Falling in love - as a grownup - with a city I knew as a child

[Mira]

Oh My God
Vienna is a city of my childhood. I lived here with my grandparents for a year from age 10 to 11. And there is a memory of beauty and grandeur, but now, half a century later, I realize it’s a city so wondrously beautiful that all I can keep doing is clap my lower chip back up to meet the upper. Sometimes it takes my hand to do it.

These are a few images from today. I have so many - from so many days - in so many places. As I have already said I’m re-connecting with family in Serbia, Germany and Austria. Traveling by plane, train, bus and automobile. The cost of transportation is so low I grip my forehead, and the reliability and ease of it all makes me want to spell “infra structure” for the orange baboon. For instance, my brother, who has 3 children, a job of substance and goes all over Germany has no car.
He has a (company paid) card that costs 4000 Euros. He can go with it on any plane, train, streetcar, city bus, rent cars on street corners, reductions to entry fees of many kinds, and feels like he is ready to roll at any time. He also has a bike, and a bike with motor. It’s a completely different way of considering transportation.

I digress, apologies.

The photos are random. Just a taste.

this is the falling in love with Vienna shot


random gorgeousness shot


photo of the Lipizzaner horses, hard to get, am proud of it


a random photo going down a major street, I got carried away enjoying how reflections in windows allowed me to take in so much more


and a basic fountain sculpture offered around many corners in many ways. I kept saying: will this just keep on ?


Lastly a photo I hope makes you smile as well. Happy monks as tourists in Vienna


I’m thinking that maybe over the next weeks after I get back I post some photos per week - since I have so many, and was lucky to take this trip. I hope I won’t make you tired of them.

Thanks for looking.

[MuseRider]

1. They are all glorious!

I have to admit, I did smile rather a big smile at the picture of the tourist monks. They were so engaged and looked so happy. I guess I really never thought much about the lives of monks. I figured they had many things in their lives that gave them happiness but never thought they would be out touring and taking pictures like the rest of us and being as amazed at the beauty around them as they seem to be here. It made me really happy to see this.

[Sophia4]

2. Austrians love all that is beautiful.

Thanks for the pictures.

Memories.

[Squinch]

3. Thanks so much for the photos. Now I want to go!

[Mira]

4. Well then. My job is done.

Thanks for saying that.

[Squinch]

5. Please do post more when you get back. And safe travels.

[Mira]

7. I have this problem.

On one hand I want to show and tell - on the other I feel like I don't want to bore and take too much center stage.
Your encouragement is appreciated.

[Squinch]

12. .

[northoftheborder]

21. I love seeing travel photos!

I'll never get to go to Vienna, but really enjoy seeing photos of places I've never been, especially those by travelers such as you who capture the informal, interesting, and revealing pictures.

[badhair77]

6. Thanks for sharing your photos.

I really enjoyed the glimpse of what caught your eye on your travels.

[mountain grammy]

8. Thanks for sharing..lovely pictures.

[trof]

9. I've always liked the sausage.

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I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY
I just couldn't resist.
I'm a bad person, I know.

I'm really glad that you're having such a wonderful fulfilling journey.

[paleotn]

22. Ouhhh....

Loved them as a child. Now even the sight of a can of those things makes me want to barf.

That is funny as hell though.

[trof]

30. It wasn't a fishing trip without a can.

We'd eat 'em AND use a piece as fish bait.
Great for bream and crappie.

[Solly Mack]

10. I haven't the words to express how happy I am for you.

The journey you are on thrills me because it is one that calls to the heart.

Your photos have been wonderful but your words and your journey have given them meaning beyond their beauty.

Be well. Be happy.

[Mira]

14. Thank you so much.

You make my heart sing too for understanding, and you have done that for a long time anyway. I know you have been where i am geographically and it makes you remember the beauty.
The re-connecting with my origins could not be coming at a more needed time, and the warmth and love coming my way will warm me for as long as I can remember it in the future.

I'm taking your comment as one to encourage me to post more when I can.
I have soooooo much. And need to share!

[riverbendviewgal]

11. Thank you

I will look forward to seeing more of yournphotos of Vienna. I enjpoyed these very much.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. Thank you for these pictures and please do post more.

I went to Vienna on my honeymoon in 1980 and loved it. I had a bit of high school German which was extremely useful anytime we got even half a block off the main tourist streets.

I would love to go back.

[denbot]

15. Nice!

Thank you.

[fierywoman]

16. Beautiful! Thank you so much for these! Keep on posting them. and ---

have a piece of Sachertorte mit Schlag for me!

[Mira]

18. That happened yesterday!

Was invited to the house of a second cousin. Only knew that his father, my grandmother's brother, was a doctor who was in the grip of the Nazis and had to ascertain that murders of people who had been executed were successful - that they really were dead. Which is what he pulled my Dad aside to tell him as he wed my Mom, and then he had a death of horror himself.

Mom was 19 when they wed, blonde, had been put in front of the classroom as an example of Aryan beauty while she had to hide that she grew up in Serbia and that Serbian was her mother tongue.
She was not so sure Hitler was a horror, yet. The info by the doctor given to my Dad was what convinced my Mom.

This cousin of mine, son of that doctor, about my own age, was a young boy I once played with in my memory and once I described the visuals, he told me that it was us playing.

He turned out to have been a judge in Vienna. Now retired. Do you remember the movie "Moonstruck"? The brownstone owned by "Cher's" parents?
It turns out he owns one like that in Vienna, except it's white.
I'm blown away.
He has - in the many rooms of 10 foot ceiling height, pieces of furniture where one might possibly pay for my house in NC.

That's where I was served Sacher Torte mit Schlag.
It's a mind blowing experience.
I know you did not ask fot this, but I loved telling.

[fierywoman]

24. Tell, tell ! It's so sweet. I got to meet half my family in Germany in 1980 --

I know the happiness you are experiencing and it reminds me of my own. So thank you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Tired? I am never tired of seeing your wonderful, gorgeous, breathtaking photos, my dear Mira!

Please post as many as possible, whenever you want!

We will always be glad to see them. You have the true photographer's eye and your photos are magnificent. I loved the library so much, and all the rest too.

Thank You.

[Mira]

20. Thanks dear Peggy.

Once I'm home, and have made photo books and sent them to many in appreciation for putting me up and showing me around, you are encouraging me to make a post a week and tell about stuff I saw. Thanks for that. I don't want these experiences and visuals just die in the clowd....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. At least a post a week, dear Mira!

I know I speak for many of us when I tell you that we love your adventures and the photos that come as a result.

[calimary]

19. WUNNNNderful!

Thanks for sharing these, Mira!

[paleotn]

23. Wonderful pictures!

Beautiful city. Who wouldn't want to visit.

[mnhtnbb]

25. I am so happy to see your photos and that you are loving Vienna and the experience of your trip.

It is a marvelous city.

Here are a couple of my favorite shots I took when I was there in 2013.
A field trip! And an anti-war display in a storefront.

I hope you have a chance to get down to see all the murals painted by the river.

[Bradshaw3]

27. Great photos!

You have a great eye. Nice composition. These aren't tourist pics - very professional.

[alfredo]

28. I want more!

I fell in love with Vienna when I first watched “The Third Man.” It didn’t show much of the city, but it looked lovely in Black and White.

[Callalily]

29. How wonderful to see

Vienna through your photos and your stories.

I patiently wait for the next installment.