Graz Metblogs » graz_chris

Things I missed about Graz

graz_chris — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:16:00 +0000

I just got back from two months in the States; there seem to be so many things I have gotten used to here, even though I’ve only been a Grazer for nine months. Some of them are:

1) Civilized Urban Bicycling. Where I come from in the States, it is not unheard of for a passing driver to swerve toward a bicyclist or even throw a bottle or a piece of trash at him. Somehow drivers resent us bike riders on “their” roads. Here in Graz everyone rides bikes: Omas and Opas, businessmen and women, kids, street people. There are plenty of bike lanes, and drivers are usually quite patient and accomodating. It is one of life’s great pleasures to ride a bike through Graz on a pleasant summer day.

2) Civilized Urban Drivers. Again, American drivers are crazy MFs; they drive through red lights, speed, tailgate, honk their horns, yell and flip other drivers off. I became hyper-aware of the anger, rage, and impatience on the roads there. Rude, just rude. Now, Graz drivers are no angels but you won’t usually find city drivers so rude and impatient–that is, unless, they are driving a big sedan with a German license plate on the back-but, hey, they’re not Austrian.

3) Street Cafe Culture. Austrians seem to like nothing better than to plunk their butts down on a streetside cafe chair, take out their cigarettes, order a coffee and sit for hours talking about all manner of things. (I am assuming it is intelligent, cultured conversation but since my German sucks, it may just be gossip and bad jokes.) No one rushes them to move on, things are just very chill. Relax, watch the people, talk to your neighbors, eat an ice cream, and have another smoke. In the U.S., we’ve got to move those customers on so we can make more money on that table. Ugh.

4) European woman love high heels. I swear women here seem to love wearing high heels…everywhere: the mall, the park, work, school, walking down the street. American women like running shoes, sandles and flats–only wearing high heels on dressy occassions. Hey, I am sure it is uncomfortable but heels look darn good. Dankeschoen.

5) Other things: inexpensive super-quality cheese, beer and produce; Tribeca coffee; efficient public transportation; the green countryside; quiet Sundays; Spaziergehen; the Library.

6) What I missed most: my wife.

7) Things I didn’t miss at all: Austrian radio, German TV, smoking everywhere, no really good organic grocery stores, no real good vegetarian restaurants (sorry Mangolds), crummy Chinese food. And that certain kind of wonderful, crazy American energy that makes all things seem possible. Sometimes it is a little hard to step out of the box here in Austria and not have everyone yelling at you to get back inside.

Answer: Ausrians Abroad

graz_chris — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 20:33:42 +0000

Somehow, an Austrian couple settled in a little town in Ecuador (the woman reflected in the window is wearing a traditional Peruvian outfit) and opened this cafe (entry below) which, my vagabond daughter tells me, serves really good cafe lattes.

Cafe Austria?

graz_chris — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:29:51 +0000

The photo of Cafe Austria in the entry below was taken by my daughter, Zoe, when she was travelling this past Spring. Can anyone guess what country Cafe Austria is located in? There are clues in the photo. Look closely.

There is Life Out There!

graz_chris — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:15:46 +0000

The Graz Very Large Array (GVLA) went online a couple of days ago and I am happy to report that there was an immediate response from deep Austrian space: ping! We think there is intelligent life out there. Hurrah! Graz Metblog readers and bloggers have reason to celebrate.

Now for some serious business. I invite you bloggers out there to come and write for us. And I invite you readers to comment. Now, what about writing and commenting in German? Why Not?

Much of the Paris Metblog is written in French and there are several bloggers on the Berlin Metblog who write in German.

Our beloved Graz Metblog is slowly atrophying and I would hate to see it end. Please, German speakers, write for us….in German! We English writers will still contribute and I hope your contributions will get some energy going here, some excitement. Hey, we are a German-speaking city, why shouldn’t our web blog be in German? Makes sense, nein?

This could be so great: new blogs in German, new perspectives, new attitudes. The Graz Metblog can be a great resource for us. Let’s use it!

Lost in Santa Fe

graz_chris — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:08:40 +0000

I see I have been dropped from the author list on Graz Metblogs and that is probably justified. I have been out of town for a few months and haven’t written in a while. From the looks of it not many other people have been writing either. Bummer. This is a great forum and I wish it would catch on here.

So, I had to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico in the (scary) United States of Amerika. My daughter is going to University soon and I wanted to spend a little time with her. I will be back in Graz at the end of the month.

My wife tells me the snails have taken over our hoch beet. Although we seem to have plenty of zucchini, the eggplant and peppers are tiny, the brussels sprouts are non existent, and no one seems to want to eat our very nice broccoli. Crazy weather: yesterday as I talked to my wife, Reingard, for free via the computer on Skype, she was wearing sweat pants and a (pink) pullover. I, on the other hand, was burning up in 38 degree heat and sunny, dry skies.

Our street has been a mess for months; they are completing the end of the new part of the #6 line in St. Peter. They say it will be done by October. Thank the Gods. It has been dirty and dusty and noisy –not to mention the constant vibrations from the street machines.

Well, that’s enough for now. Will write more soon. By the Way, Is there Anyone out there, Anyone at all?

Dance Like No One’s Watching!

graz_chris — Tue, 29 May 2007 21:38:48 +0000

Ever heard of Gabriel Roth’s The 5 Ryhthms? Or Vinn Marti’s Soul Motion? These dance/movement forms are gaining popularity on the U.S. West Coast. They seem to be really effective ways to explore your inner self, your relationship to others and your connection to the world using movement, dance and music. Ecstatic dance is a way to describe it, but German speakers might find that phrase too sexually oriented. It isn’t sexual at all. Basically, you enter a room with others, music is played, you begin dancing, and a qualified facilitator guides you through the process for about an hour or two.

Well, try it yourself this Friday in Graz. Facilitator Reingard invites everyone to try out her DancEmotion every Friday from 16:30 until 18:00. The location is: Zentrum Terrassenhaussiedlung St. Peter. Call 0676-577-3663. First visit is free!

Megaphon Party Today

graz_chris — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:01:58 +0000

Today, Friday the 27th beginning at 4PM, Megaphon magazine is hosting a party at Augartenschloessl to celebrate the opening of their new office. Music, magic show and other good stuff. Should be fun. See you there.

Ich bin Tourist? Bah!

graz_chris — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:46:50 +0000

So, I am bugged by those billboards around town with the three black guys and text that reads, very roughly translated: “Eeenie, Minie, moo. I am blacker than you. But not much longer. Iinstead of ‘Black’, say, I am a ‘Tourist’.”

The text is based on a children’s rhyme. The meaning is supposedly playful: if you are black and want to fit in in Austria and be treated fairly, tell people you are a tourist. They are more likely to treat you fairly if they think you are passing through with money to spend, than if you are a person of color who happens to live here.

Is this billboard addressed to people of color who struggle to be accepted in this society, or to white Austrians who discriminate against them? Is it saying to white Austrians: Look how unfairly you act, or is it saying to Black Austrians, good luck, pal, maybe this ploy will help you get good service at K & O. In any case, I feel it a failure; its message is humiliating and ineffective. Bah!

Liberry

graz_chris — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:24:26 +0000

So, it’s only taken me 6 months to discover the public library here in Graz. I don’t feel too bad; my wife, who has lived her entire life in Graz and is an avid reader to boot, still doesn’t have a library card–I’m sure Moser is happy about that.

Anyway, the main branch on Belgiergasse downtown is quite beautiful, with a nice selection of books and helpful librarians. Around the corner is the Media Center with CDs, DVDs, Videotapes and such.

The other day we rented, among others, Bonjour Tristesse with David Niven and Jean Seberg. Trippy, 50s picture with creepy oedipus/electra stuff going on and in which everyone is so manic and artificially upbeat I thought I would scream. Calm down, everyone. But the Riviera scenery was great and the film, based on the book by Francoise Sagan, was memorable.

So, if you want to check it out, here are the libraries’ hours and addresses:

Neue Öffnungszeiten ab 2. Jänner 2007

Stadtbibliothek Zanklhof,
Belgiergasse

Mediathek,
Vorbeckgasse 12

Montag: 10.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Dienstag: 10.00 – 19.00 Uhr
Mittwoch: 10.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Donnerstag: 10.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Freitag: 08.00 – 15.00 Uhr

Stadtbibliotheken:
Andritz,
Grazerstraße 54
Eggenberg,
Vinzenzgasse 20
Geidorf,
Hasnerplatz Kiosk
Gösting,
Wienerstraße 255
St. Leonhard,
Sparbersbachgasse 40

Montag: 08.00 – 14.00 Uhr
Dienstag: 11.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Mittwoch: 11.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Donnerstag: 11.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Freitag: 08.00 – 14.00 Uhr

Hochbeet

graz_chris — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:15:57 +0000

I’ve just spent the weekend making a hochbeet, which is an above-ground flower or vegetable garden. Here is what it looks like today before we put the final layer of soil in.

I found the plans on the internet. It is simple to make and the total cost for materials was 86 Euros. We bought everything at Baumax. Here’s how it works:

The box itself is 1 meter wide by 2 meters long and 84 centimeters high. After constructing the box with lumber, screws and metal corner braces, you line the bottom with metal mesh to keep out underground critters. Staple that well all around the sides. Then cover the inside sides with a plastic tarp to keep the water from leaking out.

Now for your layers: First layer in is wood, branches and twigs, this helps with aeration. Then a layer of dried grass with soil attached. Then a layer of dried leaves and grass. Finally, good soil to a depth of about 30-35 centimeters.

This system allows you to plant earlier in the season and grow late into the season as well. We are goiung to grow veggies: salad, melanzane, tomatoes, courgette, etc.