This past weekend, the weather cleared up and we did some more hiking in the Wienerwald. We can get to it with a quick bus ride, or with half an hour’s walk. It’s one the major attractions of living here, as far as I am concerned. I have exactly two athletic talents: determination and a low center of gravity, making me steady on my feet. So, I like to hike!

Nussdorf is one of the “Weinorts” or wine districts of Austria. This is kind of like the terroirs in France. A wine made from grapes grown in Nussdorf has to say so on the label. We took a bus about three-quarters of the way up the mountain above it, then followed a trail back down to the city.

As it turned out, this was the weekend of a winery tour sponsored by the city. So, there were a lot more people than usual on the trails. I was again impressed by these older Austrians tackling really steep trails! There are always people in their 70s and older chugging along with their Alpine walking sticks. These are like an American hiking or walking stick but there are two of them. Younger people look pretty silly “hiking” through the city parks with them, but I can see that they are great insurance for anyone who is the least bit unsteady on their feet.

Americans could learn a thing or two from these old Austrians who never stopped moving, and getting outside. Of course it is easier here, thanks to plentiful bus lines that will drop you at the head of a trail and pick you up and take you home at the end. And the trails always have a few benches scattered throughout, reasonably clean public toilets here and there, and the occasional “hutte” or pub along the way where you can grab a beer and a wurst, or ice cream, or just a bottle of water. Nothing like good publicly funded infrastructure, but that’s a topic for another day. Enjoy the photos!