S E P T 2 0 2 0

THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CLUB OF

President's Message

ear All, H I G H L I G H T S Editor-in-Chief Virginia Sheridan/[email protected] Welcome back after the long break! What a summer it has been Design Editor D Angie Trask/[email protected] - the weather fluctuating almost daily (as did the number of new Assistant Editor COVID-19 cases in ), and borders reopening and then closing Sheila Hargreaves/[email protected] seemingly overnight. It all led to a rather different and sometimes Proofreaders challenging summer. For example, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we Adelaide Teixeira, Joanna Czechowska were not able to attend our son’s wedding (only one guest allowed Advertising Manager Margarita Randl/[email protected] and they diplomatically chose the photographer). A happy event with Online Design/Membership unique photos (the couple in face masks) and a great story to tell the Erin Silangil/[email protected] grandchildren one day.

As I’ve heard from many members, the restrictions particularly affected O F F I C E & C L U B H O U S E normally busy summer travel schedules. (The Highlights team has Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien taken note of this and has included several 'armchair travel' stories to (01) 966 29 25/[email protected] scratch that itch and provide ideas for the future). We had pre-Corona www.awavienna.com plans to go Down Under to Australia and beyond, but instead ventured Office Managers: Erin Silangil & Naira Mazzini Office Hours: Mon-Thu 10:00-16:00/Fri Closed only as far as the Mondsee in and Köln (Cologne) in Bank Info: AT59 1952 0018 0009 2361 Germany. Wonderful to visit family and old friends, and to spend some relaxing days in the stunning Salzkammergut. 2 0 2 0 B O A R D Although our offices were officially closed, the AWA managed to have Honorary President Alexis Traina a busy summer. Several activities, such as German, French and yoga, President Irene Schlegelmilch, continued online. When the weather allowed, we met up in person for [email protected] the Tuesday walks, weekly coffee at Cafe Sluka, and picnics in parks. Vice President/Events Sheila Hargreaves, Many thanks to all our dedicated activity hosts! A very special thank [email protected] Co-Vice Presidents, Charity Fundraising you to our Spontaneous Group leader, Urte, for her boundless energy Joanna Loizou, Erin Silangil and creativity in organising a wide variety of summer events: stand-up [email protected] paddleboarding, Augarten walk and quiz, croquet, and 80s party, to Treasurer Jillanne Gabler name a few! [email protected] Secretary Susan Cole On 1 September, our cosy Clubhouse reopens and our first in-house [email protected] activities in six months are due to take place. Of course, because of Weekly Coffee Gerda Moes 0676 387 2450/[email protected] the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we need to be cautious and to make Internal Communications Urte Paulus special provisions. Our Clubhouse improvement project, Hygiene and 0676 676 5829/[email protected] Safety, is now complete. Soon we hope to begin our next exciting External Communications Elizabeth Thomas project, Space Optimisation. Thank you for your generous support! [email protected] Highlights Editor Virginia Sheridan Pop in for a coffee and check out our ‘new look’ Clubhouse. Please [email protected] read more about this on page 22. Highlights Design Editor Angie Trask [email protected] September is a busy and exciting month, with a full and varied Marketing/Advertising Margarita Randl programme. All members are invited to kick off the new session at [email protected] our Newcomers Party in the Park on 4 September. The charity team Membership Sara has planned an exciting outing with a beekeeper, preceded by an [email protected] informative online talk about native bees. Want to learn to dance the Webmanager/FAWCO Rep Beverly Bachmayer 0664 7360 7487/[email protected] Samba? Mark your calendar for 5 September, then add in 8 October ______for the rescheduled Ambassador’s Coffee. Highlights is published by AWA Vienna on a monthly basis from I have really missed seeing you all these past months, and look September to June, and is sent to all members. All inquiries should be addressed to: AWA Vienna forward to reconnecting at many happy in-person events. Attn: Highlights Editor, Singerstrasse 4/11 1010 Vienna All rights to printed material, photos and advertising in See you soon! Highlights revert to contributors after publication. Printed on chlorine-free paper.

ZVR-Zahl 327744193 Irene Eigentümer, Herausgeber und Verleger: AWA Vienna, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien. Für den Inhalt verantwortlich: Offenlegung/Herausgeber: Cover photo: A hot summer day, an active AWA outing! Posing for a photo near Breitenbrunn, Irene Schlegelmilch, Singerstrasse 4/11, 1010 Wien Lake Neusiedl, on the B10 bike path: Melanie and Urte (hanging), Joanna, Martine, Donna, Erin, Diese Zeitschrift dient dem Zweck, Freunde der American Elizabeth flanked by Abra (her daughter) and Maikael (her husband), plus Connie (partially hidden), Women’s Association über Aktivitäten der Helene (at the back), and trip organiser Irene. Turn the pages to read more about this trip, plus Organisation zu informieren. cycling in Vienna and beyond! 3 Lunch at Purbach, August Lake Neusiedl Cycling Trip

Evening Quiz in the Stadtpark Trivial Pursuit in the Park

Alte Donau Swimming

Wine Night

Summer in the City (and Beyond) Train to Lake Neusiedl

Croquet

Quiz at Augarten

Picnic in Stadtpark

Lighthouse at Podersdorf, July Lake Neusiedl Cycling Trip

4 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS MEMBERS

CHARMAINE PEDUZZI WAGES ALICIA ALTMUELLER Nationality? Italian descent. Lived? Grew Where from? Born and raised in New up in Ohio, lived 25 years in Atlanta, then York, lived in North Carolina for 14 years, San Francisco, Arizona and Vienna. In and now living in Zürich, Switzerland, with Vienna? Two months so far, in Margareten. my Austrian husband and our two teen Favourite food? Pasta, Schnitzel. Recent daughters. And in Vienna? We have an book? Currently reading Murmur of Bees apartment in the 17th , just around by Sofia Segobia, City of Girls by Elisabeth Gilbert, and the corner from Yppenplatz! Our oldest daughter starts The Rosie Project by Graeme Simision. Where else at Universität Wien this fall, giving me a perfect excuse have you lived? In the US, I lived in Ohio, Atlanta, San to come to Vienna even more. Favourite food or meal? Francisco and Arizona. Internationally: Cyprus and the Farmer's Market veggies. What inspires you? Nature. South of France. What inspires you? Food. I enjoy Individuals that change the world for the better. Past jobs cooking, and had a great time during Covid sending dinner or hobbies? My work has always been in community photos to family members. It became quite a competition! organising around human rights, environmental issues, Pets? Our 6-year-old Maltese is our pampered princess. and technology access. In Zürich, I am the president of a Career? I am a health insurance broker specialising in small non-profit called Zharity, that provides opportunities Medicare plans for Americans 65+. Previously a registered for the community to do good, have fun and connect. In investment advisor. Other hobbies? I love to play internet my free time I write, walk, and work on my German. I love Backgammon and have enjoyed gardening. Fun fact? to cook, but rarely end up following the whole recipe - I am willing to pack up and move in a flash, and would which can lead to "interesting” meals. welcome a digital-nomad-style life. Top of your bucket list? Travel! Remembering Departed Members

Nancy Christian 1930-2020 basketball when the announcement was made that President Roosevelt had died. “It stopped play. We all fell Nancy Morrow silent and were sad.” Christian, a former AWA Highlights editor Nancy studied art at college in Colorado (where she was and long-time resident nominated Most Beautiful Freshman) and married a law of Austria, passed student (for a short time, the first of four marriages!). She away earlier this year raised three children largely as a single mother, all the surrounded by friends while working in the state legislature, as a photojournalist and family. She was at the San Fernando Valley Sun newspaper (covering 90 years old. Her politics and city hall), and creating her art. Years of daughter, Josephine, travelling followed to destinations such as India, Uganda, provides an overview and Kenya. She eventually settled in Altenberg, Austria, of her life well-lived, for those who knew (or wish they with husband #4. knew) Nancy. Nancy exhibited her marvellous paintings for 10 years Nancy was born in Texas “at cocktail hour,” as her mother with the Verein Veritas in Vienna and Budapest, ran a always said. A birthday gift when she was four, a cocker dog pension, spoke four languages, was editor of the spaniel named Patsy, ignited a lifelong love of dogs. In AWA Highlights magazine, worked at both UNIDO (UN later years Nancy owned a Grosspudel, Dusty, who won Industrial Development Organisation) and UNWRA many awards at various dog shows. (UNRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), and gave English lessons to children. She lived a privileged childhood in a large home with six servants. Annoyed by being driven to school by the Although Nancy struggled, especially in later years due chauffeur, she nagged her parents to let her ride the to COPD and a weakening heart, she never gave up! Her school bus instead. Nancy loved the school chorus, art home and kitchen were always open to friends, family, and music lessons, and sports. She recalled playing and especially dogs.

Nayiri Asvazadurian 1952-2020 In deepest sadness we inform you that our dear member, Nayiri Asvazadurian, passed away peacefully in the Wilhelminaspital after a protracted illness. Her husband, Arman, and her daughter, Ani, were at her side. We fondly remember Nayiri as a wonderful person, always courteous and considerate. She was a long-standing and active member of AWA, previously coordinating weekly board games and leading the Falun Gong classes that she was very passionate about. Nayiri will be greatly missed by all of us. We have sent condolences on behalf of the AWA to her family. May she rest in peace. 5 ISSUES CONNECTING TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND FAWCO

By Michelle Farrand Over the past few years I have become increasingly passionate about the issue of women’s rights and equality, and was really excited about the prospect of attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64) in New York City in March with other representatives of FAWCO (the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas. AWA members are all automatic members of FAWCO). Of course, those plans were changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and instead I participated in several of the events and discussions that were moved online. The online conference addressed the impact of COVID-19 head-on. I listened in on a very eye-opening Zoom meeting about the differences of impact on With time on my hands, I decided to enrol in the class women throughout the world as a result of the pandemic. “International Women’s Health and Human Rights,” Unfortunately, gender equality and women’s rights are offered online via Stanford University. One key take- often put on the back-burner during such moments, as away from my course has been the insight that women’s decision-makers prioritise other areas. health, human rights, education, economic opportunities and so on are all deeply connected to each other and FAWCO held its own international congress in March very difficult to improve without a more enlightened that was reimagined into a 2.5-hour virtual event. On the view of the role of women. This fits well with the efforts positive side, despite the loss of face-to-face discussions of FAWCO, which not only focuses its initiatives on and the reduced meeting time, this event was still able to education, the environment, health, and human rights, raise more than $25,000 through an online fundraising but also aims to inform members of the issues at hand auction. The funds FAWCO members raised will be and the actions we can each take to make a difference. donated to FAWCO Foundation philanthropic causes, including education awards for members, small-scale The current COVID-19 situation makes FAWCO’s development projects, and the Target Project. work all the more important, but of course with bigger challenges. Fundraising events at the individual club level have been greatly impacted by the lockdown restrictions, and clubs are exploring virtual possibilities. Meanwhile, AWA Vienna has been building awareness of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through a personalised campaign in which member participants were photographed holding the logo of an SDG, then asked to share some thoughts about its importance. A bigger challenge is how to forward the progress of the Target Project, Safe Alternatives for FGM Elimination (SAFE) by Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania, especially as there have been reliable reports of a huge increase in female genital mutilation in Africa during the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. In September, I will begin my Master’s degree in Gender Studies at the Central European University. Understanding the mission of FAWCO, and listening Clothes of Loden and to inspiring women all around the world during online events pushed me to finally apply for this programme. I traditional Austrian style look forward to delving further into the topic over the next year, and using this knowledge to advocate for equality. The family-run business pays highest attention to customer service and specialized knowledge

Michaelerplatz 6, A-1010 Wien Tel.: +43-(0)1-533 80 32 [email protected] www.loden-plankl.at

6 CONNECTING TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND FAWCO WATCHING THE DETECTIVES HOBBIES By Sheila Hargreaves Opening my latest box set of NCIS crime show DVDs, I help of his butler. The settings are perfect and the era is was staggered to realise that I had watched 24 episodes beautifully accurate. Whitechapel​ and Sherlock​ ​ are two a year for 16 years. I suppose that makes me something other series ostensibly set back in Victorian times, but of an expert in crime shows! What follows is a list of my with a modern twist. Sherlock is set in the current century, top recommendations. NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative portrays the flawed protagonist in line with original Sir Service) is the best, in my view, of all crime series from Arthur Conan Doyle stories (drug use, violin-playing), the US. All episodes are top-notch quality, cleverly edited and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. and have excellent plots (and the very attractive Gibbs!). Whitechapel an unidentified murderer (rumoured to have been a member of the royal family) slashed the Although I’ve generally enjoyed watching my crime shows throats of several prostitutes in Victorian London. In the via VHS and DVD, many of them are now available series, modern detectives uncover murders very similar through streaming services such as Amazon Prime, and to those of the past. Father Brown​ based on the books may even be borrowed from the Clubhouse library. by GK Chesterton and set in 1950s Britain, ​is in its ninth NCIS New Orleans is rather bloody. Guns are blazing in series. In it, the protagonist solves village crime with his every episode and the operations seem to be run mostly housekeeper and a local aristocratic girl, all the while from a bar belonging to the hero. NCIS Los Angeles​ despised by a hostile police Inspector. Grantchester​ a has become technology-based with agents moving maps vicar and detective crime series, set in a 1950s village on and diagrams around on giant, active whiteboards. Fairly the outskirts of Cambridge, features rather gentle murders bloody, too, with gunshots fired liberally, but I like the and crimes of passion. ​Death In Paradise​ a series set in main female character, Hetty, the boss of three teams. the Caribbean and actually filmed in Guadeloupe, has a Miss Fischer Murder Mysteries from Down Under, continuous stream of famous actors (largely attracted by is a one-off, 13-episode series with the Honourable the location, no doubt) playing in fairly ludicrous but clever Miss Phryne Fisher, set in 1928 in Melbourne. Her murders. It also features a pet green​ ​lizard. Rizzoli and costumes were fabulous and the crime stories very Isles​ from the US, is based on the Tess Gerritson books. interesting and cleverly staged, always with a romantic Fast, humorous, and gripping, the final episode in the twist! Brokenwood ​from New Zealand is now into its seventh series was sadly the last. Inspector Gently ends sixth series. The Russian medical pathologist offers a in season eight as – spoiler alert! – the main character new twist, fancying the Senior Sergeant hero. Another dies in the final book, written by Alan Hunter. Midsomer enjoyable insight into crime in the Southern Hemisphere. Murders​ is so slow paced but the scenery is lovely, and The Lord Peter Wimsey​ stories based on the books the plots are clever. The area of filming is now a tourist written by Dorothy L. Sayers, also set in the 1920s. haunt, as it is so typically English with thatched cottages Historical crimes in the UK come into focus ​as Lord Peter, and village ponds. Plenty to watch in case we need to an aristocrat in five of her stories, solves murders with the quarantine again!

7 GLOBAL VOLUNTEERING ON A KIBBUTZ

By Naira Mazzini Naira volunteered in the kitchen of an Israeli kibbutz for is dedicated to leisure and recreation. six months in the mid-1980's, to experience “a completely One of the best benefits of kibbutz volunteering is meeting different way of life.” This article is from her Zoom people from all over the world. You work and learn side-by- presentation for AWA. side and having fun together. Imagine visiting friends for a few days to help paint their For more information: https://kibbutzvolunteers.org.il house. You wouldn’t expect a wage for your volunteer work, and in exchange for your help, your friends would take care of all your basic needs. This is a similar situation to being a volunteer on a kibbutz. What’s a kibbutz? It’s a type of collective community (the name comes from the Hebrew word for gathering) that first appeared in Israel in 1909. Initially rustic farming communities focused on fruits, vegetables, dairy and poultry, there are about 300 kibbutzim, varying in size from 100 to 2,000 members each. The volunteering phenomenon began in the mid-1960s. Who can volunteer? Any adult 18-35 in good mental and physical health. Volunteers need not be Jewish, nor residents of Israel. In fact, most hail from Denmark, South Africa, , Germany and the UK. Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, has volunteered at a kibbutz. Communal living Generally all property on the kibbutz is owned communally, and all income generated is shared. In exchange for work, the kibbutz provides housing (shared with a roommate or family) with bedding, a dresser, and closet space. Toilets and showers are communal. Work clothes, shoes and laundry service are provided, and volunteers may use any recreational facilities (such as Baba Ganoush Recipe swimming pools) that are available to members. Cars are Aubergines are revered in the Middle East. According shared and need to be reserved, but fuel expenses are to an old Arab adage, "If she doesn't know how to cook covered. aubergine in 50 ways, don't marry her!" Israelis eat aubergines in many forms -- grilled, deep-fried, sautéed, Meals are prepared in a communal kitchen and eaten, roasted, marinated, pickled -- but perhaps most well- buffet-style, in the communal dining room. Breakfasts known is the mushy dip called Baba Ghanoush (an Arabic in particular are big and hearty: falafel, hummus, baba name, believed to translate to ‘pampered father'). Spoil ganoush (and other aubergine/eggplant dishes), couscous, yourself by making this fresh dip at home. Israeli salad (chopped cucumber, tomato, onion and parsley or mint), olives, fruit, pickled fish, baked dishes, Ingredients: cottage cheese, pita bread and, of course, Turkish coffee. 3 medium Italian aubergines The big breakfast tradition was born of necessity because early kibbutz workers, who'd been working in the fields 3 medium minced garlic cloves before dawn, were ravenous by 7:00 breakfast time. 2 tbsp lemon juice They'd eat whatever was grown and produced at the 3 tbsp Tahini kibbutz. Over time, most Israelis adopted this breakfast model, and still start their days with dishes that the rest of 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil the world might consider lunch. 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves The work. Each full-time kibbutz member has a job in salt (for topping) the community, while temporary volunteers are assigned Method: tasks depending on the season, the length of stay and skill level. The work tends to be simple and manual, Baking: Place halved aubergines, cut side down, on a such as gardening, orange picking and food preparation. foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake at 220° for 35-45 Volunteers work eight hours a day, six days a week minutes or until black. Remove the cooked aubergine and gather up foil, crimping it around the aubergines to form with a day off on Saturday, the Shabbat or holy day in a sealed package. Let the aubergines rest for 15 minutes. Jewish tradition. Shops are closed and transportation is Scoop out soft flesh with a large spoon and transfer to unavailable on Shabbat, so Saturdays are generally for a strainer set in a large bowl, until all excess moisture is relaxing. Sunday is a regular working day in Israel. extracted. Discard excessive liquid and return the aubergine to a clean bowl. Add garlic and lemon juice to the aubergine Volunteers usually start their days at 5:00 (in the summer and stir vigorously with a fork until the aubergines break months, even earlier) with some strong coffee, then work down into a rough paste, after about 1½ minutes. Add tahini, in the fields or in a factory outside of the kibbutz until then a thin, steady stream of olive oil. The mixture should breakfast. Then it’s back to work until lunch at noon, become pale and creamy. Stir in parsley or mint and salt. followed by communal tidying up. The rest of the afternoon Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil and serve with warm pita bread or vegetables for dipping. 8 VOLUNTEERING ON A KIBBUTZ MILLET LOAF & CARROT CAKE FOOD

By Mila Casey Many studies show that people who eat a mostly plant- vinegar into onion mixture. Stir in ¼ cup of the tomato sauce based diet (consuming smaller amounts of meat, fish, and nutritional yeast (if using). Stir in cooked millet and red eggs and dairy) are less prone to heart disease, diabetes lentils. Season with salt. Immediately press mixture into a and cancer. These two recipes, adapted from Forks Over 9x5-inch non-stick loaf pan. Top with the remaining ½ cup tomato sauce. Bake 30 minutes or until heated through. Let Knives and Straight-up Food are healthy, delicious vegan stand for 10 minutes before slicing. options that you can share with friends or family looking to try something familiar in a different way. Perfect Vegan Carrot Cake (Makes 8-inch square cake) Perfectly moist and studded with raisins, this vegan carrot cake from Straight-up Food is sweetened with dates and banana and gets its rich flavour from cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla. The cake tastes even better the day after it’s made, and also freezes well. Spread with Vanilla Bean Frosting or serve as is. www.straightupfood.com Ingredients 1½ cups unsweetened plant milk (almond, soy, cashew, rice) 4½ ounces pitted whole dates, chopped ¾ cup raisins, divided ½ cup sliced ripe banana 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (or seeds from 1 vanilla bean) 1¾ cups regular rolled oats 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ground nutmeg Pinch of ground cloves Lentil/Millet Loaf (Serves 6) 1½ cups finely shredded carrots ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional) This vegan “meat loaf” features millet and red lentils, ideal ingredients that take on the flavour of whatever Method spices are cooked with them. Because millet loses its Combine the plant milk, dates, ¼ cup of the raisins, the binding power as it cools, be sure to put the mixture into banana, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Let stand for 15 the baking dish as soon as you finish incorporating the minutes or until dates are softened. Preheat the oven spices. It is filling and delicious, especially with a creamy to 350°F/180°C. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with gravy. Recipe adapted from Forks Over Knives website by parchment paper. Place oats in a blender. Cover and blend adding red lentils to make it more filling and substantial. until a powder forms. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the www.forksoverknivesrecipes.com baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and cloves. Transfer the date mixture to the blender. Cover and blend Ingredients until smooth. Add the date mixture to the oat mixture in 4 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water bowl. Stir until just combined. Fold in the remaining ½ cup of 1 cup millet (Hirse in German) raisins, the carrots, and walnuts (if using). Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or 1 cup red lentils until golden. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove from 1 cup finely chopped onion the pan and cool on a wire rack. Spread the cake with Vanilla 1 tbsp snipped fresh sage Frosting (if using). 1 tbsp snipped fresh thyme 4 tbsp garlic, minced ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper Vanilla Bean Frosting ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg Ingredients 1 tbsp white wine vinegar ¼ cup hot water 5 ounces pitted whole dates, chopped ¾ cup tomato sauce or ketchup ¾ cup unsalted raw cashews ¼ cup nutritional yeast (optional) 1 tsp pure vanilla extract Salt, to taste Seeds from 1 vanilla bean

Method Method Rinse millet and lentils, then combine. Add water and Combine the dates, cashews, vanilla extract, and seeds bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cover pan from the vanilla bean in a blender. Add just enough water and cook 20 to 25 minutes or until lentils and millet are to cover the mixture. Let stand for 45 minutes or until dates tender. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. In a large and cashews are softened. Cover and blend until smooth, saucepan, cook onion over medium heat 7 to 8 minutes, adding water if it’s too stiff to easily blend. (If you are stirring occasionally and adding water 1 to 2 tbsps at a time allergic to nuts, substitute cashews with canned white beans as needed to prevent sticking. Add sage, thyme, garlic, or banana, then compensate by adding less water when you pepper, and nutmeg. Cook and stir 1 minute. Add white wine blend ingredients.) 9 LOOKING BACK 'CHALK AND TALK' : PRE-TECH TEACHING

By Sheila Hargreaves Sheila (circled) with her first tutor group in September 1970. As students and teachers struggle with distance learning I was appointed as Head of Environmental Studies in amid the pandemic, Sheila recalls the dusty days of the 1975, in Melton Mowbray, despite not being qualified to pre-tech classroom. teach the subject. But the Headteacher was desperate and I needed a job! My students, aged 14 to 16, were As I keep telling younger members of the AWA and former from farming communities and seriously not interested pupils (now Facebook friends), they have no concept of in learning. I had to create my own syllabus, with no how challenging it was to teach in the 1970s. Consider the oversight, to suit their learning challenges. It was hard living conditions. My first monthly teacher’s pay in Sheffield work, and those students tested me daily. I think I was was £70, which was tough going in a five-week month (but later appointed as a Head of Year simply because I could better than many families at that time). I lived in a bedsit: manage the students! one room with a single bed, and a shared bathroom and toilet. A gas fire in the room was controlled by a coin-fed By the 1980’s teaching had improved, and children meter, as was the bath water heater. There was a small became less feral. Although there was that time that a cooking plate, but no oven, no fridge, no television. It was lad and his mate came towards me with a tree-shaped basic and cold compared to my lifestyle now. But I still had battering ram whilst I was standing guard at the entrance fun (because I knew no better!). to the disco. When the duo suddenly stopped in their tracks, I congratulated myself for exuding authority. Then I The working conditions were also challenging. In one turned around to see my Assistant Head of Year and three school in Sheffield, teacher staffrooms were segregated other burly male colleagues standing behind me! and women were not allowed to set foot in the men’s staffroom. Women teachers were also obliged to wear By the time I retired in 2007, the methodology, the skirts. When the Equal Opportunities Act came into force equipment, the monitoring of progress and the general in the 1970s, our Headmaster (whose hairy stomach used standard of teaching (and standard of living and working to protrude between his shirt buttons), dared to tell the for teachers) had dramatically improved. And so did women teachers, “If you could see yourselves from behind student scores. What a shame that the last ten years of in trousers, you would choose not to.” Strangely enough, funding cuts have hurt schools so much. Maybe now that the women unanimously decided to wear trousers. parents have been forced to help educate their children Although I agreed to this in principle, I still preferred during stay-at-home pandemic measures, they will wearing miniskirts! appreciate how important it is to fund the proper tools and pay the professionals properly. Teaching then was called “chalk and talk” because lessons were written on a blackboard with white chalk. There were no photocopies, no DVDs, no coloured pages in the books Paul Mocko (the ones we had were mostly pre-war), no computers, no technology. My first experience of copying materials was by a Banda machine that inked a sheet of paper around The Handyman a cylinder to produce smudged carbon copies (and inky fingers). The situation improved when overhead projectors who does it all! came out in the 1980s and we could show pre-written Electrical Work & Telephone Support material to a room full of pupils (albeit, in the dark). In From Satellite dish & SKY TV installation to Wooden 1970, the Head of Department gave me a chemistry Deck Construction textbook and told me that the Year 1 pupils (aged 11) were Removals with Furniture Assembly & Disassembly to be taught the contents of pages 1 to 57. Each page was Painting & Patching an experiment or some theory starting with the element Hydrogen, so I had to create my own teaching materials Hanging Curtains & Pictures from scratch. Our tools were so primitive compared to Appliance Installation & Repair today’s interactive whiteboards, laptop computers, high- Works Days & Evenings speed printers and comprehensive teaching curricula. Speaks English, German & Polish Teaching materials are now so much easier to produce and use, making it easier for students to learn. 0676 950 5789/[email protected]

10 'CHALK AND TALK' : PRE-TECH TEACHING CLUBHOUSE/ZOOM ACTIVITIES EVENTS

WORDS & WINE via Zoom For Zoom activities, it is essential to sign up in Date to be advised. advance to receive a link. Let's meet together and read our favourite poem or passage from a book or a play over a glass of wine! No Languages need to read or drink - members are welcome to join us ITALIAN CONVERSATION to listen to some beautiful words. Contact Rosanna for Monday 14 and 28 September at 13:30 the meeting link. Nadia Di Paola / 0678 1252229 [email protected]

FLUENT SPANISH CONVERSATION Tuesdays at 12:30 from October Fitness & Wellness Teresa Benet / [email protected] TUESDAY CASUAL WALK at 10:00 Meeting point: Staatsoper at the corner of Operngasse A1+ GERMAN CONVERSATION via Zoom and Opernring. Tuesdays at 11:00 with Mona Angel Contact Helen or Jacqueline in advance to ensure limited [email protected] numbers and social distancing. Helen Johnston [email protected] FRENCH CONVERSATION via Zoom Jacqueline Finniss [email protected] Wednesdays at 11:15 with Françoise Delannoy SUNDAY FITNESS WALK Meet at 10:55 for an 11:00 start in front of the main Games, Art & Music entrance to the Staatsoper. We walk in the direction of CANASTA via Zoom the Bristol Hotel. Join Rocelyn for spontaneous Canasta with friends. Leader: Sonia Zsolnai-Kasztler [email protected] [email protected]/ 0664 163 0658

DRAWING WITH URTE via Zoom YOGA WITH SVITLANA via Zoom Mondays at 16:00 09:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays, Together we'll take on various drawing challenges, learn and at 16:00 on Thursdays. techniques and share our work. Open to all skill levels. Yoga helps reduce stress, restore balance and invigorate Urte Paulus/ [email protected] your life. All levels are welcome! Svitlana Shiells / 0664 4352355 AMERICAN MAHJONG Tuesdays at 13:00 Christine Tucker/[email protected] Other Activities AWA SPONTANEOUS GROUP BOARD GAMES This WhatsApp group encourages spur-of-the-moment Thursdays at 10:00 activities such as meeting for coffee, dancing on the Words, Scrabble and Numbers for fun. Anne Graben, attending Vienna events, or playing Trivial Lugmayer/0699 500 9643 Pursuit on Saturdays at 17:00 via Zoom. Contact Urte Paulus, 0676 676 5829 to be added to the TRIVIAL PURSUIT group. Saturdays at 17:00 Join Urte for Trivial Pursuit via Zoom or outside, depending on the weather. Urte Paulus/ urte.paulus@ Outreach gmx.at WORKING FOR GLOBAL WOMEN via Zoom Tuesday, 15 September at 14:00 SINGING GROUP To join the team, contact Bev Bachmayer at Fridays, 10:30-12:00, Sandgasse 37-39/1/1/ 1190 [email protected] The AWA Choir is a singing group of fun-loving ladies led and accompanied by Sandy Schweighofer. No ability to read music required. Repertoire: gospels, musicals, Weekly Coffee rock, pop, skat, etc! We always welcome new members. WEEKLY COFFEE AT CAFE SLUKA NEW TIME! Contact: Lidice: 0699-1924-7478. Wednesdays from 11:00 to 12:00 In the outside area (in Kärntnerstraße) of Café Sluka, Weihburggasse 4, 1010 Reading & Study Weekly Coffee Chairs: MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP Gerda Moes, 0676 387 2450/ Lini Stangl, 0664 179 7031 Tuesday, 15 September at 13:00 Other hosts: Urte Paulus, 0676 6765829 We will meet in Mary's garden with a Zoom option. Our Hyacinth Krippner, 0650 554 7156 book is The Man in the Red Coat by British writer Julian Helena Schasché, 0676 331 8626 Barnes. All readers are welcome! Heike Little, 01 789 0199 Mary Wagener/[email protected] MAWA (Men of AWA) COFFEE BIBLE STUDY via Zoom (initially) Wednesdays 10:30-12:00 Thursdays from 10:00-12:00 from 10 September Robert Blaukopf/ [email protected] The topic for this term is “Living Securely in an Insecure World.” Sandy Shaffer /02243 287 01/ [email protected]

11 S E P T E M B E R C A L E N D A R KEY: Z=Zoom@ AWA Clubhouse@Off-SiteLocation 16:00 DrawingwithUrteZ 09:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 16:00 DrawingwithUrteZ 15:30 GoldenGirlsTea Party 13:30 ItalianConv 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 16:00 DrawingwithUrteZ 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 18:00 MAWA Dinner 16:00 DrawingwithUrteZ 13:30 ItalianConv 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ Promote yourBusiness AWA ADVERTISING [email protected] or Eventherewhilst Contact theoffice supporting us. Monday 14 28 21 7

13:00 American Mahjong 13:00 American 11:00 A1+ GermanConvZ 10:00 Tuesday CasualWalk Women Z 14:00 Working forGlobal 13:00 BookDiscussionGroup Mahjong 13:00 American 11:00 A1+ GermanConvZ 10:00 Tuesday CasualWalk 18:00 CharityTalk &Wine Z Mahjong 13:00 American 11:00 A1+ GermanConvZ 10:00 Tuesday CasualWalk CLUBHOUSE RE-OPENS! 13:00 American Mahjong 13:00 American 11:00 A1+ GermanConvZ 10:00 Tuesday Casual Walk Mahjong 13:00 American 11:00 A1+ GermanConvZ 10:00 Tuesday CasualWalk 12 Tuesday 15 29 22 1 8

11:15 FrenchConvZ 11:00 Weekly Coffee 10:30 MAWA Coffee 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 18:00LadiesDiningExperience Zorat AWA 12:00 AWA BoardMeeting 11:15 FrenchConvZ 11:00 Weekly Coffee 10:30 MAWA Coffee 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 11:15 FrenchConvZ 11:00 Weekly Coffee 10:30 MAWA Coffee 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 13:00 SchottenstiftTour 11:15 FrenchConvZ 11:00 Weekly Coffee 10:30 MAWA Coffee 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 11:15 FrenchConvZ 11:00 Weekly Coffee 10:30 MAWA Coffee 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ Wednesday

16 30 23

2 9 10:00 BibleStudyZ 16:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 10:00 BoardGames

10:00 BoardGames 10:00 BibleStudyZ 10:00BoardGames 10:00 BibleStudyZ 16:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 10:00 BoardGames 16:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 13:00 SeniorsLuncheon 16:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ 14:00Dagmar’sWalk 18:00 LadiesWine Evening 18:00 LadiesWine Eveningalt.

Thursday

17 24 10 3 11:00 FitnessWalk SUN 20 17:00 Trivial PursuitZ Z Svitlana with YogaSAT 1909:00 10:30 SingingGroup CellarsTour 10:00 HofburgWine 09:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ FRIDAY 18 11:00 FitnessWalk SUN 13 17:00 Trivial PursuitZ 09:00 CharityVisit totheBees SAT 1209:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ Brunnenmarkt 12:00 Veggie Vienna @ 10:30 SingingGroup 09:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ FRI 11 11:00 FitnessWalk SUNDAY 6 17:00 Trivial PursuitZ 15:00 CharityFamilyDanceday SAT 509:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ BackParty 16:00 Newcomers/Welcome 10:30 SingingGroup 09.00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ FRI 4 11:00 FitnessWalk SUNDAY 27 17:00 Trivial PursuitZ 09:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ SAT 26 10:30 SingingGroup 09:00 Yoga withSvitlanaZ FRIDAY 25 Fri/Sat/Sun Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Fri/Sat/Sun Creative design 1 2 3 FRI 4 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z solutions for your 10:30 Singing Group CLUBHOUSE RE-OPENS! 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Board Games 16:00 Newcomers/Welcome 10:00 Tuesday Casual Walk 10:30 MAWA Coffee 16:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z business needs! Back Party 11:00 A1+ German Conv Z 11:00 Weekly Coffee 18:00 Ladies Wine Evening Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or are starting your very first business. Carmel Dias 13:00 American Mahjong 11:15 French Conv Z SAT 5 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 18:00 Charity Talk & Wine Z Creative specializes in branding, logo design, 15:00 Charity Family Dance day packaging, marketing materials, to suit all your 17:00 Trivial Pursuit Z design needs. SUNDAY 6 Lets talk +43 676 4408110 11:00 Fitness Walk Or email [email protected] carmeldias.com FRI 11

7 8 9 10 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:30 Singing Group 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Tuesday Casual Walk 10:30 MAWA Coffee 10:00 Bible Study Z 12:00 Veggie Vienna @ 16:00 Drawing with Urte Z 11:00 A1+ German Conv Z 11:00 Weekly Coffee 10:00 Board Games Brunnenmarkt 13:00 American Mahjong 11:15 French Conv Z 14:00 Dagmar’s Walk 12:00 AWA Board Meeting 16:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z SAT 12 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z Z or at AWA 09:00 Charity Visit to the Bees 18:00 Ladies Dining Experience 17:00 Trivial Pursuit Z SUN 13 11:00 Fitness Walk FRIDAY 18

14 15 16 17 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Hofburg Wine 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Tuesday Casual Walk 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Bible Study Z Cellars Tour 13:30 Italian Conv 11:00 A1+ German Conv Z 10:30 MAWA Coffee 10:00 Board Games 10:30 Singing Group 16:00 Drawing with Urte Z 13:00 American Mahjong 11:00 Weekly Coffee 13:00 Seniors Luncheon 18:00 MAWA Dinner 13:00 Book Discussion Group 11:15 French Conv Z 16:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z SAT 19 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 14:00 Working for Global 18:00 Ladies Wine Evening alt. 17:00 Trivial Pursuit Z Women Z SUN 20 11:00 Fitness Walk

24 FRIDAY 25 21 22 23 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z

10:30 Singing Group 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Tuesday Casual Walk 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Bible Study Z 16:00 Drawing with Urte Z 11:00 A1+ German Conv Z 10:30 MAWA Coffee 10:00 Board Games 13:00 American Mahjong 11:00 Weekly Coffee 16:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z Newcomers & 11:15 French Conv Z SAT 26 Welcome Back Party 09:00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 17:00 Trivial Pursuit Z SUNDAY 27 11:00 Fitness Walk 28 29 30 Would you like to write Thank-you to our Friday 4 September 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z 10:00 Tuesday Casual Walk 09.00 Yoga with Svitlana Z for or join the Highlights generous sponsors, Meet at Strauss Statue in Stadtpark 13:30 Italian Conv 11:00 A1+ German Conv Z 10:30 MAWA Coffee Let's welcome our new members and reconnect with team? volunteers and members friends after the Corona/Summer break! Non-AWA 15:30 Golden Girls Tea Party 13:00 American Mahjong 11:00 Weekly Coffee friends who may also be interested in joining are 16:00 Drawing with Urte Z 11:15 French Conv Z Email us! for their continued also invited. Bring a mat or chair. Drinks and nibbles 13:00 Schottenstift Tour [email protected] support and membership! will be available, but feel free to bring along your favourites to share. In case of rain we will postpone. Sign up by 3 September [email protected] / 01 966 2925

KEY: Z = Zoom @ AWA Clubhouse @ Off-Site Location

13 EVENTS TOURS / TRIPS / SOCIAL EVENTS

Pre-registration required by Monday 28 September mbassador's Register at A [email protected] A valid photo ID Coffee required for entry.

THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER, 10:00-12:00 U.S. AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE, WEIDLICHGASSE 1-5, 1130 AWA Honorary President Mrs. Alexa Traina kindly invites us to her lovely home and gardens in the 13th District. A light brunch buffet and a selection of hot and cold beverages generously provided. As this is AWA’s Annual General Meeting, we will briefly discuss administrative matters and hear a review of finances. Pre-registered AWA members only and the number of attendees is limited due to social distancing requirements. No spouses or guests permitted at this event. Thank you for your understanding.

Sign up for the following events by sending an email Join Mila for a tour of Brunnenmarkt. View the variety of to the leader of the activity, by clicking on the links in fresh, seasonal produce followed by lunch at a nearby Weekly News or contact [email protected]. cafe. Sign up by Wednesday, 9 September [email protected] / Mila Casey 001 301 655 2464 Dining & Drinking GOLDEN GIRLS TEA PARTY NEWCOMERS/WELCOME BACK PARTY Monday, 28 September at 15:30 Friday, 4 September 16:00-18:00 Grand Hotel, Kärntner Ring 9, 1010 Meet at the Strauss Statue in Stadtpark Lively ladies share insights in elegant surroundings. Join Let’s welcome our new members and reconnect with the socially-distanced conversation in the spacious friends after the Corona/Summer break! Non-AWA friends first-floor area. Sign up: by Friday, 25 September directly who may be interested in joining are also invited. Bring a with Vera Saunders. mat or chair. Drinks and nibbles will be available, but feel [email protected] / evenings (01) 990 6492 free to bring along your own favourites to share. In case of rain, we will postpone the party. Sign up by 3 September LADIES DINING EXPERIENCE: REGINA MARGARITA [email protected] / 01 966 2925 Wednesday, 9 September at 18:00 Wallnerstrasse 4, Palais Esterhazy, 1010 MAWA DINNER Neapolitan dishes in the covered garden. Contact Annick Monday 14 September at 18:00 Gauthier directly by Friday, 4 September Robert Blaukopf/ [email protected] 0699 1968 8173/[email protected] Charity & Outreach LADIES WINE EVENING: PICNIC IN THE PARK TALK AND WINE SYMPOSIUM: NATIVE BEE BIOLOGY Thursday, 3 September at 18:00 Tuesday, 1 September at 18:00 via Zoom Meet at the Strauss statue in the Stadtpark. Fascinating bee facts shared by Em.O.Univ. Prof. Dr. Join Kristina for an evening of wine and conversation. Hannes Paulus. Bring a chair or mat plus snacks and wine to Cost: €5, to be transferred to AWA account noting share. If wet, alternative date is 17 September. “Symposium” as the payee. Zoom link will be shared upon Kristina Musil /[email protected] receiving donation. All proceeds will be donated to Die Möwe. SENIORS LUNCHEON: FROMME HELENE Urte Paulus/ [email protected] / 0676 676 5829 Thursday, 17 September at 13:00 Josefstädterstr.15, 1080 FAMILY SAMBA DANCE LESSON Join Phyllis in the quiet courtyard garden of this Saturday, 5 September at 15:00 reasonably priced restaurant serving very tasty and Gonzagagasse 11/19, 1010 interesting dishes. Want to learn how to dance the Samba? Come alone, with Sign up: Phyllis Wieser / 01 3208418 a partner, and/or bring your kids along and get moving VEGGIE VIENNA: BRUNNENMARKT with Markus and Erin! All proceeds will be donated to Die Friday, 11 September at 12:00 Möwe.

14 TOURS / TRIPS / SOCIAL EVENTS TOURS / TRIPS / SOCIAL EVENTS EVENTS Cost: €15 for Adults, €7 for Kids/Teenagers. TOUR OF FORMER HOFBURG WINE CELLARS Please register with Erin by 2 September as we have a Friday, 18 September at 10:00 limited number of spots available. Meet by the huge statue in the Hof courtyard [email protected]/ 0677 619 446 22 Gerald Wagenhofer will guide us through the cellars, which are not open to the public. The wine is long BEEHIVES VISIT AND PICNIC gone, but the cellar is full of the plaster casts of the Saturday, 12 September at 9:00 bronze statues displayed all over Vienna. The history Meet at Wien Mitte station (on Landstrasse outside the is fascinating. The extremely high ceilings and the wide Der Mann bakery) corridors make distancing possible, but masks will be Join us to experience and learn about the fascinating required. Maximum number of participants is 15. world of bees and honey. We will visit the beehives Cost: €10. Sign up by Monday, 7 September at awa@ behind Zentralfriedhof with beekeeper Agnieszka. awavienna.com /Sheila Hargreaves 0676 755 9804 Protective clothing will be provided. Opportunity to taste honey and purchase if you wish. Afterward we’ll picnic in a TOUR OF THE SCHOTTENSTIFT lovely spot nearby (bring along a mat). Drinks and snacks Wednesday, 30 September at 13:00 will be available for purchase, and proceeds are for Freyung 6, 1010 Die Möwe. Partners and children welcome. Donation to The Schottenstift, the former Benedictine Abbey of participate is €5. In case of rain, we will postpone the visit. Our Lady of the Scots, is a Roman Catholic monastery Sign up by 3 Sept at [email protected]. founded in 1155 when Henry II of Austria brought Irish monks to Vienna (not directly from Ireland, but from Scots Monastery in Regensburg, Germany). Schottenstift Abbey Behind the Scenes was one of the few monasteries never to be dissolved. DAGMAR’S WALK: BÜRGERFORUM The most precious treasures are the Gothic panels of the Thursday, 10 September at 14:00 so-called Schotten Altar, two of which show how Vienna Meet at corner of Felderstrasse/Rathausstrasse, 1010 looked in 1470 (the oldest existing representation of In the Ringstrassen era, the Hofburg, the the city from that period). The guided tour includes the Kunsthistorisches and Naturhistorisches Museums were museum, the Schottenkirche church and crypt, and the called the ‘Kaiserforum.’ The ‘Bürgerforum,’ located just Romanesque Chapel, as well as the Prelates’ Hall and the around the corner, is just as interesting. Abbey Library. Duration: 1.5 hours. Cost of tour €10 Cost: €15.50, maximum 10 people. Sign up by Tuesday, 8 September Sign up by Monday, 21 September [email protected] / 0699 1074 1121 [email protected]/ Sheila Hargreaves 0676 755 9804

15 concept was adopted early here, and has subsequently been copied in cities throughout the world. Citybike Wien was launched in 2003, and 16 years later recorded its 10 millionth bike rental. Earlier this year, the operator CYCLING IN announced it would need to close half of its stations unless the City of Vienna helped fund the programme. Now it seems that the transportation company Wiener Linien will VIENNA & assume management of CityBike Wien. Fingers crossed that the project will expand and link to the Wiener Linien network. Follow the latest news and register for Citybike BEYOND Wien (see info box). Lake Neusiedl Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl) is a unique, UNESCO- By Irene Schlegelmilch protected steppe lake located a mere 45 minutes east of Austria is a land of bikes (6.5 million in total, 400,000 Vienna. Encircled by a network of 1000km cycle paths, purchased just last year) and avid cyclists. Every third the lake area is ‘flat as a pancake.’ The cycling here is Austrian rides a bike several times a week, and more than gentle and allows for enjoyment of the dramatic and 75% of households have at least one bike. The proportion diverse landscape of Austria’s shallowest and largest lake of e-bikes is rising each year, making even hilly cycling (36km long), plus visits to its historic towns. Enjoy nature? accessible to riders of various fitness levels and abilities. The lake’s deep reed bed and wetlands attract some With its dense network of bike paths in the cities and 350 sightings of winged creatures – a true bird-watchers’ countryside, Austria lends itself well to mountain, road paradise. In additional to cycling, the area offers aquatic and leisure cycling. This article focuses on the flatter activities such as swimming and windsurfing in one of routes within Vienna, along the , and around Lake the sunniest places in Austria. Apres cycle (or perhaps Neusiedl. intermittently throughout the day), one can sip some of the area’s renowned red and sweet wines in local cafes and Vienna Heurigen. Vienna boasts a well-developed network of 1,431km of The 135km B10 route is the most popular bike path bike paths throughout the city (an impressive 50% of the around Lake Neusiedl. It is possible to skip the 38km road distance allotted to car traffic), including off-road section that crosses into Hungary (which is largely on car bike paths and designated bike lanes on roads. The bike roads versus dedicated bike paths) and instead take a bike paths crisscross Vienna and extend beyond the city limits, ferry between Mörbisch and Illmitz. Reed beds, vineyards, allowing for convenient inner-city commuting and leisure a national park, and quaint and historic villages line the trips. picturesque route. The prettiest village is Rust, famous The 5.5km circular Ringstrasse route is one of my for its Baroque and Renaissance façades, international favourites, a perfect sightseeing tour that glides past the magnificent Opera House, Parliament, Rathaus SLOW TOURISM AT ITS BEST! and Hofburg, allowing for a break under a shady tree at Stadtpark, Burggarten or Volksgarten. From the Franz Bike Tour of Neusiedlersee, July 2020 Josef Kai side of the Ringstrasse, it’s easy to join the By Gill Jasch Danube Canal bike path and marvel at the street art as The railway station at Neusiedl am See, you ride along the car-free routes (the new Coronavirus- received the merry AWA throng. With efficient rental themed artworks, in particular, are very impactful.) This bike distribution, we made our way, at a gentle pace, down the eastern shore of the lake. bike path stretches over 17km from the Nussdorf weir to the Vienna harbour. Snap photos at the curvy and colourful We pedalled and chatted under a postcard-blue sky. Unusually wind-still, progress was unhampered and Hundertwasser-designed city incinerator at Spittelau, or the senses could ponder the unfolding scene of the stop for a drink at a trendy beach bar on the promenade. steppe, the sweet scents of hay and lake, the diverse bird-life. This relatively unspoiled and pretty lake, The Prater is readily accessible by bike, and full of trails densely reed-flanked with its bobbing ducks, invited (including several that lead to the 21km-long Donauinsel). riders to relax. A perfect venue for this summer outing. The 4.4km traffic-free and chestnut tree-lined Hauptallee, Morning coffee en route to Mole West, and the stretching from Praterstern to the Lusthaus, is a delightful picturesque Das Fritz for lunch lead us down to place for solo or social cycling. It’s also a dream place to Weiden am See, and some boating or dipping learn how to ride a bike - on Sundays, watch out for new, completed the events of the day before heading back young riders precariously learning to balance and steer. to the station. Altogether, a pleasant jaunt under the capable Don’t own a bike? Borrow a Citybike from one of the Schlegelmilch-duo auspices! Thank you! 120 automatic stations around Vienna. The ‘shared bike’ 16 captive (according to legend). VIENNA CYCLING RESOURCES The Wachau and surrounding region is renowned for its City of Vienna offers a free cycling map highlighting fine white wines. Not far from Krems is Mautern an der routes in and around Vienna. https://www. fahrradwien.at/radkarte-bestellen/ Donau, home to Nikolaihof, the oldest vineyard in Austria, with more than 2000 years history. Managed by the sister Komoot a website/app, aggregates bike routes of AWA member Traude Wild, the vineyard is well worth a recommended by other keen cyclists. https://www. komoot.com/guide/76/cycling-in-vienna visit to sample the top-quality wine and enjoy a meal in the garden under a huge linden tree. Vienna Würstelstand an English guide to what’s on in Vienna, offers a useful guide to local bike paths. This August, two of our members, Helen Johnston and https://www.viennawurstelstand.com/guide/5-fun-bike- Jill Kolb, cycled with their spouses along the Danube bike paths-to-explore-vienna/ path from Passau. Their stunning photos and recollections Citybike Wien www.citybikewien.at/en/ of the trip have made me more determined to follow them Lake Neusiedl www.neusiedlamsee.at/en/tourismus/ and fulfil one of my Bucket List dreams. sports/cycling/ Helen and her husband rode about 40-60km per day for Donau Touristik www.donaureisen.at/en/ six days on their own bikes. (It’s also possible to rent bikes for the duration.) “The tour company transferred our bikes to Passau, helped plan our itinerary, and organised our wine academy, and clattering white storks that arrive in hotel and luggage transfers,” Helen explained. “Riding late March to nest atop the chimneys of the charming old in the summer meant some very hot and some very wet houses. days, but it guaranteed great scenery and pretty towns. Our AWA cycling day trips to Lake Neusiedl have been We met many cheerful riders, and had the Mighty Danube highlight events for the past two summers. Members as our constant companion.” travelled by train from Hauptbahnhof Wien to Neusiedl Jill cautions not to zip past every small town, but to take am See, and those without bicycles rented them at the time to patronise and explore a few of them. “Stop and train station (e-bikes and tandems were also available). have an ice cream or a beer or wine. Best to avoid riding The east side rides passed through the dramatic Neusiedl on Sundays, due to closures in smaller towns. I highly National Park to Podersdorf, with its iconic lighthouse and recommend the ebike option.” wide stretch of open lake. The west side rides provided a For those with less time, cycling just the Wachau section completely different experience, passing vineyards and the of the Danube bike trail is very manageable as a day trip villages of Winden and Jois with lunch at the Kellergasse from Vienna. Take the train (with or without bicycle) to Melk in Purbach, a quaint street lined with old wine cellars and or Krems, ride your bike (or rent one to ride) along the Heurigen. A quick dip in the lake at Breitenbrunn harbour Danube, and return to Vienna by train from the same or a on the way back, then a celebratory end of the trip with a different station (depending on your riding distance). drink at a small Heuriger in Winden. Wherever you cycle in Austria, you’ll discover wonderful "What I love most about the bike tours is the company - a places. Stay safe, wear a helmet, take lots of photos, and real mix of ages and backgrounds. Yet at the same time enjoy! during the biking you can enjoy the silence and be with your own thoughts,” said trip participant Joanna Loizou. See Gill Jasch’s poetic review of the July 2020 trip on this page. Maybe next year we’ll organise an AWA trip around the entire lake with an overnight stop…Won’t you join us? The Danube bike trail The 317km trail starts in the historic German border town of Passau and follows the Danube down to Hainburg, beyond Vienna. The path is 90% traffic-free and mostly flat, passing though stunning landscapes and historic towns, and by impressive castles, abbeys and ruins. After the city of Linz and the Baroque St. Florian’s Abbey, the route winds through the stunning, UNESCO-protected Wachau region of Melk to Krems. Here the Danube Valley narrows, with its dramatic steep vineyards, pretty villages and Marillen (apricot) orchards. Must-see stops include the Baroque Melk Abbey, and the town and castle of Dürnstein, where King Richard the Lionheart was held

17 EXPLORING EXPLORING VIENNA: LEOPOLDSTADT

Left: Flak Tower Augarten; Right; Nesteroyhof 34; Below: Cafe Dogenhof

decadent cakes. They also serve pancakes with Canadian maple syrup (just like my home country, Canada). At Karmelitergasse 1, a tiny, hidden-away cafe and bakery called By Lore-Cake Design offers artistically-designed cakes and a variety of baked goods like cheesecake, banana loaf, tortes and brownies. Café Little Britain, Engerthstr. 249/253, serves British specialties including breakfast, Tea for Two, quiches and cakes. I particularly enjoy their delicious, freshly-baked scones served with clotted cream and homemade jams. Recommended restaurants? Café Harvest, Karmeliterplatz 1, for vegan and vegetarian choices. They also serve an excellent all-vegan brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Schöne Pearle, Grosse Pfarrgasse 2, is a By Linda Moldovan relaxed, homey, modern venue for classic local dishes, Favourite Walks? The chestnut tree-lined Prater more exotic vegetarian cuisine and Austrian wines. We Hauptallee, about 4km long, is one of our favourite places always take our guests there for the Tafelspitz, which is to walk, jog or cycle. The Prater was originally an Imperial served with a mix of minced apples and horseradish and hunting ground and the Lusthaus, now a café and their always-delicious shredded potatoes. Pizza Quartier, restaurant at the far end of the Hauptallee, was the hunting Karmelitermarkt 96, serves true Neapolitan pizzas (and lodge, built in 1538 and almost destroyed during WW2. other dishes), has great service and a perfect outdoor Another of our favourite walks is the Augarten Park, seating area. I think it is the best pizza in Vienna. Tewa at with its flower beds and shady avenues of trees. Two 29-31, serves international and organic selections (even huge Flak towers loom large, built by the Nazis as Anti- the beer is organic!). Los Mexikas, Leopoldsgasse 31, is Aircraft towers. Impossible to detonate the towers without an authentic, friendly neighbourhood Mexican restaurant damaging every building in the area, the towers stand fast with homemade dishes such as sopa Azteca, nachos con as a reminder of that time. queso and tacos de costilla. Delicioso! Favourite tour? Praterstraße! So much history and architecture, both seen and unseen, in the street that connects the city centre to the Praterstern station. Starting at number 1, the SO/Vienna Hotel (formerly the Sofitel), offers panoramic views over Vienna, particularly at night. The Palais Bellegarde,17, with its ten-windows-wide Baroque façade, is stunning. To fully appreciate the architecturally-interesting Fürstenhof 25, you need to stand across the street from it. At 31, the mirrored Galaxy towers (built in the 70s) replaced the bombed-out former Leopoldstadt Theater where Nestroy performed. White columns at #32 commemorate the giant Leopoldstadt Competent, friendly staff will welcome you to our office. temple, which was destroyed during the Kristallnacht. We strive for excellence in everything we do, The Art Nouveau-styled Nestroyhof 34, built in 1898 and as a patient you should accept nothing less. has served as a centre for Jewish culture then and now. Our primary goal is to give you both a great smile Johann Strauss once lived at Number 54 (it’s now a small and a healthy, long-lasting bite. museum) and composed the famous Danube Waltz. Lastly We are committed to providing the best possible treatment at number 70, the Dogenhof was built in 1898 as a hotel using state-of-the-art orthodontics in honour of the city of Venice. It even features a Lion of in a caring, friendly environment. Saint Mark (symbol of Venice) over the door. Stop here for food cooked over an open fire at Cafe Dogenhof. Billrothstrasse 58, 1190 - Vienna +43 1 36 77 222 Coffee? The Cake Tree, Wolfgang-Schmälzl-Gasse 14, [email protected] is a cosy cafe for coffee, tea, scones and an array of www.claudia-aichinger.com

18 CASTLES, HISTORY & FANTASY DAY TRIPS

By Janet Auinger Castles are a perfect mix of history and fantasy. There the hotel restaurant and a stroll through the rose gardens are several located within day-trip distance to Vienna, is highly recommended. providing a safe and satisfying outing to combat the COVID-19 deprivations. In nearby Niederösterreich, one can also find Burgs (fortresses for defence and protection, www.kreuzenstein.com generally built before the 16th century), as well as High above , , between the Schlosses (more elegant, post-Middle Ages castles). towns of and , is the romantic and Burg Liechtenstein historical castle Burg Kreuzenstein. With its 12th century architecture and features, it offers virtually everything www.burgliechtenstein.eu one would wish to see in a medieval fortress: turrets, Located to the South of Vienna, near Mödling, Burg the remains of a moat, and a drawbridge. Although parts Liechtenstein stands atop a mountain at the edge of of the fortress were destroyed in the 30-Years War, its the Vienna Woods and offers a spectacular view of the reconstruction included sections of medieval structures surrounding area. Although it was first constructed in purchased by the owners from various European locations, the 12th century, Burg Liechtenstein was destroyed rendering it an authentic-looking castle that is both a 'neo-' several times and the current version (which was also and 'original' medieval structure. The walls are marked considerably damaged during WW2, when it was again with bullet holes. used for surveillance and defence) is a 19th century On view are suits of armour and medieval weaponry, creation. But due to the preservation of some older bits, a whale skeleton, and some rather gruesome torture the Burg is recognised as one of the rare surviving secular instruments not for the fain- of-heart. One can also see Romanesque structures from that era. It can only be the kitchen with its stone hearth, which provides an visited by guided tours (offered hourly, in German and intimate glimpse of the domestic scene. There are daily English, from July to October). The special Night tours guided tours of the fortress interior. When visiting Burg include a welcome drink and sunset view. Kreuzenstein, a must-see is the “Adlerwarte,” a falconry Rosenau Castle (Schloss Rosenau) designated as a World Heritage Site. The spectacular shows feature birds of prey from eagles to vultures. www.schlosshotelrosenau.at Rosenau Castle, located in Lower Austria’s Waldviertel (near Zwettl, about 120km from Vienna), stands out for Clockwise from top: Leichtenstein; Rosenau; Kreuzenstein being a four-star hotel, a one-of-a-kind museum, and the location of Austria’s only Bismarck tower (erected in honour of the man who unified Germany in 1871). A Renaissance castle in the 1600s, rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 18th century, Rosenau was badly damaged by Soviet troops post-war. State-supported renovations in the 1970s uncovered previously hidden Freemason symbols from a lodge established during the reign of Empress Maria Theresia (whose husband was a Freemason). A Freemasons museum was opened in 1975 - the only one housed in an authentic 18th century lodge - displaying artifacts on loan from the Grand Lodge of Austria as well as from the German Freemason Museum in Bayreuth. Founded on principles of “tolerance, humanity and ethics,” Freemasons included among their membership Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and George Washington, (Masonic references and symbols are on the US dollar bill.) Lunch at

19 TRAVEL FREE STAY, HOME EXCHANGE

By Gerda Moes Why stay in a hotel when you can live in a personal home property and you can spend those points at any time at for free? My husband and I have benefitted from more any other home. Stays can be planned a few days ahead cosy and authentic accommodation by “exchanging” or a year in advance. The more reputable sites ensure homes 25 times over the past 10 years with people from security through ID verification and peer reviews. When all over the world. hosting, it’s important to lock away valuables (in a non- The homes can be truly unique. We once vacationed accessible room, for example), and to clear the clutter from on a houseboat in Sausalito Bay (across the Golden the kitchen and bedrooms so that your “guests” can enjoy Gate bridge from San Francisco, CA), where we were some space. entertained by the sea lions that swam by and then fought Key handover can be tricky if you’re doing a direct swap. for the best spots on our deck in the evening! We have always been able to make arrangements with We began our adventure by joining the home exchange our neighbours. When we end our stay at the “exchanged” website lovehomeswap.com. The fee-based site offered home, we always leave a ‘Thank You” note and a small guidance in how to set up a personal profile with gift. descriptions and photos of our home, area sites and Home exchange is about more than saving hotel costs. It access. We also prepared a Guest Manual of our home, is also about meeting people and experiencing different with instructions for the various appliances and other cultures in a more natural environment. We were fortunate “need-to-know” information, including a list of emergency to meet most of our exchange guests in person, and we numbers, maps and brochures. As a goodwill gesture, are still in contact with many of them. we always leave basic food in the fridge, as well as fruit, bread, a bottle of wine, and extra goodies on the table. When we wanted to travel, we typed in dates, locations and accommodation preferences, and the site helped us locate matches. We contacted the owners and arranged a swap. Lucky for us, our apartment is well-located, and Vienna is a very popular exchange destination, due to its proximity to other major cities, so we have always found people willing to exchange homes with us. Sometimes the home comes with basic responsibilities. In Provence, France, we were asked if we would mind feeding the cats. On arrival, the owner introduced us to two friendly felines. The next morning, they were joined by four more calling for breakfast! Every day, twice a day, I fed six cats (plus a ham snack in the afternoon). A memorable part of our stay. Over the years, house-swapping has become more flexible. In addition to the “Classic Swap,” in which you directly switch with another party, either at the same or different times, many companies now offer a “Points Swap.” You earn points for every time others stay in your 20 FREE STAY, HOME EXCHANGE ACCESS & INTERACTION AT HOME & AWAY TRAVEL

By Virginia Sheridan “Keep the blade at a 45-degree angle, keep your eye on the target, don’t stop at the end of the neck!” I was holding a chilled bottle of Spanish cava waist-high with one hand, a sabre in the other, and was about to attempt uncorking it in the most dramatic of ways - by cutting the top clean off with the blade. “Relax! 3-2-1 – Go,” said my coach, Zarita. And with a zing and a pop, the bubbles burst free of their pressurised A few times the Experiences have saved us when poor container. Exploiting the bottle at its weakest point and weather or poor planning would have otherwise limited utilising the fermentation power within, I sabraged my our options. During a downpour in Athens, for example, way to a perfectly Instagram-able moment. The Airbnb I booked an entertaining, educational (and indoor) small Experience was a highlight of our Barcelona holiday. theatre interpretation of Greek fables, and was able to meet the actors afterward. When we unexpectedly Airbnb, already established as a home-away-from-home arrived in Bologna on a national holiday and found most holiday rental business, began offering destination-based, restaurants closed, I was able to book a tortellini-making one-of-a-kind “Experiences” in 2018. Hosted by passionate lesson and lunch Experience at a private home. As a local residents, the Experiences offer exclusive access, in- bonus, the Italian grandmother shared her post-war depth knowledge, interaction, and a personal connection recollections, which provided a vivid insight far beyond any beyond your standard tour. They can be booked in addition guidebook. to or separate from an airbnb accommodation. Amid COVID-19 restrictions, Airbnb Experience providers I’ve booked several of these Experiences in four countries moved to Zoom and further expanded access. Stuck at and have not yet been disappointed. In Barcelona, a home in Vienna, we were able to “travel” to the Scottish local artist guided my daughter and me to off-the-beaten- Highlands via a live session with a sheep farm owner. In path spaces and lead us through the process of creating 60 minutes, I learned about the lives of Hamish, Dougal memory sketchbooks. In Croatia, my husband explored and Lochie, three fluffy and mischievous Herdrick sheep, vineyards with a winemaker, then sipped local wine in a and also chatted a bit with my fellow “travellers” who private family estate-with-a-view. Zoomed from Chicago, Suriname and London. The Perhaps most memorable was our “cheesy” close farm owner, who also worked as an anxiety coach for encounter with 36-month old Parmigiano Reggiano. performers, gave us tips on how to “welcome” stress, label “Breathe deeply,” enthused our guide as he led us, eyes it with an intensity number (on a scale of 1-10), then count closed, into the aging room, then flipped on the lights it down to a lower level – a strategy we used to combat and revealed a thousand giant wax-coated wheels of Corona Craziness. At the very end of the session, we wonderfulness. After teaching us how to tap for holes (a were lead through a guided meditation while listening to sign of an inferior product), we were invited to try lifting the the sheep, the birds and crickets. At €12, and no mask or 45cm diameter, 38kg cheese and to take copious photos. quarantine required, it is quite the travel deal. The day included a walk through the entire cheese- production process (from cow milk to aging), a hand dip into a vat of whey (“It’s so good for your skin!”) and, of For more information, check out https://www.airbnb.com/s/ course, a tasting. experiences/online

21 CLUB NEWS Jams for Charity Member Ida Vickers has been busy tending her new adequate physical distancing. After our space optimization garden and is now making jams and other goodies is completed, we can accommodate larger indoor from her abundant harvest. A range of plum preserves gatherings. Thank you for your patience! (Kriecherl and Zwetschke), lemon balm tea, and lavender AWA Family Volunteers oil will be for sale at the clubhouse and maybe at some of Looking for volunteers to spend ‘hands-on’ time with our events in the park. The price is “pay what you want," families in need: to chat with the mums, to play with the and 50% of all sales will benefit our Die Möwe charity. Buy children, to accompany families on doctor visits, etc. while stocks last! Thank you, Ida, for your generosity! German is not essential as many families speak some Clubhouse Enhancement Update English. This project is in collaboration with our 2020 Our ‘Corona’ project to enhance hygiene and safety charity, Die Möwe. Contact Irene at awaviennapresident@ standards in the clubhouse is completed, thanks to the gmail.com kind donations we have received from our members. In Woolly Hats for the Homeless the kitchen, we have installed a dishwasher, a new sink Calling all knitters to join us once again. This year’s and taps – all vital for keeping our hands and glasses project is knitting hats for Christmas gifts for the homeless virus-free. The old storeroom has been transformed into and needy who attend the Franziskaner soup kitchen a spacious new washroom with hot water that cleverly in 1010. Our aim is 110 hats! Wool and needles are contains our now pared-down storage behind a tidy available in the Clubhouse. Donations of acrylic yarn curtain. appreciated, thank you. For guidelines and info, contact For our next enhancement project, we plan to knock down [email protected] part of the wall between the two activity rooms and install sliding doors to allow more flexibility in our club space Tandem Language Exchange and accommodate social distancing needs. This would Two members with different native language skills learn give us the ability to stage events in one big room (more from each other. Interested? Email and we'll try to find comfortable holiday parties!), or to close off the space a match for you. Several tandems are already up and for smaller gatherings or simultaneously-held meetings. running! [email protected] We have received approval for the project from the Metropole Subscriptions Hausverwaltung and flat owner. At the time of writing, we Metropole is offering AWA members a 20% discount are in the final stages of appointing a contractor and hope on print and online subscriptions! Discount code to have the work completed in the coming weeks. METxAWA2020 valid until 31 Dec 20 - www.metropole.at A big thank you to members who have made a donation already! Additional contributions are welcomed and needed – any amount appreciated. Our bank details are AT59 1952 0018 0009 2361. Many thanks for your support! Cautious Clubhouse Reopening We plan to reopen the Clubhouse post-summer break on 1 September. Recognising the need to protect our members from COVID-19, we have implemented cautious new sanitising procedures. Hand sanitiser and disinfectant stations have been set up in each room. On entering the Clubhouse, members will be asked to wash their hands in the new washroom. Face masks and visors will be available for purchase. For the time being, only small- group activities are possible in the Clubhouse, to maintain

22 SEPTEMBER IN VIENNA INFO

Food & Drink WIENER WIESN FEST (online only) SUMMER NIGHT CONCERT 24 September to 11 October. The Viennese equivalent of 18 September. On Television only, no public entry! A free Oktoberfest includes music and discussions of traditional rural open-air concert by the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic cuisine. Orchestra, featuring tenor Jonas Kaufmann at Schönbrunn EUROPEAN STREET FOOD FESTIVAL palace. 26-27 September, Vogelweidplatz 14, 1150. A gathering of DONAUINSELFEST food trucks serving international cuisine, located outside the 18-20 September. Scaled-down, free, open-air music festival, Stadthalle E. with three concerts and a limited number of attendees. RUM AND GIN FESTIVALS BEETHOVEN MOVES 25-26 September, Ottakringer Pl. 1,1160. Tastings, talks, music, 29 September 2020 to 24 January 2021. Kunsthistorisches and more at the Ottakringer Brewery. Museum (KHM), Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010. A multimedia WEINWANDERTAG exhibition that builds a “visual bridge” from the time of 3-4 October. A total of 25k walking along 3 routes through the Beethoven to the present. vineyards sampling wines and snacks. Choose from Neustift to Nussdorf, Strebbersdorf to Stammersdorf, or Ottakring to Art, Fashion & Design Neuwaldegg. VIENNACONTEMPORARY 24-27 September. Marxhalle, Karl-Farkas-Gasse 19, 1030. Music A huge art fair that brings together galleries from all over the DONAUKANALTREIBEN world. 3-6 September. Spittelau to Franzensbrücke along the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK Donaukanal. An urban festival. Street market, flea market, boat 25 September to 4 October. Events and exhibitions around the tours, sports and kids activities. city. Switzerland is the guest country, and Meidling is the focus WAVES VIENNA Bezirk. 10-12 September. East Meets West theme showcases new musical talent from around the world (focusing this year on History special guests Hungary and Sweden) through dozens of live performances around the 9th district. TAG DES DENKMALS 27 September on site and virtually beforehand. A European GÜRTEL NIGHTWALK/NIGHTWEEK Heritage Day when numerous historical buildings open their 11-19 September. Due to COVID-19, this year’s concerts doors (some for just this one day). stretch across a week in the restaurants between Thaliastrasse See list for Vienna and other Austrian cities at 1160 to Alserstrasse 1210. www.tagdesdenkmals.at

23 ÖSTERREICHISCHE

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ABOUT US ENTGELT BEZAHLT We are an amazing group of 300+ international women who support one another and have fun

WHAT WE DO We organise 100+ monthly entertaining and educational activities in our Clubhouse, around Vienna and online

JOIN US! We welcome English-speaking women interested in enjoying life and building lasting friendships! AWA VIENNA: Singerstrasse 4/11 1010 Wien