VIENNA
Lucky us, the sun came out just as we emerged from the
subway ready for our walking tour of this stately city. Our guide explained
Austrians are willing to restore, but not to replicate buildings lost from fire
or bombing. The sense is that it won’t be at all the same thing.
Our tour included the Jewish quarter and its’ tragic
stories. At the site of the former synagogue, a stone “library” monument consists
of books turned inward and a door without a doorknob, depicting hopelessness?
Again the history of Austrian Jews followed the whims of the rulers, in this
case, the Hapsburgs. When they deported the Jews in the 17th Century,
they lost many doctors, lawyers, bankers and other well-trained professionals.
As in Germany, the tragic Jewish history brought to mind
those famous words about The Holocaust, “Never To Forget.” Many private
charities and individuals have helped the refugees while the European
governments struggle with how to assimilate such huge numbers of Syrians.
Europe’s aging populations and low birth rates point to benefits for the
receiving countries, but the threat to the quality of life looms.
I hope the toxic mixture of
terrorist propaganda and the lack of jobs do not continue to ignite! I really
feel the geographic proximity of so many cultures and the tensions it may
cause. Especially way west in Seattle, we are sometimes isolated.
My
two previous visits to Vienna (1964 and 2009) came to mind as we spent two
hours strolling in this elegant capitol city. This time we were marching past
rather than entering the grand buildings. We both loved the Opera House tour,
so smiled with this memory as we went by. Somehow, we found time to tuck into one of the
wonderful coffee shops. It was only 11am, but we loved the Apple Strudel with
Vanilla Sauce and the Sacher Torte with apricot filling. Just surveying the
pastries delights the eye. The crisp winter air outside makes inside all the
more alluring. After pigging out, we made our way back to lunch on the boat
followed by a long walk along the Danube River.
Lipizzaner
horses, perfectly groomed in perfect stables live right in the city center. In
1964, I saw them perform their amazing moves in the Spanish Riding School. Very
impressive. We could see them all warm in their stables.
There
are several options for tours on the Viking cruises. This means, at the end of
the day, we chat and compare our adventures. Yes, there are many accomplished
and varied seniors on the cruise, but we also benefit from visiting with the
younger guests and the staff.
In
addition to the walk around the city and the Christmas markets, somewhat
scattered about, we also enjoyed a long walk along the Danube where we could
see the UN buildings and IAEA where Mike was involved in a research project in
2009. That trip gave us the opportunity for Opera and the culture of the city.
The
Christmas decorations and lights at night are spectacular.
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