Category: Travels

Thursday Landscape

Travels

Vienna 2008
 Best Gulaschuppe in the world, there.

From Reader Abroad Scott W.:

New England guy here (Live Free or Die) who’s been reading you for… let’s not look back too far, ahem. Anyway, this isn’t about all that — here I am in Vienna and I think I have you to thank. 
You’ve written about many things, but what you’ve had to say about traveling, about your travels has always been encouraging. Not in a travelogue way, but just in a plain ol’ “there’s a lot of map out there, let’s get to it” way. Likely that’s just my interpretation but it is what it is. So when the conversation came up of “where to go for a vacation,” SWMBO and I had a short list and my recollections of your recollections made me press hard for Vienna.
And here we are.
Is it magical? No, not really. It’s a modern city. Is it perfect? Heck no. But is it wonderful? Why, yes, yes it is. I’m looking at the Danube and journaling about these Vienna Days. That’s how it’s on our calendar, and that’s how I’ll remember it.
Anyway, thank you.
Scott
Then the  bastard  good man had the temerity to send me these pics of his visit to the Hotel Sacher for his Brauner, Apfelstrudel und Sachertorte:
I am SO jealous…

Validation

Travels

Many years ago I made the decision to travel only during off-peak season times — usually during fall and winter — so as to avoid this kind of thing:

Apart from the claustrophobia of crowds such as the above, I decided that there was nothing — no tourist attraction, no museums, no vista — that was worth that kind of hassle.

And I’m not even considering the fact that among those crowds in the pictures are undoubtedly scum like pickpockets and other such wealth redistributionists.

It has bitten me on a couple of occasions, of course, most notably in winter when establishments such as restaurants and hotels will “close for the season” (New England and the French Riviera being the most notable).  So be it.  I make a note, and move on.

I also make an exception for things like Christmas markets — especially in southern Germany and Austria — mostly because I enjoy them more than I hate the crowds that throng them.  Here are Heidelberg, Salzburg and Vienna (in order):

Note that the freezing temperatures didn’t seem to put off too many people — mostly, I suspect, because they’re locals (ergo accustomed to the weather).  Certainly, from memory, German was the most common language I heard in all three places;  Japanese, Chinese and other such diversity:  not so much.

Then of course there are crowds that would be welcomed, such as at the Goodwood Revival*:

…and if you’re not willing to put up with crowds for the last of these pics, I don’t want to talk to you.

Then there’s the Chelsea Flower Show for New Wife (a very keen gardener), which is taking place as I write this:

But being in a summer crowd of thousands at the Spanish Steps in Rome, or waiting to get into the Louvre in Paris?

Pass, with prejudice.

*note that I said “would”, because I have yet to go to the Revival.  One of these days, Rodders…