A quick photo essay
Vienna is divided into 23 districts, all of which surround the Innere Stadt (inner city), or first district – its business, cultural and tourist center. Once a walled city, Vienna’s first district is now literally encircled by a boulevard called “The Ring.” I live in the ninth district, also known as Alsergrund, to the northwest of the Ring, and between it and a larger beltway, called the Gürtel (you can probably figure that one out yourself!). FYI - the famous Danube River, known in German as the Donau, runs along the northeast of the city.
If you would like to know a little more about the area and what can be found here, click this link: Alsergrund
Meanwhile, here are few quick shots of my neighborhood to help set the scene. It may look a bit dreary, I know, because of the cloudy weather, but what can ya do? I don't feel dreary ;-) By the way, you can enlarge any of the images just by clicking on them. Hit the back button on your browser to return to the blog page.
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| Stepping out my front door, looking to the right |
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| Stepping out my front door, looking to the left |
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| View out my window, looking northwest as a train goes by |
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| A scene on Nussdorferstrasse, the district's main thoroughfare, which runs parallel to my street, two blocks over |
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| Another shot on Nussdorferstrasse, featuring my favorite pastry shop, Aida, where you can buy cakes named after artists like Klimt and Schiele |
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| A tram zigzags down Nussdorferstrasse |
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| Look how close I am! |
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| My Ubahn (subway) station, designed by the Austrian architect, Otto Wagner, in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) style. The trains run every few minutes, and even though they're only two blocks from my apartment, I barely hear them. |
I read everything you wrote, investigated the 9th District, and learned it is considered to be quite fashionable: the home of Franz Shubert and Beethoven and where Mozart composed Cosi Fan Tutti. You are in good company. I love the photographs - thank you for all those explanations, which give me a feel for what you must be seeing. Vienna does appear to be very "concrete" - noticeable absence of grassy areas or parks which we are so accustomed to seeing in NYC and elsewhere in the US. Very urban grit kind of a feeling, yet still alluring and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my faithful reader, for being such a loyal follower and commenter! Yes, it is quite concrete and, as I alluded to earlier, a bit of an adjustment for Scout, who preferred her grassy areas. But a few days in, and problem solved. She's made the change. As for us humans, there are in fact several parks and green areas, but since nothing is in bloom at the moment, the appearance can be rather gray. However, I find that the gorgeous architecture more than make up for that - especially when the sun comes out, as it did briefly yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it looks dreary at all, Vera...just extremely charming with, as you say, outstanding architectural allure. I'm not really surprised that you don't really hear the trains....even though I've lived in a quiet suburb since I moved away from NYC at the age of 20, on those occasions when we travel and one is nearby, my husband (who's originally from Maine! :-)) always remarks on hearing what I don't. I think it's just entrenched in us from our city years, and now you're back again. So, do you just use public transportation or do you actually have a car?
ReplyDeleteActually, Laura, It's not my NYC upbringing ... the trains are actually much quieter here, both inside and out. And no, I do not have a car, or plan to get one. All the city transit is excellent and extremely efficient! It's also based on the honor system - you don't buy tokens or swipe cards. You buy tickets - single ride, week pass, month pass, or year pass - then just get on and off. No limit. Pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteSturdy, solid, old world - those were the words that came to my mind as I studied the buildings. I noticed room for bikes to park on busy streets as well. Interesting neighborhood - universities, museums - lots to do. Plenty to keep you wandering for a long time. What fun it must be to be in the discovery mode! Thanks for taking us with you.
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