Autumn Arrives

It may be fleeting, but Autumn is here and it is spectacular. We spent the last two weekends wandering around the city centre, re-acquainting ourselves with Viennese life and enjoying the slightly less crowded tourist hot spots. This is just a short photo post for you, to get a feel of Vienna right now, we'll get on to the juicy stuff later this week!

Behind Hofburg Palace

Families relaxing in Burggarten

Apartments that look like castles in Am Hof square

The Austro-Hungarian two headed Eagle - seen above entrance gates at Palmenhaus

Autumn means one delicious thing - Pumpkin time! Americans may hangout for their Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks, but here in Austria its a little more traditional. Kürbis festivals (pumpkin festivals) are everywhere, celebrating that mighty vegetable the pumpkin. Most importantly, the festivals provide an excuse to sit, talk with friends and drink good wine while enjoying local products.

Herbsfest at Freyung Platz

It's not a festival unless wine is involved!

Of course it wouldn't be a Viennese weekend without coffee and cake. We went to the historic Cafe Leopold Hawelka to indulge my coffee addiction. Apparently it used to be a hot spot for artists and intellectuals, with big names of post-war Austria like Hundertwasser, Enest Fuchs & Oskar Werner. visting often. The place even lured English speaking legends like Arthur Miller and Andy Warhol into its smoke-filled writers corners. Once the famous song about the Cafe was released in 1975, it became a known tourist spot and the appeal for 'real' artists diminished.  They still serve damn fine coffee though, just beware the very Viennese waiters who will ignore you for a while!

Modern day visitors soaking up the atmosphere

The main attraction -Kaffee & Kuchen

All round, I have to say Autumn is close to becoming my favourite season in Vienna, if only for the amazing colours everywhere in the city. I hope you're enjoying your Autumn just as much!!