A somewhat different kind of Vienna music video:
🙂
Café Schwarzenberg
24 MarYes, I was out drinking coffee with someone again, this time at the Café Schwarzenberg. I hadn’t been for  a while so noticed some changes: a line of people waiting for tables, a sign that explicitly tells people to choose a table (something that used to be assumed in Vienna), and a recently renovated women’s room.
You still have to watch the step down into the ladies’ room but the mirrors that were on the inside of the stall doors have been removed. That’s right. There used to be mirrors placed in such a way that you could watch yourself pee, although I don’t think that’s why they were there. I always assumed it had something to do with the fact that Schwarzenberg is one of the cafés that offers a Katerfrühstück in the ball season, that is a breakfast eaten on the way home to mitigate a hangover. I imagined ladies in ball dresses might need to make some adjustments to their attire that required such a set up. If they did need it, it’s now gone.
Café Sperl
20 MarI had completely forgotten that Café Sperl has billiard tables (and a group of men who, apparently, are regulars). Very tasty homemade pastries, too. 🙂
The trades
18 MarI have reported in the past on how well Austria does in international competitions of apprentices. Today in the Kurier is an article about how the chosen representatives are already intensively (and, according to the vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, “conscientiously”) preparing for the WorldSkills competition in Abu Dhabi in October. As usual the competitors are honing their professional skills as well as preparing mentally. This year, in addition, they are working with top sports trainers to improve their performances. Austria takes this seriously. It seems to be almost as much a part of the national identity as the dominance in skiing. And long may it last. I think it’s great that people who make a point of doing their jobs spectacularly well have the chance to gain national and international recognition, not on the basis of how much they earn but on the basis of what they physically produce.
It’s the little things
11 MarIt’s so often the little things that make life happy, or, to be honest, make it a pain. This morning was loaded with little things that made it happy–translucent weather, a healthy little dog enjoying his walk, no classes to teach but in the knowledge that I had done good work this week and have earned a break, our usual trip to the Trafik for the Saturday paper, and an especial trip to the bakery to get a baguette for supper tonight. Ahhhhh.
Customer service
4 MarMany Americans don’t equate good customer service with Vienna. I find that you experience the extremes of good and bad customer service here more than in the U.S.A., where service is more standardized.
This (Saturday) morning I was given really good service. I was passing through the Schottenpassage at 7:15 on my way to teach all day and wanted to pick up a sandwich for my lunch. Mann was not yet open. This left Anker, which was open but had no veggie sandwiches. The woman behind the counter said her colleague could make me one and offered a choice of two kinds. I was about to say that I didn’t have time but then realized I did have some leeway and that the day would be long with just the müsli bar I had in my bag, so I chose the cheese on a whole wheat roll. It was in my hand almost before I had finished paying for it, and I was on my way with provisions. When I unwrapped the sandwich at lunch time it seemed to have more cheese than usual. 🙂
The whole experience really set me up for the day.
Hard to believe it’s February
27 Feb
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This was taken at the Votivkirche this afternoon, after which I met a colleague at the Naschmarkt where we sat outside (under heaters, granted) and drank wine, ate cheese, and caught up on six months or so of life. Really something at the end of February
A blustery day in Vienna
22 FebLovely word, isn’t it, “blustery”and so evocative of March and spring to come. 🙂
Nussberg, 5 February 2017
5 Feb
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Quite something when you think I was skating on that river a week ago!
Snow! (But short-lived)
3 Feb
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That was what it looked like yesterday, with the Viennese apparently vying for the gold medal for best snow creature. 😉
And this is what it looked like this afternoon already. The fate of snow in the big city …
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ecbinvienna 