---
layout: post
title: Awoostria 2024
date: 2024-07-31 14:24 +0200
lang: en
categories: ["furry"]
---

So yeah, I'm still recovering a bit from the convention. So I'mma try to write a
report anyway, kinda as a "recollection" exercise. It's kind of a blur.

So, Awoostria. I read about it in the beginning of the year, thought "convention
in Vienna, Austria, why not? I liked GLC in Switzerland". Usually, I don't
travel by and for myself. I kinda have a (bit unhealthy) attitude "uh, why
should I travel, I'mma sit around alone for the whole day anyway, might as well
do this at home", so conventions are a great excuse for me to get out. I see
some new cities / locations I wouldn't usually get to see, and at the same time
I meet new people with a common interest. Sounds like a good deal.

**Wednesday**

I went the "early arrival, late departure" route. Might be to do with FOMO, but
it's also more relaxed. I was *really* surprised Vienna is only 5.5 hours of
train travel away, and it's a direct connection. So I went with Deutsche Bahn.
It went relatively smoothly, no major delays, and in the Telegram group chat I
even got some nice tips to switch to metro at Wien Meidling instead of going to
Main Station. Was a good tip.

A not-so-nice experience, at Wien Meidling I was approached twice by people who
went like "uh, hey, excuse me please…", but I have enough of this experience
here in Würzburg to already assume it's probably just going to be begging, so I
went into full ignore mode and simply went on to the subway.

During the convention, I got really impressed by Vienna's public transport. The
hotel was conveniently located. So I could get there by walking from the
station Wien West easily. The day I arrived there was still some setup going
on, regarding the decoration. On this day, I played some nice card games with
other furries already at the convention (sadly, the only time I did that). Got
something small to eat as well. Otherwise, I walked around near the venue,
found a nice spot with a bit of a view over the city, but not much else going
on.

**Thursday**

First day, already some digestion issues. "Not off to a good start", I thought,
but it probably just was the excitement, the other days went by without
problems. Went around the city a bit on my own and even got a week ticket for
the public transport (20 Euro, eh, might be an okay-ish price for a vacation).
Saw some of the horse-drawn carriages as well (didn't go in one for the whole
time). Took some photos of some fursuiters (on Thursday and all of the following
days), watched the opening, tried to go to the cuddle panel, but it was too
full, watched the karaoke, then the day was already over for me.

**Friday**

Sightseeing time. A local fur offered a small group of us furries a sightseeing
tour. Castle Schönbrunn, Karl's church (from the outside), Hofburg, Spanish
Horse riding academy, Amusement Park Prater, if I remember all of it. Did the
"wildwater ride" (?) in the Prater, actually the only attraction I'm comfortable
with in amusement parks. I don't go for roller coasters. Got a nice leopard
lanyard and a magnet in the dealer's den. Went to the snack exchange and the
"fursuit striptease", which was a funny event as well. I was a bit sad that I
missed the WHSPRS concert, but I can't split myself in two. I think I even
checked out the dance on that day.

**Saturday**

The day I realized I could use the hotel's wellness area. Took a nice break in
the infrared chamber. The Broadcasting panel was very interesting. For me, it's
always fascinating to see in which fields other furries work. Had some nice
cuddles, joined the disability meet-up, went to the dance for a bit again and…
that's it, I guess?

**Sunday**

Charity auction, Powerpoint karaoke, closing (which involved some serious queuing),
spend the evening outside where there was some music being played… uh… did I do
anything else?

**Monday**

Time to say goodbye, after breakfast. Originally I planned to depart early and
visit the Manner factory shop, but I had a nice talk with other furs during
breakfast, time went by, I still had to pack (just throw stuff in the
suitcase), so in the end, I didn't have time to do that.  Also, the factory
shop was inconveniently located, in regards to public transport.  Much sad.
Travel home went by without significant delays.

**Overall**

In retrospect, trying to recollect what I did, I am a bit shocked to realize
that there are some "black holes" in the timeline. No, I didn't drink any
alcohol. Probably more happened, by my brain is not used to this amount of stuff
happening.

Hotel breakfast was wonderful. I missed that when I got back home and had to do
my breakfast myself again.

Vienna is hecking **clean**. I not once saw dog poop or trash lying around.

I had enough sleep, had enough food and drink, still, I still spent a probably
significant amount of time "milling around"? There's kind of a nagging feeling
that it should be easier to form connections, sit down somewhere by a group of
prople and simply join in a talk? And a slight nagging feeling of FOMO might as
well have been present. That's a me problem, nonetheless, nothing to do with the
convention itself. And I also go to conventions to try to cure that.