MAK. I was walking then a bit around them and was thinking whether to go home straight away by using the metro Stubentor on the other side of the road, to use the tram, find citybike or just walk further.

In the end I walked all the way long until home. I wanted to buy some ingredients later to prepare the Elvish Lembas from the Lord of the Rings so I had to buy some ingredients. However, could not find what I wanted and had to postpone it for Sunday or Monday. Back to our story. The next thing I was walking by was the Stadtpark. I was automatically walking forward along the Stubenring but then thought I could also step into the park and check what is there to see.

I had never been there actually in the park itself, only riding on the bike along the park, so I was really curious what to see. The park was visited by many who wanted to sit a bit or just walk. There is a lake in the centre which reminded me of Maksimir (park in Zagreb) a little bit. I went to the canal of river Wien again and over the bridge. There was some guy playing the harmonica. Crossing to the other side and then looked for the exit. Stadtpark is nice to take a break but I had other plans and could not stay longer. I will probably visit it once more before leaving Vienna but I read on the weather forecast it might rain so no sitting I guess... and the wish to write into my diary or sketch what I see is probably going to vanish as an idea as well. While leaving the Stadtpark I approached some other familiar place - the Eislaufenverein - the Ice Skating Centre. I went ice skating with my friends form Zagreb and few internationals I met at my German Language Cafe before Christmas. It was great and probably one ice skating was enough until the next year. I wish I could go though to Eistraum in front of the Rathaus which is opened until the beginning of March. But it is too expensive...

Following the Ring-streets: Opera House, Burggarten and Volksgarten

After leaving the Stadtpark behind I found myself at Schwarzenbergplatz. To my left there was the park and square that led to Lower Belvedere Palaca (more about Belvedere tomorrow) and to my right the corner of one ring street. So I headed right (north) in direction of the first district. On my way there I saw the building of Universal Studios. And you can also find one McDonald's just at the corner. I entered now Kärtner Ring and walked towards the Opera house. I felt already a bit tired and hungry, it must have been around 15 h and I had been out for almost 4 hours on the bike and walking around. I looked forward to the Opera house as there was another CityBike station so I thought it would be faster if I just jumped on it and go to Rathaus Stationary. Unfortunately for me, while trying to use my credit card there nothing happened, just mentioned some error and that the service was not available. So after an awkward moment there I decided to walk home.

My plan was actually to go to Brunnenmarkt to get some ingredients and buy things I need in my fridge for the upcoming week. I thought with the CityBike it would be much faster to reach it. But while walking towards the Josefstädter Street (right between the Rathaus and the Parliament) I was so hungry I had to make a little break at home and eat something.

On my way home much earlier before suffering started I was walking then through the Opernring avenue and then moved to Burggarten near Hofburg. It was crowded with visitors. I went then to the main buildings itself and made a circle in there going around the lake and then climbing up the stairs, jumping over the fence at the terrace and walked back on the other side. There were really A LOT of visitors there and I was just one of hundreds of them holding a camera in my hand. I do not like it when I want to take a photograph of something being surrounded with 1000 more people. And they also do not like me when I am bothering in the scene of some motives.

I went to the other side and slowly entered the Volksgarten Park. It was the first place where I rested after having the visit and small interview for the job in my studio here. I remember finding one place with stones and fountain where I sat in the shadows and almost fell asleep being exhausted. However, I could not find this place later here. I also think the park had been redecorated, something must have been changed.

Anyway, I passed by the small fountain near the exit or one of the entrances that looks straight forward to Hofburg. I think that this part of the place is called Heldenplatz (Heroes Square). In the centre of it there is something like a white Greek temple (at least looked so) with lots of benches around now taken by the seniors. When it is colder and I used to walk here alone in December and January there have not been many visitors but now it is slowly getting full.

Now we enter Volksgarten. You will notice that they keep they young trees protected being wrapped into some bags. This has been the situation since November if I remember properly. Actually, the "temple" is in Volksgarten, just checked the map, it's all a bit confusing...at least they are all parks so who cares about the name. From Volksgarten you can have a nice view on the Parliament and there behind the Rathaus. Or it would have been better had there been not so many trees. I just wanted to get home so I went out there in front of one tram station and wanted to go to Brunnenmarkt by the tram or walking.

Since I felt too hungry and I could not bare it anymore, I headed home to my Florianigasse.

After the lunch break to the market place and back

Finally home and rested for 40 minutes, much more than planned. I headed now through Florianigasse to Josefstädterstraße Ubahn and passed by the Church Breitenfeld. Then I joined the others who were moving into the street that led to Brunnenmarkt. I planned to buy some bananas and eggs. You can find here 10 eggs for only 1 Euro and if lucky bananas as well 1 kg for 1 Euro, usually it's 1. 49 per kilogram. And the guys near the tram station are selling them for 2 Euros so don't fall for the trick but rather walk 5 minutes more until finding the cheaper variant.

After crossing the road I entered Friedmangasse and walked until reaching the Brunnengasse. Then went to the right and first wanted to buy some bananas. It is always loud and you hear "One piece 1 Euro, come on, come on, best prices, best prices.. ". After successfully finding some I also bought some salad and other vegetables. I remembered as well that I would need some potatoes and luckily for me (not to go to Hofer) I saw a huge pile in a net with the note "5 kg for 2. 5 Euros" and then the old guy came and told me "there you go, brother, thank you" I wanted to take a photo of him these days (a week later) but I could not see him there yesterday. Anyway, I did the "happy shopping" with heavy bags and also bought one bread at the corner. I decided to walk again, as usual, until I got home. It takes me around 15 minutes so it is okay. In the evening prepared the luxurious dinner for myself and tried out some new recipes on my own. Before the shops closed at 18 h I went to Hofer to buy some more ingredients. The day after I tried to make my own cookies after watching the recipe on YouTube.

But more about tomorrow in the next post.

---

Photo gallery