back in vienna, chasing the sun and a lazy afternoon in the donauinsel.

ariel was already preparing to go to work when i woke up, he said he will be late coming home because he will have a meeting. it was a beautiful day as it was not too cold and the sun shining so beautiful, well not really the shining "shining" but hazy.

i was still tired from the events that happened yesterday, and my back was cracking a bit. i decided today to spend my afternoon far from the crowds, far from the cityscapes and a break from the routine of riding trains and subways.

so i decided to go to "donauinsel" - danube island. but first to get the crick out of my back, i took a long hot bath again. after that got dressed, changed my bandages on my ring finger and i was glad that it was slowly healing but it looked ugly! hahahah and left my my small backpack, it is supposed to be "a relaxing day" i dont want to lunge around carrrying a bag with me. all the important stuffs like passport is there, but - since i am in eastern europe and vienna, i wasnt controlled so theres no sense in bringing it.

so off i go, from my station enkplatz, i took the subway u3 until stephansplatz and changed to u1 which goes to the middle of donauinsel. it was quiet ride for me, just listening to my mp3 and behold! i feel so relaxed sitting because i dont have any backpack with me even if its small!

i am always the observing type, i like to observe people inside the subway and i was sandwhiched between young boys, i know they are austrians, but i know they dont come from vienna, students i presumed just got in the university. you want to know why? because they kept pointing to building or achitectures every the subway passed them. hahaahaha.

i got off the subway at my stop and was so surprised, sun was shining, but it was windy, but its warm. i got down from the station and i was back again in the donauinsel after two years! i was here 2 years ago, spring was very hot and warm about 27°c. i was with my friend gregor and we just lied on the beach, eating ice cream and blowing cattails which thrive at the banks.

but now, spring is still a bit far as its still cold and windy. but it doenst matter. i will enjoy my time as it is my last full day here in vienna.

let me tell you something about the donauinsel, not many visitors in vienna knew about this island in the middle of the danube, because most of them are just concentrated in the cathedral and castle areas and the old town of course, but here, it is a very peaceful place, there are many small beaches in the danube you can swim in summer and only bikes and pedestrians are allowed. the donauinsel is a natural island in the danube, about 21 kms. long but only about like 200 feet wide. it is a beautiful walk there as it is very quiet away from the city atmosphere and some small quiet places where you can really sit and relax.  the other side of the donauinsel leaning towards the danube city (donaustadt) the danube is flowing slowly and smoothly but the otherside facing the inner city of vienna, it is very fast and bit wider.

i spent almost two hours walking and walking and feeling the the breeze of air, some people are riding their bikes, fishing or just doing the same thing as me.

then i got hungry, i forgot i didnt ate any lunch. so i went back to the u1 station going back to the center which is at stepahnsplatz. while i was there, it started to rain heavily again and i got tired of eating at fasfoods. so i tried to find a reasonable restaurant to eat, i finally found one, a true italian one with cheap prices! i ordered spagetthi bolognese for me.

tonight i will meet my friend steffan. but i still have time. then i remembered that vienna has a small chinese/asian community. theres also a small chinatown there, located at kettenbruckengasse.

i was so amazed at myself, i know vienna so much, i mean of course the little streets not. but it was so easy to navigate the subway system there.

so i took again u1 to landstrasse and from there changed to plaform for u4 to my stop kettenbrückengasse, when i was there unfortunately the asian shops were closed, but i till did enjoyed my smal walk at the area.

when i got back, ariel still wasnt there, ate some small dinner and met steffan and had tea with him.

my last full day in vienna, was very calming. the trip is now coming to an end, and one thing is for sure, i can never complain.