Day 2 - Epic Fail and Mega Win

Bike Trip to Grein

Epic Bike Fail!

On the River!

I got a bunch of sleep last night and I was feeling pretty damn good.  I got up and ate breakfast (which in Austria is bread, spreads, cereal, and meat).  I started on my bike trip which calculated was about 40 miles.  So things were going okay, but I started to notice the 7 speed bike I had was requiring quite a bit of work to hit 11 or 12 mph (way worse than any other mufti-speed bike I have been on).  Also, it was raining like crazy and I had a 35 pound backpack on.  About 2 hours into the trip, I decided that at the rate I was going it would take me > 6 hours to get there and I may end up frozen to death with the rain.  So...I stopped and turned around (insert big frown face here).  But I was okay with my decision even though I had to eat 40 euro on the B and B I blew off.

On the way back, I was dying the wind was just crazy and it took forever to go just 15 miles or so.  But, I made it back safely to Linz and then....

Ars Electronica
Yep, there it was at the start of the bike path.  And I'll just say this was the most amazing museum I have ever been to.  Hands down.  It's a museum for technologists like myself and in a way like the scientific industry museum but way more intense.  I decided I'd list a bunch of pictures and some highlights:

1. The museum is just absolutely beautiful from the outside, see photos below
2. I got to see Theo Jansen kinetic sculptures (yep not kidding).  See this for an exaple
3. Watched kids play with a 3d printer, and got a change to play with a lazer cutter.  Also got to mess around with a 3d sterographic display art board that drew things you were typing
4. Brain Painting lets you produce images with the conscious activity of your brainwaves, which a brain-computer interface (BCI) and special software translate into actual pictures.  I got to do this here :)
5. Got a photo taken of myself where a museum worker took a cutout of my shadow on vinyl (how cool!)
6. Played with a bunch of robots, like tons of robots
7. Took images of my human eye and got to look at my retinas
8. Blah there is so much I could type like 50 items but I'll save the best for last

The Deep Space exhibit was life changing.  It was a cube that had mufti stereoscopic projectors.  A narrator in German started with Austria then using images from the Hubble telescope and very advanced 3d rendering stepped out into deep space.  honestly, I can't describe it in words and I couldn't take pictures...unfortunately. But it was cool.  I ate at the museum and had some wine and was pretty good I also got to chat with Nikki on text!  Which was sweet!

Kinetic Motion

Playing with a 3d printer

Ars Electronica from outside

Hotel + afternoon

So I got a hotel in Linz after my botched trip to Grein.  It's nice and comfy.  I laid down for about an hour then headed back into town.  I wandered around for 2 hours, just sorta looking for stuff to do.  I ate gelato and it was delicious.  I then somehow ended up here:

Japanese teahouse?

Yeah this was the real deal.  I had a good time here but found myself a little bored without conversation.  It's weird, today I think I said maybe 50 words total the whole day.  I feel like when I get back to the US I'll be a chatter box cause here I can't talk to anyone :).  The Japanese guy spoke english so I got to ask him a few questions but he wasn't to sure on places to go/eat.

Matcha at the teahouse

Wandering..killing time

Not sure what else to do, I just kept wandering around.  I got more gelato, and was hoping id run into someone who spoke English.  nope!  So instead, I got a few beers and started walking around some more.  I notice every time I get a little lonely or wish I had someone to talk to, I feel better after a beer (duh!).  And this is why so many lonely/single men are alcoholics :-)!

Pizza + Tomorrow

Got pizza at some random place, and some more beer.  Now I'm back at the hotel.  I decided I'm going to the information booth tomorrow to see if I can find some English tours (which I haven't been able to find on my own) or some places where English speaking people hang out.  I also am going to go to this: http://www.lentos.at/en/.  This is a modern art museum that is really pretty from the outside and seems like fun.  Overall this has been an interesting trip.  

Reflections

I think I have learned that traveling can be difficult without companions if you are in a place where you can't communicate with others. That being said, I find myself having the most fun doing things like museums, biking, drinking, etc.  Things that you can do without needing to communicate!  So i'm gonna stick with those things to make my trip as enjoyable as possible and I'll keep taking pictures to share with you all when I get back.

BahhhhhhhH Bike Town!!!!