Vienna - 05.12.03
(Click the thumbnails for the big picture.)
As usual, the first destination for our Vienna stay was the Hotel Atlanta. This time they had us in the apartment house down from the American embassy. So we went out in the evening and staggered home past groups of guys with machine guns. Never a re-assuring feeling.
Anyway, it was Friday night and time for a big reunion. Myself, Kathrin, Paul & Holger came from Munich, with Holger only just making the plane. From Ireland the inimitable Mr. Smith descended like an average eagle abroad. And from the UK we had Messers Latty, Purcell, Sandhu & Glass. Add in a dash of Colin & Alex and simmer over a low heat for a weekend and the results will be interesting to say the least.
First stop (well second if you count the hotel) was as always, Shooters bar which is located on the ground floor of the Hotel. A great place to start (and sometimes finish) a night out in Vienna.
This group hadn't been all together for a couple of years, but after a couple of minutes it was like we've been together all the time.
Da Boyz - with Mr. Sandhu lurking off to the right.
Our lovely 'long-suffering' waitress for the evening with some, frankly quite scary, blokes in the background.
Kev, Glassy and our other friend fearing the worst.
Sandhu in a moment of contemplation and clearly coming right out of it afterwards.
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| Kathrin and our waitress. I do feel a little bad that I can't remember her name but I'm sure I'll be forgiven. | Glassy putting in a call to home. Presumably assuring Donette that he's in good well behaved company | Latty & Colin with the star of Omen II in the background. | I don't think Kathin likes the smell from that bottle! | Alex and Marion. |
Bring on the beers!!!
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| An eye-popping Mr. Purcell | Glassy at his most charming. Kathrin fell foul of that too at one point. | Wolverine had a taste for King Edward Imperials |
At some point in the proceedings we made our way to the Budvar Bar. It does have an actual name, but I've no clue what it is. They serve Budvar so it's known as the Budvar bar. Actually they were closing up when we arrived but decided to do the decent thing when you've got about 10 people fancying a beer.
Wolverine & some skeletal English bloke.
Morning pint in
What visit to Vienna would be complete without a few beers in Hooters. Especially when the Santa costumes are out in force.
Smithy buying a rose, giving it a good bra-like sniff and presenting it to another long-suffering waitress.
Happy as a pig in poo!!!
Da Girlz!!!
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| The terror of Vienna. | Peekaboo!! | "What can I get you?" |
This would be 'Relax' in the Bermuda Triangle. We basically took the bar over and sang the night away. Or at least it was supposed to be singing. I've been assured by a couple of people that it was quite difficult to figure out what song we were attempting most of the time.
A couple of shots from Ronnie's 'Zum Kuchldragoner'.
The usual Irish breakfast & Guinness in Charlie P's pub near Schottentor.
Christmas markets at the Rathaus.
And there you have it. Another great weekend in Vienna. And it was a privilege to be there with some of the best people I have ever had the honour to call my friends.