Polaroid

I often think cities tend to have character, much like a dear old friend. Some are open and inviting due to the way the streets are layed out and the buildings are constructed, while others are slightly more difficult to see the beauty in. Sometimes they aren't so easy to navigate or leave me thinking 'if I was the urban planner I would have...', but I tend to leave a new city with the same impressions I get from meeting new people. The first impressions aren't always right, but it's easy to trust your instincts before letting your guard down and really getting to know a place.

There are a few that I have instantly fallen in love with. The hustle and bustle of New York City is amazing. I appreciate the diversity and how it really seems like a place where, despite differences, people keep striving on and seem to understand that getting along with each other is a part of getting ahead.

In Barcelona, I fell in love with the Gaudi architecture, the proximity to the ocean, and the winding back alleys of the Barri Gòtic. The laid back attitudes of the people that lived there reassured me that it wasn't an overly complicated or fast paced place to live.

And then there is Vienna. As of now I would probably say it was the least exciting city I've visited thus far. It reminds me of a stuffy great aunt with a lot of great art and an incredible menagerie of animals, but is very insular and narrow minded. The city is distinctly more contained than any other large city that I've visited in Europe.

I have issues with how acceptable it is be far right politically in Austria, which for some reason Vienna felt more this way than Salzburg does. This Turkish Hurriyet Daily News opinion article sums things up pretty well. However, I'm trying to see the good in things.

There is definitely a regal feeling within the innenstadt, but I couldn't quite figure out what the hype was about. As soon as you left the grandiose buildings in the middle of the city it turned gray and ramshackled really fast. I also was really sorry to waste my time at the Prater, which is a stationary carney exhibit.

Sometimes I feel like I should give Vienna a second chance. Part of that new found optimism for the city is that I just read about an Austrian business man who has decided to save Polaroid film. They also have an exclusively polariod museum called Polanoir.

Not only that, there is also a first of it's kind lomography store in Vienna, which I was able to visit when we were there.

There were a few things that I undeniably loved about Vienna - Hundertwasser Haus, the zoo (probably the best I've ever been to!), and our hotel, The Levante Parliament.

Now, in the words of Semih İdiz, "We hope, for the sake of truly civilized Austrians, that their country elects a black man or a Turk as chancellor as soon as possible."

Hopefully they'll also find some beauty in diversity through art.

Another excuse for soccer

The Europameisterschaft began this weekend, although we weren't entirely able to get excited for various reasons. Last summer there were ads around Vienna for the games and it's crazy how fast the time has passed. 

Last night Stefan suited up in his jersey, hung a German flag, popped open a beer, and then asked me for a little bit more enthusiasm. One thing I love about the games is that Stefan and his father always bond over them. As soon as it's half time they call one another and debate who played well and how ridiculous missed plays were. 

It's also very nice to see the patriotism return. As we were driving the autobahn many people had flags flying from their cars. 

I'd really like to have a cookout tonight. The next couple of weeks will be filled with soccer and a uniting patriotic buzz that hums in the streets which I haven't seen since the World Cup. 

I'm going to tentatively be in Austria on Thursday so I will be interested to see if there's as much excitement there. As a side note, if you are traveling to Austria from inter continental Europe bring your passport - I hear they are trying to keep the hooligans out with that. 

White Dishes

It's probably jumping the gun a bit to get more dishes and serving ware, after all we don't entertain too often due to having a quaint but sweet apartment. Sometimes I can't resist myself. I love beautifully designed things and dishes are no different -especially if they are white.


When we went to Vienna I even wrote down the dish ware brand at our hotel, the Levante Parliament, because I was that impressed. (If anyone cares they have Alchemy fine china, Mepra silverwear, and Dedon patio furniture... unfortunately I didn't get the maker of the bed + sheets - which were also phenomenal.)

Stefan will be delighted to see I made a few purchases while he was gone. Today I stumbled across a few pieces that compliment my collection... and to think just the other day I was saying 'I think I need some more serving pieces'.

I've developed a new love for the German porcelain brand Kahla. They have some seriously beautiful things that have won quite a few design awards.

Funny how a trip to the post office and bakery can turn into lugging dishes across town. I was also pleased to find a tiny pitcher perfect for coffee creamer (which I don't drink) and milk for tea (another love of mine). It reminded me of being a tiny child and getting the biggest thrill when my mother would fill her tiny pitcher and let us pour milk over our own cereal. Aren't the simple pleasures in life always the best?

Vienna

Stefan and I went to Vienna - we loved breakfast at our hotel and all of the great art elements. We were situated right in the Museums Quarter and had so many wonderful attractions in walking distance.

Vienna is not my first pick of a great city to visit. While it is very regal and interesting, I felt that was only the core of the city. The outskirts were quite dingy and depressing. The zoo however was the best that I have ever been to - even better than San Diego. I instantly think of the zoo - even before the Sacher Torte that the city is famously known for.

While we walked around the city we saw the Hofburg Palace where Marie Antoinette was born, and lots of cute horses waiting to give carriage rides around the city. The architecture was beautiful with domed ceilings on public streets and insane details on the city streets.

We walked for quite some time and stumbled upon TGIFriday’s the US chain restaurant. I never was so happy to see a place like this. It was so much fun and a little touch of home. Fortunate for us it was happy hour so we got margaritas, potato skin appetizers, and a feast of a dinner (Stefan got ribs and I got buffalo tacos). I could not stop laughing – it was all so surreal. It really felt like we were transplanted into the US and that was wonderful. I am sure we looked like the quintessential Americans who aren't testing out the local culture, but this was a special treat.

I really liked the Karlsplatz subway that had digital clocks counting everything from schnitzels eaten in Vienna since January to land mine killings and dollars spent on war world wide.

From there I had no idea what we were in for. We went to Schönbrunn Palace that was so large. The Palace itself was 1,441 rooms! The grounds were insane. The parks seemed to never end and were beautiful. We stopped at the maze made from shrubs and then went to the Zoo.



The things we saw were just breathtaking – it makes me appreciate these animals and realize how much people should care for them. There was an orangutan that was so human like. He was curious to see what I had brought in my purse and that made me laugh. He kept making faces and pointing for me to show him more. I think he was bored.



Minutes after I told Stefan that seeing a peacock with it’s tail open was good luck we walked a little further and there was one in full display – and it was spectacular. He was all white, but not albino.