When I think of Vienna, it’s always through the lens of the Ultravox song, you know, as in one of the most atmospheric music videos of all time – where Midge Ure is strolling, Film Noir-esque, through a square of lavish colonnaded buildings, attending a glamorous ball, taking coffee in a fancy coffeehouse, chorussing ‘oh – Vienna!’ as he turns up his coat collar in front of a moodily-lit, mist-veiled statue. There is that side to it. It’s so ridiculously lavish, Vienna, that it can be almost suffocating. I thought that for a long time. For several years I lived just down the Danube from Vienna in Bratislava, and Austria’s capital became my go-to big city – for a museum (for there must be a museum for every day of the year there), for a nice meal out (for being meticulous in all ways, Vienna also hits the spot with its food). And I found its relentless polishedness almost too much, truth be told.
Fortunately, Vienna has developed another side. A refreshingly ‘rough-round-the-edges’ feel in parts, where you can believe you are inhabiting a livelier, more relaxed, more down-to-earth reality and not a manicured museum. Some cracking street art, some more casual districts like the Karmeliterplatz area. This balance makes it more interesting to write about, and I’ve been writing about it a lot of late. I never sought this out. But this has always been a place I have, for a variety of reasons, ended up in and that – together with a rather more intentional trip the other week – has meant Vienna is a HUGE focus for my writing right now. Watch this space for all of it!
Categories: Articles, Central Europe Travel, Cultural Travel
Luke and his Words... 