Surviving the winter freeze
Today was the first day of this season that I froze in the morning when driving to work with the subway. Probably because I left my regular jacket in the countryside this weekend, but anyway I should have opted for my winter coat instead.
Vienna offers a few fine ways to get through the cold time of the year. Here are some. Please add to the list as you like:
> Maronibrater: these little stalls offer roasted chestnuts which not only heat your body but are also delicious. They offer roasted potatos and other things as well.
> Punschstand: the other kind of little stalls that offer hot drinks, without but mostly with alcohol. They will pop up in the next weeks everywhere in the city and quality is really differing. Those at the Freyung are usually quite good, but I like to check them every time anew each year.
(Note: there is a traditional game for Viennese youngsters in Wintertime which is walking from point A to point B and drinking a punch at every possible opportunity in between. Don’t try it if the distance between A and B is too long.)
> If there are more than two little stalls, you have been caught in a X-mas market. Some are really crowded, but try to enjoy them. Drink some Punsch. It will make things easier. My favorite stall is the one with soccer-fan-stuff at the Rathaus, but other offer nice things as well.
> Coffeehouses: I know all about the bad service but to sit inside comfy with a hot liquid and watch people freeze outside is always a heart warming experience. Don’t even mention Starbucks or Coffeehouse here, try to find something more original.
> The Prater in Winter is also a nice experience, especially on a cold and grey afternoon when everything is empty and deserted and seems a lot colder than it really is. Leaving Prater every other part of Vienna will seem a little warmer in relation.
> Get a warm coat. Well, I guess that’s obvious everywhere it gets cold in winter.
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The Prater on a snowy day is magical. Take a walkalong the Hauptallee. Wow. Head back into the city and sip a coffee in the Braunerhof on Stallburggasse to warm up.
So, when did Vienna get cold? I was walking thru the Josefstadt and onto the Ring/ Volksgarten on Friday afternoon and got sunburnt.
Cheers, Kazmac - Manchester, England
@Kazmac: Just yesterday it turned cold. 3° this morning.
I should have been more precise: I meant the “Wurstelprater”, the fair with the rides. The park itself is beautiful anytime during the day. (At night it is a completely different picture…)