Vienna, you beauty!
Every time that I have been in this city, I have left a little more beguiled and enamoured than the last time. The weird thing is that I absolutely loathed the city by the end of my first trip there. I think, it is one of those places that you just need some time to love.
My first two times in this glorious city were overshadowed by the throngs of tourists that were there everyday but this time..this time was different. The starting of October, when Autumn has just arrived here in Vienna, most days it is not as cold as it is Voralberg right now, with hardly any tourists around clicking pictures, the city is calm. As calm as a major metropolitan can be.
This time I stayed at Hotel Kummer that is directly outside the Neubaugasse UntergrundBahn station at Mariahilferstraße (one of the two major shopping streets). It was different living in the heart of so much activity. My one tip for enjoying Vienna is to forget the Museums. Honestly, they will just overwhelm you. FORGET THEM! The Indian in me is screaming, "What? How can you visit a place like Vienna and not visit the Museums?" but believe me, this time around trying doing it like the Europeans - stroll around the city early in the morning with a croissant and coffee in your hands, and late at night after you have stuffed your belly with good food. Appreciate the architecture and the history behind this city of 1.8 million people.
The one way to know the way you feel about a place is to see it at night, and by questioning yourself if you like what you see around you. A true city should be able to hold its own under the dark skies. And Vienna does - the city is bathed by the glow of twinkling lights of the never ending restaurants, shops and buildings, with people loitering around, friends on their way somewhere; probably home or to some bar.
The difference between a small town and a city for me lies in the fact that no matter how much I like living in a small town, I know that it is something fleeting. I do not envision my life over there. Whereas I can visualise myself living a full life in a metropolitan like Vienna or Paris. I see a future.
I guess, once a city girl, always a city girl?
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