Vienna: Cold Coffee & Questionable Schnitzel (A Dispatch)
okay, so vienna. it’s…a lot. i’m a freelance photographer, and honestly, i came here chasing light, but mostly i’m finding grey. not bad grey, like, a sophisticated, historical grey, but still. i just checked and it’s hovering around eleven degrees, feels like ten, and honestly, my fingers are starting to suspect betrayal.
spent yesterday wandering around the *museums quarter, which is, predictably, full of museums. i tried to get some street shots, but everyone looks perpetually unimpressed. it’s a mood. i overheard someone complaining about the price of coffee - apparently, it’s a national sport. they said, and i quote, "five euro for a cappuccino? are they mad?" which, honestly, felt fair. i found a decent little place near the naschmarkt though, https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Coffee+Shops&find_loc=Vienna - it’s called ‘Cafe Diglas’ and it’s got that old-school vibe.
someone told me the best schnitzel isn’t in a restaurant, it’s from a tiny stand near the train station. apparently, it’s a closely guarded secret.
my airbnb is…interesting. the walls are paper thin, and my neighbor seems to be practicing the tuba at all hours. it’s not unpleasant, just…present. if you get restless, bratislava and budapest are just a quick train ride away, which is good to know. i’m thinking of escaping for a day just for some peace and quiet.
i tried to find some cool vintage shops, but it’s mostly high-end designer stuff. i did stumble upon a little flea market near the prater though, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g190454-d206833-Reviews-Prater-Vienna.html - it was a bit of a mess, but i managed to snag a pretty sweet 70s scarf. the pressure is at 994, humidity is 47%, and the ground level is 939, which… honestly, doesn’t tell me much.
i heard from a local that the best way to experience vienna is to just get lost. “don’t follow a map,” he said, “just wander.”
i’m thinking of checking out the belvedere palace tomorrow, https://www.belvedere.at/en. apparently, it’s got some amazing klimt paintings. someone warned me it gets packed with tourists, so i’m planning on going super early. i also saw a post on a local forum (https://www.expatsinwien.com/) about a hidden jazz club in the seventh district. might have to investigate.
honestly, vienna is growing on me. it’s not the vibrant, chaotic energy i’m used to, but it’s got a certain…charm. a slightly grumpy, coffee-fueled charm. and the light, when it does* appear, is pretty spectacular. i’m starting to think i might need to extend my stay.
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