Graz–Sep. 3, 2025

Took another walk downtown today. I saw these on Strauchergasse:

Mosaic with abstract geometric shapes in multiple colors (red, white, orange, yellow, blue, and green)

The bike parking at Sporgasse (the red circle on the map) is going away next week. Yes, it even made it in the local newspaper 🇦🇹. According to the map, there are 26 parking places. As you see in the photo, there appear to be quite a few more than that, and they are spilling over into the area reserved for blind/visually impaired pedestrians.

Where the bikes will go is an open question. There’s an area with 110 spaces at the lower right area of the map, but, for some reason, I have never noticed it. Next time I go downtown I’ll have to look for it.

Achtung! Fahrradabstellplatz wird ab 10.09.25 entfernt!

Attention! Bike parking area will be eliminated starting 10.09.25!

Das Grazer Glockenspiel

The Glockenspiel, which had been out of order, is now working again. According to this article 🇦🇹, it still needs a complete overhaul, though it’s not certain who will pay for it. The time limit for the owner of the building being obligated to maintain the carillon has long since passed, but the city still wants it maintained, as it’s a big tourist magnet. (See video)

Here are pictures of the buildings in the area.

Mosaic of man in blue jacket and black hat, pouring a glass of wine.

Mosaic of man in lederhosen and bow tie with white overcoat, playing an accordion

Mosaic of woman in long purple dress, carrying a folded orange umbrella and a bag of groceries

Mosaic of man in lederhosen and long white jacket He is playing a harmonica.

Reliefwork of two men. One is holding a cup in an upraised hand; the other is using some sort of tool (perhaps a baker)

Caduceus with two entwined serpents with wings

Clock at top of glockenspiel. Above it, a golden bird

From top downwards: a cupola, the clock, and the doors of the glockenspiel.

Figures of man and women dancers in doors of glockenspiel

Sozialversicherungskarte

I got my Health Insurance card in the mail today. One interesting feature is that the card has the letters „sv“ in Braille embossed on it. That way, blind/visually impaired people can distinguish it from other cards they carry.