Austria Sept 16

After four fabulous days in Vienna we had a four hour drive to Kärnten, a province in the south of Austria, near the Italian border. The scenery is quite different, because you start to drive through the foothills of the Alps. It is the Lake District of Austria, and very popular in the summer.

On the way we stopped in Leoben, the city where my sister and I were born, and where we lived until we emigrated to Canada in 1953.

The apartment where we lived was unique. It was part of the city wall from the 1400's. Our apartment consisted of three rooms, all in a row. The first room was my parents room, then there was a small bedroom where my sister and grandmother slept, and finally the kitchen with a coal oven. This is where I slept. No hot water, the outhouse was a 4-holer at the other end of the apartments. For bathing you had to heat water and use the laundry tub. The walls are a couple of feet thick, great if there was a cannon attack. The only attractive feature was a view of the river Mur.

Whenever we visit Austria we make a point to stop in Leoben.

The apartments have been greatly renovated, and are now student dorms. Leoben has a very famous university that specializes in metallurgical engineering. 

The building has a second floor added, and a new extension is being built. There about 17 rooms now. We happened to meet the builder and he was very gracious, and gave us a complete tour of the building. It is now very modern, lots of Windows, skylights, and great washrooms. A world of difference from 1953.

We finished our visit with a coffee on the main square, surrounded by beautiful buildings.

We continued on to our apartment, near Feldkirchen, where my aunt Renate and her husband Edi live. Our apartment is in the country, and it is huge, two bedrooms, a large living room, and a kitchen; also a nice view.

After we settled in we visited my aunt. Sad to say my uncle is not well, and has been in the hospital for a few days. My aunt was as chipper as usual, and insisted on cooking a great meal for us, lots of Austrian specialities. She is a great cook.

All in all another great day.

Photo 1 the Zellergasse, our street in Leoben, where I was born; no hospital for me

Photo 2, Leoben is known for the Schwammerlturm, built in 1206, the university, and being the home of Gösser Beer

Photo 3 Sonja and I at the front door of our building

Photo 4 the Hauptplatz in Leoben