Vienna! So, this is what it looks like? Am disappointed: people aren’t wearing tuxedos and women aren’t crossing the streets in waltz steps...
Every place is usually associated to certain images. Those images aren’t necessary true (well, not all French people wear a beret and carry a baguette in the street, Egyptians don’t ride camels to go to work...) but we have them anyway. For Vienna, I didn’t know just what to expect. It sounds to me like one of those rather insipid cities where life goes on, comfortable and quiet, with no particular highs or lows. So, Vienna has the cleanest tap water in Europe? Oh, how very exciting...
Because of the haste, I had to settle for average housing - I’m quite far from work and am living with an Indian-Austrian family (basically, instead of living L’Auberge Espagnole, I’m living ‘The Namesake’ dubbed in German ;)). Pleasant so far, but far from town and I’m looking to move closer to downtown. I don’t want to waste half of my 2 months in Austria sitting in buses and subways...
Overall, it’s cute. I am surprised that fewer people speak English than I thought - seems that here they either speak perfect English or none at all.
Hmm... what else. Oh yeah: insecurity. Now I’m normally the brown Arab-looking guy who usually scares people in the Paris subway; here, I feel incredibly insecure walking in the street. A very new feeling to me. And I don’t know whether I’m more uncomfortable when I’m unshaved in jeans and sneakers, or when I walk home from work in a suit with a laptop.
Did the basic Vienna tourist circuit last weekend; hopefully I’ll get to meet some friendly coworkers and explore the Irish pubs as well... :-)
As for work... well, I guess that’s another story. Coming soon! (hopefully this week, since my boss is away..!)
Photos of the first few days are here.
I hope you’re all very well!
8 comments:
So you finally made it!!!
man and I thought guys travelled light...are these all your suitcases???
Quite unfortunately, they are... I normally would've taken just one suitcase -- but it just so happened that I had left 2 suitcases in France in June, so I had to go pick them up on my way to Vienna...
Enti ezzayek?
Yeah yeah...and now you're gonna tell me that egyptians don't live in pyramids...
I remember that Vienna could be very cold, in terms of its weather. And that the concert hucksters in the square were maddeningly persistent! (B+) Welcome to Europe; I suspect folks will be snooty to you for TWO reasons now! :) (B+)
Hi Mohamed,
I loved reading your trip to Cairo, Paris, and Vienna. I can't wait to read more! :)
Greetings from Boston.
Seg: No, I wouldn't go that far. Of course we live in pyramids, where our mammas make sure they close the box in which we sleep every night.
BeePlus: Concert hucksters persistent indeed!! I did end up going to a concert though -- A real one tough, by the Vienna Phileharmonic Orchestra. It was... grand.
Ruck: So lovely to hear from you, as always!!
"Of course we live in pyramids, where our mammas make sure they close the box in which we sleep every night."
Hahahaha!
And we -in Morocco- ride camels to go to school. We, ummm, have classes in the wild, practical classes. We live in tents. :D
So many suitcases, that's what I wanted to say too.
[Hey, please add a RSS feed burner to your blog, I'd take the subscription by email, please! :)]
And you have internet connection in the tent? Hmm, on n'arrete pas le progres... :-)
RSS feed burner coming up soon - as soon as I figure out how the hell to have one..
Thanks for stopping by! Keep reading, more to come!!
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