Graz Warnings Or Dangers

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Graz either had a problem with ice dams when I visited, or it took the problem very seriously, because there were warning markers all over the city, and people on roofs clearing off the snow and ice. An ice dam, if you are from a sunny country and haven't seen one before, is a block of frozen snow that form on the roofs of buildings during winter. They can sometimes break off suddenly and collapse onto unsuspecting pedestrians below. Obviously that can be very dangerous.

When there is a risk of ice dams falling to the ground, you will see these red and white markers leaning up against the walls. Also watch out for people standing and staring up at the roofs, as these maybe look-outs for roof clearers above. If they are looking up, that means that there is something definitely coming down!

Graz felt like a very safe city. The only thing that bothered me about the place was the density of beggars, all of whom were genuflecting in the most painful position, in the freezing snow and ice and at all hours of the day. It was just how Linz was when I visited a couple of years previously. It's not just that I felt bad that I couldn't give money to them all, after all I felt they must be pretty earnest to be suffering so much, but because the city wasn't doing anything about it. Surely a city as rich as Graz obviously is could put these people in a warm room and feed them.

I've been to Graz 3 times and it's not a dangerous city at all. I've not had one bit of trouble of any kind so the only warning I'd give is bring a fat wallet and gold credit cards as it's not a very cheap city.

I decided to put this photo here - under Warnings and Dangers - because that's where it belongs! ;) To explain myself...

We went to a trip to Eggenberg Schloss, which I really liked, so I started taking tons of photos - just like Japanese people do... :) Anyway, out of my mind, I stared at the Sun & clicked my camera & this is what came out.

Girls from TSC, this is especially [and exclusively] for you! ;)

Top of Leopoldstr. was a place I didnt like to be on my own at night. There were often guys just hanging about and if i did have to walk by that way, they'd shout out at me, which was uncomfortable. A couple of friends of mine experienced the same thing.

Not so much as a warning, but a happy story.

When I arrived in Graz train station on a Saturday afternoon in late February 1999, I was picked up by my new landlord to take me to the apartment. I, in all the excitement and confusion, left my handbag at the door of the main station with all my money, wallet, passport, id and walkman inside! Very stupid of me, I know. I didnt realise I had left it behind until I got to the apartment and started to take my things out of the car. Ice-cold fear clutched my heart when I realised that I left my handbag in the station. My landlord drove me back to the station and my bag was still there where I left and everything was still inside!!!

Thats how safe it is.

Notice that the hour and minute hands are switched: the large hand is displaying the hour and the small hand the minutes!