Jun 20 2007

Vienna

Published by at 8:48 pm under Scott's Adventures,Uncategorized

As much as I’d like to stay, Paris is full. Totally full. I try a dozen or so websites, and there’s not a room or hostel to be had (short of $700). Hint taken, I try to get a train to Vienna. No luck. “Can’t you leave tomorrow?” *sigh* I may end up on the street…

I eventually find a way to route through Munich on an overnight, and I’m on my way. Even on the intercity, it’s a long way from Paris to Vienna, and I bunk down in a crowded 4 bed sleeper with a nice girl from Wisconsin, and 6 Chinese (yes, this is a FOUR bed cubicle, but the Chinese are nothing if not space efficient!). The smelly feet and general endless loud snoring brings back memories of the capsule inn in Tokyo.

I arrive Vienna in the early afternoon, and spend a few hours walking in circles until I locate my hotel (damn these ring roads!). Finally free of the accursed backpack, I set my sights on some nice downtown cafes, and a much needed bite of civilization.

I pop into the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which turns out to be a bit more than I bargained for encompassing massive Egyptian artifacts, hundreds of Roman/Greek statues, and an extensive art exhibit that rivals a wing of the Louvre. While I’m inside, the guards spend some time running circles around me, very upset about something… I don’t escape until 9pm, and find the world outdoors a mess. There’s been quite a storm blowing through Vienna while I pondered my swirls of paint, but the massive bulk of the building has completely isolated me from it.

I seek out a traditional Vienna restaurant, and I find one billowing cigarette smoke and bustling with locals – perfect. Wiener Schnitzel and a nice Riesling on the table, and I’m soon chatting with two very talkative young ladies at the next table, Pia and Caroline. They’re having a monthly get together, and are chain smoking up a storm, but very energetic and great company. They explain that the storm I missed actually killed several people, blowing over trees and cranes (killing the driver). They also spin some very scary stories of their last visit to Prague, and how I, as a single male, will be the prey of every hooker/pimp/pickpocket in the city, and I’m taking my life in my hands going alone. Well, we’ll see 😉

No responses yet

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.