It’s not really that hot in Vienna, but it is warm enough to make a stroll after dinner appealing. Our apartment is right by the Donaukanal, which is hopping on warm evenings. Dozens of  “beach bars” open up in the summer months, offering coffee, ice cream, beer, and a little sand to wriggle toes in.

It ain’t Venice, but it does smell a lot better, thanks to a good current flushing out the canal on a regular basis. The graffiti–legal, by the way–is an interesting addition. There is even an art gallery along one stretch of the canal with higher-class graffiti and junk sculptures.

This is what city life should look like. Nothing fancy: just a downtown that doesn’t empty out after work hours, and the natural attraction of human beings to water.

One of many “Strandbars” along the canal.

A lot of the graffiti is in English.

I thought this geisha was kind of artistic.

Viennese would really like to have the funk. Bless their hearts.

When teenage males get a hold of spray paint they usually paint exactly what you would expect them to.

Hey Mickey!

One of the biggest Strandbars.

This is cool–wish I’d been able to take a better picture.

Well done, if inexplicable.

These red mushrooms are kind of an Austrian logo. People put fake ones in their gardens along with plaster gnomes.

Fishing at the mouth of the Wienfluss. (I would not personally eat these carp, but there is always someone fishing here.)

Elmo and Dead Elmo.

There are a few boats docked along the canal.

Pigeon of Death?

Giant boat-shaped bar.

From the canalside art gallery,

Crowds of people relaxing in the early evening sun.

Nice black and white self-portrait.

Lots of movement in this one.

View from a canal bridge with the Wienerwald in the distance.