Pollybert

Café Bräunerhof is one of Vienna’s most traditional coffeehouses, yet it has somehow been mostly overlooked by tourists. Probably because, in the past, visitors were not always made to feel particularly welcome here. I have to admit, I never minded that. As a typical Viennese, I appreciate being able to enjoy a coffeehouse without hordes of tourists around me. Especially nowadays, when getting a…

Arriving at the Museum Hundertwasser and its in house Café Friedlich, I was surprised to see a long line of people waiting outside. Since both the museum and the café only open at 10 am, I wasn’t sure whether everyone was queuing for the exhibition or for breakfast. It quickly became clear that most of them were there for Café Friedlich. Museum Hundertwasser @Vienna As soon as the doors opened,…

It was only recently that I spent a morning at Bistro Fantasy. While I was happy with the food, I was less impressed with the service, so when I decided to give it another try I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. As it turned out, service on a Sunday was far better than on a Saturday. Perhaps it was because this time a young waitress was looking after us. At 10 am only a handful of tables were…

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan:This is definitely not a beach read, and with that warning I want to begin my review. It took me almost two months to finish this novel, which is binsprired on the thistorical event of Australian prisoners of war forced to build a railway through the jungle Burma and Thailand during WWII. Deemed of the utmost importance by the Japanese, the…

Summer in Vienna is best enjoyed outdoors, and what could be more pleasant than starting the day with breakfast in a park? Meierei Diglas im Türkenschanzpark certainly has an advantage over many other breakfast spots, as it is located in one of the city’s most beautiful parks. Meierei Diglas im Türkenschanzpark @Vienna The outdoor seating area is surrounded by trees, although most of the shade on…

London turned out to be such a treat. This city astonishes me every time I visit. There is so much history everywhere, but there are also so many new places to discover. Most importantly, London is a city that invites you to wander around and soak it all in, whether that is along the river, through bustling markets, or simply around the city centre. Amazingly, I am not taking my own advice,…

It has been a while since my last visit to London, and even back then I dedicated a post to the city’s beautiful doors. Since I ended up taking quite a few photos of them again on this trip, I thought you might not mind seeing a few more. I really like the clean and elegant look of these doors. They also come in every color imaginable, which is such a contrast to what I see every day in Vienna.…

Despite traveling to London two years in a row, once on my own and once with a friend, I still haven’t managed to use all of my photos in my stories. There were simply too many that I liked to leave behind. So here are a few more impressions from the amazing city of London. Yours, Pollybert King’s Cross station @London a triangle house @London somewhere on Tower Hill @London tiny house…

London is a city with so many dining options that it can be difficult to decide where to go. Usually, I prefer deciding beforehand and making a reservation. But when you are on vacation, it can be hard to know exactly where you will be at a certain time. If you do not want to rush from one attraction to the next, it is probably best to stay a bit more flexible. At least that is what we decided…

Eating breakfast at Rochus was not really my first choice. On this scorching Saturday morning I had actually looked forward to an indoor breakfast, but the place I had picked did not open until 9:30 am. Since I had already arranged to meet my friend at 9:00 am, it was up to him to find an alternative nearby, especially after I managed to take the metro in the wrong direction. Heat waves clearly…

Breakfast in London is one of my favorite ways to start the day. While I have no idea what most Londoners actually eat before work, a Full English breakfast still feels like a must at least once during every visit. It may no longer be an everyday breakfast for many locals, but for a tourist with a full day of sightseeing ahead, it is hard to beat. Breakfast in London is rarely cheap. In many…

London is full of big and important sights that every tourist feels obliged to see, such as Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace. But then you wander off the beaten path and discover the smaller things that make up the fabric of the city. I visited many of the major attractions, both on my own and with my friend, but it was the little things in between that made me wish I had more time to…

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood: This was my second book by Ali Hazelwood, and I loved it. Once again set at Stanford University, this time the story follows two student athletes. Scarlett is a diver, while Lukas is an Olympic gold medalist in the pool. They meet through a shared interest that comes with a content warning from the author, as this particular kind of spice is not for everyone.…

Tea is probably the one thing everyone associates with England, and particularly with London. Although I had visited the city several times before, I had never made it to a proper English afternoon tea. After a bit of online research, we settled on The Veranda, the afternoon tea venue at The Goring. If you are not familiar with the British royal family, which is perfectly understandable, Princess…

The new exhibition on the life and fashion of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace has opened to mark what would have been her 100th birthday. Unlike my friend, I needed a bit of convincing that this was the place to visit while in London, but I was happy enough to tag along. Buckingham Palace itself was the big draw for me, although the King’s Gallery is actually located next to it rather…

Last weekend, I headed out to the suburbs for breakfast at Otti – Das Vorstadt Café. There is good reason why the word “Vorstadt” (suburb) is already part of the name: this café is definitely off the beaten tourist track. It is, however, a huge hit with the locals, as I could easily tell from the warm and personal greetings many guests received upon arrival. Otti offers both indoor and outdoor…

Street art is all around you while walking through London. I just needed to keep my eyes open and there was another mural, facade, or sculpture to see. London is amazing that way, and I love how street art here really makes you stop for a moment and take a good look. That is why it is called art after all, and isn’t it great that there is no need for a museum? Sometimes just a stroll around town…