Week 80: People-Watching in Linz

This week made us miss home a little more than usual. It was a week celebrating various events like my friend’s 30th birthday, Derby day, and Mother’s day from across the world. Not being able to attend the surprise 30th birthday party, the derby week festivities or seeing our Moms in person was not ideal.

Somewhere in between the week of remote celebrations, we found ourselves walking around Linz on a rainy day.

Linz is the capital city of Upper Austria and the third-largest city in Austria after Vienna and Graz.

A street corner in Linz.

The New Cathedral in Linz.

We spent an hour walking in and out of stores, then decided we would rather eat and people watch instead. Even though we lived in Chicago for several years, we are not the biggest city loving people. However, there is something charming about sitting along a busy street, outside a little cafe, enjoying a slice of cake while watching slice-of-life moments unfold. Observing people and their interactions while wrapped up in a blanket, listening to the rain land on the surrounding metal tables added even more charm to the whole people-watching experience.

Rain clouds rolling in.

Linz is well known for the Linzer Torte, a traditional Austrian shortbread topped with fruit preserves and sliced nuts with a lattice design on top. It is said to be the oldest cake in the world, with its first recipe dating from 1653.

My Linzer Torte and water…with no ice.