Re: News from Austria

**lily** Wed Jun 15, 2016 4:31 pm

Lovely!

**bb1** Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:00 pm

Wonderful, LL! I saw a programme about one of those huge flak towers in Berlin - apparently, it's undemolishable? Good to see the Viennese one is being put to good use now.

**Lamplighter** Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:41 pm

Here's a video of 5 of the towers; you can see why they have never been demolished - the one now the aquarium would have destroyed a huge area surrounding it. It's reuse as the aquarium saved it. At the base of it was a 'bunker' built in case Hitler visited Vienna and the RAF attacked. It was converted into a youth hostel after the war - I stayed there a few times just for the hell of it - it is now the Torture Museum. LL

**bb1** Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:44 pm

I think your video link has fallen off, LL....

A youth hostel is good as well - I don't think there was anything actually sinister about the towers, unless you were on the receiving end of the flak? They were just huge military installations?

**bb1** Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:46 pm

Ah, I can see it now! smile

**lily** Wed Jun 15, 2016 7:36 pm

That is a fabulous video, LL. smile

**bb1** Wed Jun 15, 2016 7:52 pm

It's ironic that the worst of the damage was done by kids mucking about with unexploded shells....

**lily** Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:01 pm

I'll say.

**Lamplighter** Fri Jun 17, 2016 7:45 am

http://www.thelocal.at/20160616/asylum-applications-drop-by-50-in-austria-migrants-refugees

http://www.thelocal.at/20160616/strache-caught-up-in-online-racism-scandal

http://www.thelocal.at/20160616/the-many-faces-of-austrian-president-heinz-fischer

Herr Fischer showing his moves!!!! Full gallery at link. LL rofl

News from Austria - Page 4 Fischer_15_c_lechner_pr

**bb1** Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:54 am

Fischer seems a cheery sort, LL - we could do with more of those.

**lily** Fri Jun 17, 2016 7:16 pm

Is he considered a man's man, LL?

**Lamplighter** Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:17 pm

lily wrote:Is he considered a man's man, LL?

Sorry, lily, don't uderstand the question. LL

**lily** Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:21 pm

Okay, is he someone that men look up to as a role model?

**Lamplighter** Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:35 pm

lily wrote:Okay, is he someone that men look up to as a role model?

I have no idea, he was, as far as I know, a popular President. Though theoretically entrusted with great power by the Constitution of Austria, in practice the President acts, for the most part, merely as a ceremonial figurehead. It is the Chanecllor who heads the goverment, same set up as in Grmany. Actually buildwise, he reminds me of my Viennese grandfather. LL

**lily** Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:54 pm

Thank you LL. I appreciate being informed about matters. hug

I imagine your grandfather was quite handsome and sophisticated?

**Lamplighter** Sat Jun 18, 2016 9:22 am

http://www.thelocal.at/20160617/austria-wants-hungary-to-have-better-borders

**bb1** Sat Jun 18, 2016 9:42 am

I hope relations between neighbours improve now the Hungarian stance has been proven correct, LL.

**Lamplighter** Sat Jun 18, 2016 9:49 am

lily wrote:Thank you LL. I appreciate being informed about matters.

I imagine your grandfather was quite handsome and sophisticated?

You are welcome, dear lady. My grandfather stood 6'4" high with reddish-blond hair and blue green eyes and indeed very handsome - he even had an effect on ladies when quite elderly; it's that Viennese charm!!!!. He wasn't 'heavy set' as such, just well built. He was indeed very sophisticated, a theatre entrepreneur who backed productions and financed films. My younger son favors him, but is a bit shorter. Grandpa had a wicked sense of humor which seems to have been passed on to all his descendants! LL hug

**lily** Sat Jun 18, 2016 4:31 pm

He sounds like he must have had bucketloads of female admirers, LL. x

**bb1** Sat Jun 18, 2016 4:54 pm

He sounds like a Viennese Viking!

**Lamplighter** Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:13 pm

bb1 wrote:He sounds like a Viennese Viking!

Err, no. Pure Austrian, it's me dad who was the Viking but his hair was, like mine black and curly and with bright blue eyes.

**lily** Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:41 pm

What a combination! smile

**Lamplighter** Sun Jun 19, 2016 3:33 pm

'France's next president' calls for Brexit in Vienna

Published: 18 Jun 2016 13:01 GMT+02:00
The beer flowed and the oompah music boomed in Vienna on Friday as France's Marine Le Pen, boosted by the prospect of a "Brexit", fired up a rally of European far-right "patriots" in Austria. More at link.

http://www.thelocal.at/20160618/frances-next-president-calls-for-brexit-in-vienna

**bb1** Sun Jun 19, 2016 3:58 pm

It's a pity politicians hadn't stopped to ask the public what they wanted long ago, LL. IMO, there wouldn't even have been a chance of Leave winning in the UK if Merkel hadn't taken it upon herself to invite half the Middle East into Europe. Without that, it would just have been arguments about economics.

Oh, and bullying Greece didn't help, either.

**lily** Sun Jun 19, 2016 4:50 pm

Why ask the little people anyway? What do they know.....

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