Readers of a certain age may remember Midge Ure moodily singing ‘Vienna’ on Top of the Pops way back when. So embedded in our consciousness did it become for H and me that whenever one says ‘it means nothing to me’ the other pipes up ‘Oh, Vienna’. We both managed to keep it under control on our hols but H failed miserably with the other inevitable earworm, zithering away under his breath just loud enough for me to catch it now and again. I spotted The Third Man playing at one of the many cinemas we walked past as I’m pretty sure it always is somewhere in the city.
So pleased you enjoyed your Viennese break! In spite of its conservatism and bourgeois spirit, it’s still such a beautiful town (and yes, impossible to resist those cakes).
It was just what we needed, Marina, and feels like a continuation of our exploration of parts of Europe we’ve never been. I have Romania in my sights! But maybe Hungary first, not sure.
I’m envious you got snow. I was in Vienna this time last year and was so disappointed to find not even a flake. This is a city that surely comes alive in the snow?
Ah well, there wasn’t much of it – unlike our Berlin trip a few years back – but, you’re right, it was enough to make the city feel atmospheric. Like us, I think they’ve had a comparatively mild winter.
Ah yes… that inevitable but lovely earworm springs to mind immediately (confess I had a little thing for MU back in the day) – so not a bad backdrop for a lovely post; sounds like you had a perfect time & I love the sound of Me & Kaminski… almost as much as the sound of the cake! Great you had such a good time x
Thanks, Poppy! I was amazed to see what he was wearing in the YouTube clip I picked. I felt I should have searched for the moody, looking over the Danube video but his outfit was so extraordinary that I had to link to that one! I can thoroughly recommend the Kehlmann, and it’s a novella so right up your alley.
Your break sounds wonderful. I visited Vienna last summer and also adored Cafe Central (oh the literary/arty history!). It’s a beautiful place and I will definitely return. Great post.
I absolutely loved Daniel Kehlmann’s F and need to get to his other novels. My husband and I are planning on a long train trip through Europe this late spring or summer, taking in Sweden and Germany to stay with friends. Perhaps Vienna should be on the agenda!
They’re all very different but each of them excellent in their own way, I think. That sounds like a great trip, Rebecca. It’s such an interesting part of the world. I feel quite envious!
We head off on Thursday, but we’re doing Brussels, Freiburg (Germany), Thun and Lavin (Switzerland) and Werfen first. Vienna is the last stop. I’m also packing John Irving’s Setting Free the Bears.
Susan Osborne
That sounds like a great trip. We’re off to Berlin in September then wandering around central Europe by train before flying back from Vienna – the wonders of Easyjet! Have a lovely time and a little slice of cake for me in one of those elegant Viennese cafes.
I had the single of Vienna so all I need now is to visit the city. I’ve heard lots of great things about it and enjoyed your post too. I watched Travel Man last week featuring Vienna and it made me keen to go so maybe 2016 is the year I’ll finally tick it off on my city break wish list.
Aah Vienna. I found I had to embrace the Third Man, there was no avoiding it. But I also loved the music (even the fake Mozarts that hover outside the Opera House!).
But Thank you for the recommendation of a book for my next visit. I got rather hooked on the Judenplatz for my blog on my last visit.
Caroline (Bookword)
I’m sure we’ll be digging out the DVD sometime soon, Caroline! No fake Mozarts for our visit although rather astonishingly a somewhat embarrassed one approached us in the airport shop trying to sell us chocolate.
The Bears are very good at both pontificating and eating cake and are more than happy to give you lessons in how to do both at the same time as long as you provide the cake! I, in the meantime will be reading the Kehlmann which sounds really interesting.
They’re bears after my own heart, Alex, although we’d have to manage not to squabble over the cake! I’ve passed the Kehlmann on to H who is enjoying it very much, so that’s two satisfied customers.
I’m glad you enjoyed your Viennese jaunt, Susan. I would love to visit the city at some point – one day. Daniel Kehlmann’s name keeps popping up across a number of the bogs I follow so I’ll have to give him a go. Me and Kaminski sounds great fun, perfect holiday reading!
It sounds like you had a lovely trip. 🙂
And, I have come out of this post with two more of Kehlman’s books on my list. Sometime this year I’m hoping to read his Measuring the World, but this one and F sound great, too!
It was great, Naomi! Just what was needed to break up a very dull, damp winter. I’d highly recommend Kehlmann’s novels. There can’t be many writers who can make the story of two eighteenth century mathematicians funny, but he manages it.
So pleased you enjoyed your Viennese break! In spite of its conservatism and bourgeois spirit, it’s still such a beautiful town (and yes, impossible to resist those cakes).
It was just what we needed, Marina, and feels like a continuation of our exploration of parts of Europe we’ve never been. I have Romania in my sights! But maybe Hungary first, not sure.
I’m envious you got snow. I was in Vienna this time last year and was so disappointed to find not even a flake. This is a city that surely comes alive in the snow?
Ah well, there wasn’t much of it – unlike our Berlin trip a few years back – but, you’re right, it was enough to make the city feel atmospheric. Like us, I think they’ve had a comparatively mild winter.
To be honest, I just saw the word cake and decided I needed to visit. Great post, Susan. I love my vicarious visits to European cities.
Thank you! Sadly, though, vicarious cake just isn’t the same as the real thing!
Ah yes… that inevitable but lovely earworm springs to mind immediately (confess I had a little thing for MU back in the day) – so not a bad backdrop for a lovely post; sounds like you had a perfect time & I love the sound of Me & Kaminski… almost as much as the sound of the cake! Great you had such a good time x
Thanks, Poppy! I was amazed to see what he was wearing in the YouTube clip I picked. I felt I should have searched for the moody, looking over the Danube video but his outfit was so extraordinary that I had to link to that one! I can thoroughly recommend the Kehlmann, and it’s a novella so right up your alley.
The video clip is great… proper blast from the past but yes he looked more Village People than Ultraxox
Absolutely! What was he thinking…
Your break sounds wonderful. I visited Vienna last summer and also adored Cafe Central (oh the literary/arty history!). It’s a beautiful place and I will definitely return. Great post.
Thanks, Ellie. I hope I brought back a few memories of your trip for you. I imagine it’s a very different place in the summer – lots of green space.
I absolutely loved Daniel Kehlmann’s F and need to get to his other novels. My husband and I are planning on a long train trip through Europe this late spring or summer, taking in Sweden and Germany to stay with friends. Perhaps Vienna should be on the agenda!
They’re all very different but each of them excellent in their own way, I think. That sounds like a great trip, Rebecca. It’s such an interesting part of the world. I feel quite envious!
I’ve taken a leaf from your book and packed Me and Kaminski to read in Vienna!
Delighted to hear that, Rebecca. When are you going?
We head off on Thursday, but we’re doing Brussels, Freiburg (Germany), Thun and Lavin (Switzerland) and Werfen first. Vienna is the last stop. I’m also packing John Irving’s Setting Free the Bears.
That sounds like a great trip. We’re off to Berlin in September then wandering around central Europe by train before flying back from Vienna – the wonders of Easyjet! Have a lovely time and a little slice of cake for me in one of those elegant Viennese cafes.
I had the single of Vienna so all I need now is to visit the city. I’ve heard lots of great things about it and enjoyed your post too. I watched Travel Man last week featuring Vienna and it made me keen to go so maybe 2016 is the year I’ll finally tick it off on my city break wish list.
Oh, I’ll have to seek that out, Helen. I’m sure you’d like it – lots to see and do.
Aah Vienna. I found I had to embrace the Third Man, there was no avoiding it. But I also loved the music (even the fake Mozarts that hover outside the Opera House!).
But Thank you for the recommendation of a book for my next visit. I got rather hooked on the Judenplatz for my blog on my last visit.
Caroline (Bookword)
I’m sure we’ll be digging out the DVD sometime soon, Caroline! No fake Mozarts for our visit although rather astonishingly a somewhat embarrassed one approached us in the airport shop trying to sell us chocolate.
What a wonderful sounding break although I’m not sure that I could have resisted singing Vienna at every available opportunity.
It was lovely, Cleo. I love to sing, too, but seem to have developed a tendency to earworms with just the one tune grabbing me in a pincer-like grip!
The Bears are very good at both pontificating and eating cake and are more than happy to give you lessons in how to do both at the same time as long as you provide the cake! I, in the meantime will be reading the Kehlmann which sounds really interesting.
They’re bears after my own heart, Alex, although we’d have to manage not to squabble over the cake! I’ve passed the Kehlmann on to H who is enjoying it very much, so that’s two satisfied customers.
I’m glad you enjoyed your Viennese jaunt, Susan. I would love to visit the city at some point – one day. Daniel Kehlmann’s name keeps popping up across a number of the bogs I follow so I’ll have to give him a go. Me and Kaminski sounds great fun, perfect holiday reading!
*blogs
Thanks, Jacqui. I think you’d like Kehlmann – funny but smart, he deserves all that attention.
It sounds like you had a lovely trip. 🙂
And, I have come out of this post with two more of Kehlman’s books on my list. Sometime this year I’m hoping to read his Measuring the World, but this one and F sound great, too!
It was great, Naomi! Just what was needed to break up a very dull, damp winter. I’d highly recommend Kehlmann’s novels. There can’t be many writers who can make the story of two eighteenth century mathematicians funny, but he manages it.