Vienna Series - Tiergarten

It's perhaps my last weekend in this part of Central Europe. So we went to the Zoo, which, according to the billboards at Vienna Airport Airport, is the best European Zoo 2012. Finding the place proved to be difficult, as we were seeking a signpost that declares ZOO, but instead, we found out much too late in the process that the branding is a yellow eye on a green background where the words Tiergarten are too small to be noticed. There was a small car park outside the zoo, so drivers had to circle around in the area to find a parking spot. One would be in peril if one cannot read the parking signs that are in German. We bought a vignette for driving in Austria.


It is a spacious zoo, but there seems to be more space for the human visitors than the caged animals. The Kasse was manned by some extremely bored assistants. Service in cafes and restaurants was almost non existent. It was raining. But my travel companion saved the day with her eternal optimism.

A tram for the little ones

Beauty parade

Do I care?

Yum yum

Eat shoots and leaves

What next?

Back on home turf

Knightsbridge, London

It's been such a long time that I last visited Knightsbridge. Coming home for the weekend every two weeks, time is so precious that I have not ventured to Brompton Road at Knigbtsbridge for a while. The last time we were in the area, there were massive roadworks and traffic was at a near standstill. But I was promised a present at the eponymous Harvey Nichols, so it was with anticipation that we fought the traffic congestion to the NCP car park at London Pavilion Road, a stone throw from Harrods and all the designer shops at Brompton Road (parking charges are £10 for one hour, £18 for two, £36 for four). For the record, the M4 was closed from junctions 3 to 1, due to a minor crack. If ever there is a disincentive in going into London, this kind of traffic diversion surely tops the bill. 

The Summer sale was on. Harvey Nicks was heaving with shoppers in all sorts of trendy gear, including a young Chinese female in a floral jumpsuit and a pair of dirty black trainers. What attracted me was the eye catching window dressing for which it is renowned. The theme is clearly Olympics 2012.

The building reflected in the mirror is the
Mandarin Oriental Hotel

The building to the right is the Candy brother's
uber trendy apartment block One Hyde Park

Bratislava Series - Something old, something new

Karadžičova 10, Bratislava

Here, on the third floor, everything started: the project kick off meeting where I was first introduced to my customers. The building is the epitome of modern office, all glass and wood, and reception manned by pretty girls. The address was a tongue twister, so my colleagues had to coach me in the pronunciation. A vowel is missing from Karadžičova,and I have a problem with Slovak words. It seems easier for the Europeans to communicate with each other in English, than the English with the Europeans in English. Forget about using expressions, they are not easily understood, and may cause misunderstanding. For example: "I wasn't born yesterday" was misunderstood as "I was not in Bonn yesterday". And try explaining "Don't teach granny how to suck eggs"! The Slovaks have a much better expression "Don't teach birds how to sing".

Molo Restaurant, Bratislava

I first came here in November 2011 to join the celebration of the winning of a contract. It was cold, and I was struggling in my high heels on the approach to the restaurant, which was icy. Now I came here again, in less celebratory circumstances. It was 35C, and I ate lunch in the sweltering heat. But the pan fried eel with shreds of avocado and zucchini was delicious. A German colleague tried to cheer us up with his jokes.

Zlaté Piesky (Golden Sands), Bratislava

I was invited here to celebrate the signing of another contract. This is a recreational resort built around a lake, very popular with families, who came out in force to enjoy themselves, sunning on the beach, playing water sport, and drinking beer. On the day, I had a bottle of non alcoholic drink made by Zlatý Bažant (Golden Pheasant), a drink that reminded me of its first taste at Zagreb. There was a fast food food stall near when we sat, selling sausages with great big dollops of mustard, fried fish with salad, all came with two big pieces of bread. 

Water sport at  Zlaté Piesky

Bratislava Series - I'll be gone at the height of summer

This is my penultimate weekend at Bratislava. It is only the beginning of July, and the heat is fierce - 28 degrees Celsius at 10:00. I came to this country in August 2011, and I have grown attached to her and her people. It will be heart wrenching to leave this "small country with a big heart" when the time comes. There will be enduring images that I will take with me: the places and the people. But this is a travelogue of the places rather than the people, so I will only record the former.

Eurovea Square, right along the Danube.
Not many souls braving the heat at 10:00 on a Sunday

Blesk, the laundry. Prices here are a fraction of the hotel's.
Often, there are animated exchanges with service assistants
who do not speak a word of English

The glass ceiling at Eurovea Galleria, with view of the fountain above.