This article is classified "Real"
So, what is an Australian Field Researcher doing writing an article on Austria? Simple, my spelling is lousy, and I thought that I had a contract to write articles about my home country. Surface area: Much bigger than you would expect from its perimeter, due to all the vertical bits. This, along with a simple law of thermodynamics, explains why the country is so darn cold. Population: Around seven million. Languages: A mangled form of German, with many dialects such as Styrian, which even other Austrians cannot comprehend. Capital City: Vienna, home of the famous Spanish Riding school, the even more famous Viennese Boys Choir, and the still more famous Wiener Schnitzel. Major exports: Strauss, Mozart, Adolf Hitler, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Major imports: Everything else Favourite colour: Austrian Green, a very dark green colour chosen for its drabness and complete lack of anything eye-catching Monetary Units: The Schilling. Apparently, Austria wanted to buy a new currency, and England gave them a cheap deal on their unwanted currency during decimalisation. Entertainment: Skiing, skiing, skiing and skiing. In summer, people tell stories about the skiing they did last winter. Popular foods: Austria has many good traditional dishes, most of which were stolen from the Hungarians. The rest consist mostly of evil-looking sausages, clear soups with indescribable dumplings bobbing around, and lots of potatoes and boiled beef. Oh, and of course, Wiener Schnitzel. Getting there: Austria borders no less than eight Countries [3], so there is a lot of choice as to where you enter. Italy usually proves to be the cheapest if travelling by train. What it doesn't have is any coastline, making sea-travel tricky. Getting around: The hitching is good in Austria, the trains are expensive. Peculiarities: Chris Tann spends his birthday there once every 20 years [1]. [1] The reason for this is as yet unknown [2]. [2] Even to Chris Tann. [3] Don't believe me? OK, here goes: Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovania, and, um.... OK, you're right, its only seven.