Mrs FEEG and I have just got back from a city break in Vienna. Lots of Strudel and lots of Schnitzel, although without the noodles mentioned in that silly song in the dreadful musical about the von Trapp family, but with plenty of ErdapfelSalat or Austrian Potato Salad. (Yes I know the German for potato is Kartoffel, but the Austrians prefer to use the French way of naming them!). We also overindulged somewhat in the Café Central and the Sacher Hotel on speciality coffees and cakes!
We saw many of the sights and especially good was the Lippizaners being put through their paces at a training session and practice performance at the Spanish Riding School near the Hofburg Palace of Vienna. All in all, a great time was had by us.
Imagine our surprise when, having left Vienna on a very cold but bright sunny day, we woke up at home to another dose of global warming requiring the drive to be cleared yet again!
Boadicea's Chariot 
FEEG, you bring back such vivid memories of my work stint in Austria in the late ‘seventies. Wrong time of year for you to sample the heuriger wines of course but I’m sure the Sachertorten were excellent.
Snap Janus, They sachertorten gets one every time!
You have my sympathy on the weather, I remember March 62 vividly. 8′ drifts which were still there in June!
In best Homer Simpson mode: Mmmmmm, Sachertorte!
But were the hills alive with the sound of music? I couldn’t help it…
The naming of potatoes in Germany is mixed. “Kartoffel” is High German.
In the Trier area potatoes are called “Grumben”.
Enjoy your bit of global warming. A few nights ago it was -30 C in Minnesota again.
Jeez Chris, it is a wonder that the bloody place was ever seen fit for human habitation!
CO: the first European settlers to Minnesota arrived in early summer when the weather is beautiful and mild.
Several times the temperature fell to -40 C, in North Dakota it was -52 C in some places. The prairie winds are responsible for most of it.