“A Summer in the City”: “At the Scene” report about the many facets and adventures of a vacation at home

For the “Am Schauplatz” report “A Summer in the City” – to be seen on Thursday, August 22nd, 2024, at 9:05 p.m. on ORF 2 and on ORF ON – Ed Moschitz visits people who often spend their summer have been living in Vienna for decades. If you can’t afford a summer vacation far away, you’ll be happy about your little piece of green in the brutal heat. Whether among the balcony flowers, in the allotment garden or on the shore of the Old Danube, some of them have never had the pleasure of getting to know the sea.

An estimated 200 garden gnomes have accumulated in Mr Richard, 73,’s allotment garden. He’s never really counted them before and he’s also out of practice with arithmetic. He spent his life as a street sweeper for the municipality of Vienna. In the past, when people still drank at work, he often had to “watch out for drivers” while sweeping. They even went over his toes. Today he “don’t want to be there anymore,” he says: “Well, the hectic pace, and the higher-ups all have a say, even if they have no idea.”

Ms. Eva was a teacher for 41 years. The 70-year-old says she often had to deal with “Gsindel” at school: “Make the mess yourself,” she had to hear a six-year-old tell her. Things got really bad when the children of immigrants went to school. But she has been very happy with her operator from Bosnia for 40 years. But she only cleans the apartment and doesn’t tell her about her little house on the Old Danube.

Mr. Christian, 51, is called “President” by many on the banks of the Danube beach. He has always spent the summer in the big city: “I’m afraid of flying,” he says. But there is still a problem. Because he was recently caught for drunk driving and the 3,800 euro police fine is outstanding, the “President” now drives a small scooter to the beach every day.

Mr. Walter, 73,’s allotment garden is limited to 195 square meters, his house is four by four meters. He is disappointed that he didn’t get anything bigger: “We don’t have the chances of politicians or their friends.” He worked abroad for decades as a building and construction fitter while his wife fled with another man. Today, the playful hobbyist spends a lot of time in the small hobby cellar, which he has furnished entirely to his liking.