The Donauinsel – a short photographic post
On the Easterweekend my lover and i decided we should admire the wonderful weather and go out for a walk. Where should we go? The parks? naw, not again. Well, let’s go to the Donauinsel and see whats going on there.
You can see old sailors (Nick Cave’s “Ship Song” started in my head when i saw this man) walking along the danube. I wonder what he was thinking about.
Not only that, you can find young people too! Of course you can. Some of them are playing instruments. Oh my gosh!
Film-Noir styled couples escaping the… uhm… evil people, you know, film noir style!
The couple was sweet, seriously. The man waved at us, and got a huge grin on his face. (Who wouldnt with such a boat and nice lady on board?)
Others simply sit there and ponder. Probably about really interesting things, but asking them would be unpolite, somewhat scary, and surely would destroy the pondering within a second. I like pondering too. And wondering.
The old ships are funny too. Crows were sitting there, and the ducks kept trying to get on the ship. I can only assume how long those ships have been there without moving a few metres. Poor abandoned ships. Where is the Captain? Gone? Damn.
Of course dogs are there too. They make it rather impossible to sit in the gras. Why? If you dont like sitting on dog shit, you’d better find a bench or some other seat. Did i mention that i dislike dogs in the city? Well, i do. Very much so. In every park you can be sure to find dog shit. Heck, even on the streets, in front of your door, you name it.
Romance everywhere! (Besides of the dog shit.)
There is this place where you can jump around. I guess you have to pay for it, but it sure looks like fun!
The Donauinsel is a quite nice place. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
At least its better than the parks, which i already know way too well. At least the ones near my district.
Sometimes i just need fresh air and the walking around aimlessly, and watching other people and hum a little song.
Why do old sailors remind you of “the ship song”? I mean, this is a love song (about a paradoxal love going sadly wrong) and has nothing to do with old sailors.
I only ask, because back then, when it was released, “The Good Son” meant a lot to me. Still does.
The old man on the picture actually looks like Charles Bukowski, if he had visited a rehab clinic and lead a healthy and wholesome lifestyle for the last ten or fifteen years. Moreover, that’s an army-bag he is shouldering.
not all old sailors remind of that song. just this one. honestly, i dont know why. probably because its a sad song for me, and the expression on the man’s face was somewhat sad, like he is missing someone or something.
I know it is an army bag. But for me he is a sailor. he probably isnt one, but for me he is.
Anyways, i didnt know you like Nick Cave. What’s your favorite song?
not all old sailors remind of that song. just this one. honestly, i dont know why. probably because its a sad song for me, and the expression on the man’s face was somewhat sad, like he is missing someone or something.
I never saw an army bag, and didnt notice it. But for me he is a sailor. he probably isnt one, but for me he is. that doesnt make sense, right?
Anyways, i didnt know you like Nick Cave. What’s your favorite song?
Oh, these are tiny things that I miss a lot about the Donauinsel, and Vienna too, for that matter. What a wonderful way to spend time with a lover. Rock on, my friend.
@daniela: i couldn’t ever possibly pick a single song from Nick Cave. Even my favorite album changes every time I try to pick it. Nick Cave might be the only artist I am possessive-obsessive about. Which means I buy the albums as soon as they come out. Then I buy the singles to get the b-sides. Then I buy the 3-CD-Box-bsides and rarities compilation in case I missed out on something. I own the CD and single of that stupid moviesoundtrack “I am Sam”, were all kinds of bands play Beatles-Songs, because Cave sings “let it be” on that one. I also buy CDs by Mick Harvey or Die Haut, even if Cave is not playing on them…
But I think he deserves it.
If you pin me down, I’d pick “Ship Song” because of me and my wife being young and in love back then listening to that album …
What would you do?
@ ben: Thank you!
@ crackerjack: i think i hardly own any b-sides. sadly enough, i only have a rather small (at least small if id compare it to yours)collection of his songs. I’d say my favorite one is “Loom of the Land”, because that was *my* love song for a long time, and still reminds me of a breathtakingly wonderful time. Nick Cave is one of the two artists i adore and can listen to for hours without getting bored. the second one would be Mike Patton, even though that a couple of his songs are sometimes too weird to be enjoyed, while Nick Cave manages to make me a bit depressive after countless hours. But sometimes he makes me smile as well.
Hi Daniela,
For me the Donauinsel is musically linked forever and ever more for that stunning Falco gig in the 90’s. Check out the Live DVD Metbloggers, its brilliant ! I was back in Vienna three weeks ago and took the opportunity to visit the Falcograb at the Zentralfriedhof and yes, I left flowers. God rest his sweet soul. Rock on Neo Rockers. [ And Rock On Donauinsel! ]
Kazmac, Manchester, England.
I am crazy about Nick Cave music, and about him too, and I can`t sleep at night or even get up in the morning without his music. It is my only artist opsession, but a bad one really. I live in Vienna, study at the WU, and I love Donauinselfest. So if you see someone in the crowd with Let Love in T – shirt, it`s me. But I will be leaving this place soon, moving to England.