Graz 4 : Muir Island

4. Muir Island
This 'pod' structure houses an ampitheatre, a rope-climbing jungle gym, a disco, a restaurant ... sits right in the middle of the river, ON the river surface and connected to both banks via two footbridges. Thoughts of an intersected seashell conch soaked in a petri dish culture, barely clinging by its two tentacles to the sides.

It is a little strange I guess, sitting in the open theatre, I felt like I was almost meditating. Even levitating, if you close your eyes and listen to the atmos. The road traffic on both sides high up above and the thrill of gushing waters (which by the way, looked like you could do some serious white water rafting here). Another thing worth mentioning is at water level, on one bank was a long lit footpath for people to jog and do evening walks. And if in Paris, lovers might be unabashed to hold hands but I didn't see any here.





5. Schlossberg
We went up Schlossberg (at a 60 degrees slant) on the furnicular (Schlossbergbahn) and I was clutching the rail for dear life. It was slow and smooth so I was sorta spared the pendulum feeling. It was perfect timing as the sun was going down and the lights of the city was coming on. Near the Muir Island a live band on stage was performing. The clock tower was ... like any clock tower, with its history of uses. I suppose it's for the 504m high view.

Two other ways to go up this summit : 260 stairsteps or the 'Dom im Berg', a glass lift shooting you up in the centre of the mountain.

The park was loitered with groupies of goth teens. They got the same idea for a Friday evening, with the guests who dressed up for the restaurant evening.


View of the city from the Schlossberg.
Notice the lights on the Kunsthaus.

6. Various

The square.
After the Muir Island (yet again!), we turned into another street (Mariahilferstr.) which looked like the start of SoHo of Graz. Studenty art bars next to red light district - great!

Oh you know what else I noticed, not much graffiti. I wonder if the youths are that well-behaved or their creative output is well channeled in the many galleries about town. I for one, felt safe enough walking around at 11pm. This is in the central though.


One of the shop / gallery windows.


A poster in an art gallery.


A gate. 
Entrance to an untended garden, nearby the Botanical Gardens.


The tram rails on the streets.
On our way back after dinner. Dinner : they seem to like their roasts swimming in sauce!

Hauptbanhoff main station, near our hotel.