Vienna


I think the mother ship has called me home.

I had a hunch that I would like Wien after the Lonely Planet guide described it to me as, "So like an eccentric grandmother that it's hard not to feel affection for her." I like old ladies, and I think I will like this city. My hotel room is tiny and slightly worn and inexplicably has two doors (they are right behind each other, creating a 10-inch vestibule...it's weird.), but it's cute and comfortable, faces a nice courtyard, and comes with a bottle opener, which I appreciate.

Everything here is kind of elegant and frilly and neatly put together ---from the buildings and the restaurants to the old lady who I clonked with my poster tube when I jumped onto the streetcar (she was nice about it). I know that I'm about to spend 3 weeks in the slums of Calcutta... right now, I am feeling alarmingly at home in the frilly elegant neatness.

I took myself out to dinner to a nearby Gasthaus that had a sort of deco look inside, played chill music in the background, and where people were perfectly fine sitting and reading by themselves. Because I've lived in southern Germany and thus know that people around these parts of Europe go freaking crazy over white asparagus this time of year, I ordered a "snack" of white asparagus baked with ham and cheese. I guess you're supposed to have that with white wine, but I ordered the house red, and I'm glad I did, because it was amazing and came in a big ol balloon glass, the kind where you can totally get the bouquet.

Clearly, I was made to be a Hapsburgian princess, and not a science nerd in worn out clothes from 3 years ago.... sigh.



That's a self-portrait, taken at Prague castle.

Posted: Sat - April 23, 2005 at 09:25 PM        

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