An Unexpected Adventure
An Unexpected Adventure
Vienna On A Whim
Rattling through the streets of Vienna on an old pushbike, I followed my hosts closely, as they led me in search of a suitable section of the Danube River to film. It was raining lightly and my hands were beginning to go numb as the winter air rushed across my wet skin. The cold hands were uncomfortable, but I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed that it wasn’t snowing instead.
“Snow on the riverbanks would add SO much production value!” I thought to myself.
Suddenly, as if bending a little to my will, mother nature offered me a small conciliation: The wind picked up, and the wet rain became dryer, and harder. My mental, whispering request for snow had been answered… with hail: the poor man’s snow – Which is the next best thing, I guess.
“It’s not always the safest option, and can sometimes get messy, but nine times out of ten I would choose Freedom over Safety.” – Baz
I hadn’t originally planned to come to Vienna. In fact, I hadn’t “planned” out any of my Austria trip before hitting the tarmac in Linz. The trip so far (Part 1 & Part 2) had been directed, in true “What Should Baz Do?” fashion, by other peoples’ decisions and suggestions. Vienna was no different: a decision made by just saying “Yes”.
My host, Maria, had invited me to Vienna the day earlier on the WSBD Facebook Page and, without any other plans to get in my way, I’d jumped a train a few hours later. There was only one negative thing playing on my mind: that perhaps I wouldn’t have the time to tick off my final “to-do” task in Austria. To go for a freezing, wintery swim in Lake Gmunden. I didn’t know at the time, but Vienna would end up being one of the coolest and productive few days I spent in Austria.
Just Say “Yes”
Go For A Freezing Wintery Swim
It turns out that Maria and her boyfriend, Raoull, both work for derStandard.at in Vienna and, after hearing a bit about the unique way I’m letting others choose how I live my life and travel, derStandard were interested to learn more. Over dinner that night, I mentioned how I still had one “to-do” task to tick off while I was here in Austria, and asked if there was any icy cold waterholes around, and whether we might be able to weave that into the story.
And with that, I was elevated from “visiting family friend from Australia” to “news project”. A status which I found very exciting and which, at one point during interviewing, felt like “minor celebrity” status. The next day was spent riding through Vienna in the hail; taking a dip in the Danube river; and being interviewed at “Das Wiener Riesenrad” fairground.
Having “NO Plan” gives you the freedom to say “Yes” to unique opportunities which inevitably crop up on any traveling journey. It’s not always the safest option, and can sometimes get messy, but nine times out of ten I would choose Freedom over Safety.
Making The News In Vienna
In My Budgie Smugglers
You can read the article in German HERE. Alternatively, I’ll post an English-translated version in the next couple of days
And Then…
Well, and then… I headed home to London to await further instructions: Back to teaching kids in castles by day; writing things by night; learning what I can in between; and beginning the #YogaEveryDamnDayWithBaz 6 week challenge at Bikram Yoga Wimbledon.
