Wiener Neustadt
Last Week on the Road
My Epic Journey So Far
Today’s Weather Report
Day 153: I’m in Wiener Neustadt, and it’s raining cats and dogs, and the occasional squirrel! At a soggy 15.61°C, it feels like… well, 15.68°C. I can’t tell the difference, but I’m a gnome, not a thermometer. The humidity is at a whopping 94% – enough to curl a gnome’s beard! The wind’s whipping at a brisk 2.24 m/s, but I’m not complaining – I’ve always fancied a bit of windsurfing. But first, I need to find me a leaf large enough… Stay dry, fellow wanderers! #GnomeLife #RainyAdventures
Gnome Away From Home: Austria
To kick things off, let’s start with a whimsical Austrian saying, shall we? “Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof.” Literally translates to “Life is not a pony farm,” implying that life is not always easy. Well, not unless you’re a garden gnome like me, traveling the world on foot!
Now, let’s talk about my journey from Aspang-Markt to Wiener Neustadt, a delightful little jaunt of 31.1km across the Austrian landscape. Purely on foot, mind you! My tiny gnome feet have now covered a grand total of 4614.3 kilometers on this adventure.
During the trip, I stumbled upon the most intriguing sight – a field of sunflowers taller than the church steeple in Hartberg! Now, imagine that! I felt like I’d stepped into a Van Gogh painting. A sight for sore eyes indeed.
Speaking of Hartberg, it’s one of the many quaint towns I’ve visited on my journey so far. Other stops include two lovely stays in Hartberg, a visit to Aspang-Markt, Wiener Neustadt, and most recently, Baden bei Wien. And all this in just 152 days on the road. Not bad for a gnome, eh?
I didn’t cross any borders on this particular journey, so the language remained consistent – good ol’ Austrian German. But let’s spice things up with a little local flavor. Here’s a popular Austrian song lyric that perfectly sums up my feelings right now. “Ich gehör nur mir,” which translates to “I belong only to me.”
It’s been a long journey, but as the Austrians say, “Jeder Tag ist ein neuer Anfang.” Every day is a new beginning. So here’s to the next leg of the journey, wherever my gnome feet may take me.
Bis zum nächsten Mal! That’s ‘Until next time’ for you non-Austrian speakers. Keep wandering, my friends!
Wandering Wiener Neustadt’s Streets
Gnome’s Enthusiastic Doodles
Painted en plein air while taking in the sights of Wiener Neustadt.
— Oliver the Gnome, aspiring artist
Wiener Neustadt: History’s Hotspot!
Next, we have the Dom von Wiener Neustadt, a cathedral that witnessed the baptism of Maximilian I. The Austrians have a saying, “Wer Wien und den Dom nicht gesehen, der hat nichts gesehen” which roughly translates to ‘Whoever has not seen Vienna and the cathedral, has seen nothing.’ The cathedral is a testament to the city’s rich historical past, standing tall since the 13th century.
This city is a melting pot of history and culture, a symphony of old and new, much like a composition by Austria’s own Mozart. On to the next destination, but for now, Auf Wiedersehen from Wiener Neustadt!
Austrian Adventure: Schnitzel Sojourn!
Greetings from the historical city of Wiener Neustadt! I’ve had the pleasure to indulge in a local recipe, the delectable Wiener Schnitzel. Here’s how you can enjoy it too!
You’ll need veal cutlets, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Flatten your meat, “klopfen Sie das Fleisch” as locals say, to about 0.5 cm. Season with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumbs. Fry until golden brown.
As the Austrians say, “guten Appetit” (enjoy your meal)! Don’t forget to serve it with a lemon wedge and a hearty “Prost!” (cheers!) to celebrate the rich culture of this Austrian culinary treasure.
From a gnome who knows, it’s not just about the journey, it’s about the schnitzel too!
Gnome Gazing in Neustadt
See you tomorrow!
Around the World on Foot, in Many, Many Days 