This dreadful event last Thursday had one advantage: I was in town. Where I met a bunch of bears. Buddy bears. Each one is painted differently.
They hang out in a circle at Vienna's Karlsplatz, right in front of the church. I have no idea why they are there, where they came from. Are they maybe "Problembears" like Bruno who haunted the borderline between Bavaria and Austria in spring? No, they are "United Buddy Bears" from Berlin.
They are "United Buddy Bears" on their world tour. "142 Buddy Bears, created in Berlin/Germany, are standing peacefully hand in hand to represent 142 United Nations member states. An exhibition under the motto WE HAVE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER … it makes us understand one another better, trust each other more and live together more peacefully", it says on the website.