Since I already have been to Vienna 9 years ago (Vienna was actually the city in Europe that I visited for the very first time), I didn't do much exploration. That, as well as the fact that we didn't really have a lot of time. So during our last day, we just strolled quite a bit in the city, following the recommended walks given by our maps. And in these walks, I didn't really take lots of pictures, but I did whenever I saw something that was weird or quirky.
Showing posts with label Austria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Austria. Show all posts
24 July 2014
20 July 2014
The Globe Museum in Vienna
Last March, I found myself in Vienna, for a long weekend. It was a relatively short visit, being a rather spontaneous one, so I just flew in Friday evening, couchsurfed with a local, and flew back Sunday evening. Since I already visited Vienna 9 years ago, I wasn't too keen on seeing the sights. However, we still did some sight-seeing, but we went to the atypical places, so to speak. This time, we went to the Globe Museum, which is part of the Austrian National Library, and is the only museum in the world dedicated to three-dimensional representations of the earth.
23 April 2014
Getting Jaded with Vienna
A couple of weeks ago, I was in Austria, in the capital Vienna. This was a very short trip, just a weekend from Friday to Sunday. I didn't do much, but just explored the city, as I have been to Vienna two times before, in 2005 as well as in 2008. For the most part, I just explored the places I have previously seen already, and somehow, it made me reflect on how and why I was wow'ed back then, in 2005, 9 years ago, when I visited this city.
21 July 2008
Back in Budapest
So, I am back in Budapest. I suppose I have nine days ahead of me where I won't be traveling big time. Then I head back to the United States.
I just got back from Vienna this afternoon. I wasn't there mainly for tourism, but for something else, so I didn't get to see plenty of sights. However, I have seen some acquaintances and friends that I haven't seen for the last three years (when I last visited Vienna) so that was fun too.
I suppose the main thing that was enjoyable while I was in town was the fact that I got to experience authentic Filipino hospitality. Food is a communal thing for typical Filipinos. Obviously not for me, but being shown this type of hospitality was a rather enjoyable experience.
Earlier today, I went to the Zentralfriedhof, and visited the graves of famous composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, the Strauss brothers, and Schoenberg. Of course I took pictures.
Anyway, I suppose the best thing I like about Vienna is the fact that it is very livable. I like that city, and if I were to have the choice as to where to live in Europe, I would have Vienna in the top of my list. It doesn't dwarf me, unlike New York City. And it has the culture, the nice international restaurants, the order, everything I like. Obviously there are bad parts of the city as well, but every city has that.
Anyway, not a lot has happened recently, so I won't make this entry long. I don't think blogging about me feasting on proschiutto is an interesting topic. So I will leave it here, and let you go for the moment.
Tomorrow, I finally get to see the city of Budapest. I will bring my camera and shoot away.
.JPG)
(Seneca Lake, from my Watkins Glen Series)
I just got back from Vienna this afternoon. I wasn't there mainly for tourism, but for something else, so I didn't get to see plenty of sights. However, I have seen some acquaintances and friends that I haven't seen for the last three years (when I last visited Vienna) so that was fun too.
I suppose the main thing that was enjoyable while I was in town was the fact that I got to experience authentic Filipino hospitality. Food is a communal thing for typical Filipinos. Obviously not for me, but being shown this type of hospitality was a rather enjoyable experience.
Earlier today, I went to the Zentralfriedhof, and visited the graves of famous composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, the Strauss brothers, and Schoenberg. Of course I took pictures.
Anyway, I suppose the best thing I like about Vienna is the fact that it is very livable. I like that city, and if I were to have the choice as to where to live in Europe, I would have Vienna in the top of my list. It doesn't dwarf me, unlike New York City. And it has the culture, the nice international restaurants, the order, everything I like. Obviously there are bad parts of the city as well, but every city has that.
Anyway, not a lot has happened recently, so I won't make this entry long. I don't think blogging about me feasting on proschiutto is an interesting topic. So I will leave it here, and let you go for the moment.
Tomorrow, I finally get to see the city of Budapest. I will bring my camera and shoot away.
.JPG)
04 April 2008
Rainsoaked avec Mogwai
I guess it is the prototypical spring day here. Not so cold, not so warm weather, and a steady dose of rain, which hasn't stopped since morning.
I don't know what it is, but I always imagine Europe, say Paris, or Geneva (it has to be a Francophone city), whenever I am in this weather.
I don't know, but images of trams, daintily-dressed women in their leather coats and tight-fitting gloves, boarding and getting off the trams. Or possibly sitting on the passenger seat of a Citroën DS, complete with a scarf tied over her head. Images of the city's lights, blurred due to the speeding car, or the images of the people walking on the street, blurred by the passing tram, as I sit inside, traversing the city.
And listening to the band Mogwai doesn't alleviate the image either, as this post-rock band plays music with no lyrics, just instrumental music.
Cobblestones, umbrellas, men and women in long coats, holding a croissant or a coffee cup, crossing the streets, watching the windows, admiring the shop's windows, wondering whether the hat on the mannequin looks good at themselves. Men on the phone, hiding from the public view by wearing large sunglasses even if there's no sun out, instead, a light pouring rain.
My first day in Europe was a rainy day. I visited Vienna in May of 2005. Stepping out of the airplane on the tarmac of Schwechat airport, I was greeted by a misty, foggy morning, with my winter jacket on, hurrying from the aircraft stairs to the temporary comfort that a bus provides, until it took us to the terminal building.
A few hours later, I found myself getting off Tram 40, in Vienna's Währing Bezirk (18th district), pulling my suitcase on the incline of the road.
The rain brings back memories, images stored in our brains. No matter how distant they may be, they'll still be back, one way or the other. One just needs a little connection, a trigger, and everything will be back in a flash.
In this case, it was the rain.
.JPG)
(Statue at the Rockefeller, from my New York City Series)
I don't know what it is, but I always imagine Europe, say Paris, or Geneva (it has to be a Francophone city), whenever I am in this weather.
I don't know, but images of trams, daintily-dressed women in their leather coats and tight-fitting gloves, boarding and getting off the trams. Or possibly sitting on the passenger seat of a Citroën DS, complete with a scarf tied over her head. Images of the city's lights, blurred due to the speeding car, or the images of the people walking on the street, blurred by the passing tram, as I sit inside, traversing the city.
And listening to the band Mogwai doesn't alleviate the image either, as this post-rock band plays music with no lyrics, just instrumental music.
Cobblestones, umbrellas, men and women in long coats, holding a croissant or a coffee cup, crossing the streets, watching the windows, admiring the shop's windows, wondering whether the hat on the mannequin looks good at themselves. Men on the phone, hiding from the public view by wearing large sunglasses even if there's no sun out, instead, a light pouring rain.
My first day in Europe was a rainy day. I visited Vienna in May of 2005. Stepping out of the airplane on the tarmac of Schwechat airport, I was greeted by a misty, foggy morning, with my winter jacket on, hurrying from the aircraft stairs to the temporary comfort that a bus provides, until it took us to the terminal building.
A few hours later, I found myself getting off Tram 40, in Vienna's Währing Bezirk (18th district), pulling my suitcase on the incline of the road.
The rain brings back memories, images stored in our brains. No matter how distant they may be, they'll still be back, one way or the other. One just needs a little connection, a trigger, and everything will be back in a flash.
In this case, it was the rain.
.JPG)
12 July 2007
Shrunken Heads and Summer Smells
I didn't realize that I would also encounter the male summer smell that is so prevalent in European cities in the summer.
When I was in Vienna two years ago, I encountered this smell. The smell of a human male, who didn't go to the shower but instead mingled its way through other humans in public. The smell emanating from the dark and sweaty armpits. The smell that would suddenly radiate whenever they reach out for the metal bars in the trams thus exposing their underarms.
You know what I am talking about.
And the fact that there isn't any air-conditioned tram or subway in Vienna makes it worse.
Prague was the same. Last year, I always encounter the male smell everytime I am riding the tram.
And now, I encountered it here as well. In the shuttle that took me from South Campus to North, someone, I think it was the guy sitting behind me, who had this smell. It always crept beneath my nose. I turned my head to see who it was, but I couldn't figure it out. It made my head nauseous, I had to take my handkerchief out.
My first recollection of encountering this smell was in Japan. A certain guy that was close to the family was host to this smell. During the summer, it would slowly creep its way to our olfactory systems, and add to that the fact that Japanese typically take a bath before going to bed at night, not before leaving the house in the morning.
After riding the shuttle, I encountered the smell again in the elevator. And surprisingly, nobody except me was there! Someone must have been a carrier of that smell and rode the elevator before me. The smell decided to linger in the elevator for a while, and attack the next rider, who happened to be me. I almost couldn't breathe for a minute. Good thing I wasn't trapped in the elevator for a while.
Yesterday, a student came to my office hours. After consulting with me, she asked what those two weird-looking figures who happen to be displayed in my office are. She was referring to the shrunken heads I got from Quito. Apparently she was scared of it. I then explained that they are fake, but they are replicas of the shrunken heads that the Shuar people from the Ecuadorian Amazon used to perform whenever they capture an enemy.
Hmmm, there is still a month and a half of summer. In the meantime, enjoy this photo from my Quito Centro Historico Series. This is the Ecuadorian flag flying high above the Presidential Palace.
.JPG)
When I was in Vienna two years ago, I encountered this smell. The smell of a human male, who didn't go to the shower but instead mingled its way through other humans in public. The smell emanating from the dark and sweaty armpits. The smell that would suddenly radiate whenever they reach out for the metal bars in the trams thus exposing their underarms.
You know what I am talking about.
And the fact that there isn't any air-conditioned tram or subway in Vienna makes it worse.
Prague was the same. Last year, I always encounter the male smell everytime I am riding the tram.
And now, I encountered it here as well. In the shuttle that took me from South Campus to North, someone, I think it was the guy sitting behind me, who had this smell. It always crept beneath my nose. I turned my head to see who it was, but I couldn't figure it out. It made my head nauseous, I had to take my handkerchief out.
My first recollection of encountering this smell was in Japan. A certain guy that was close to the family was host to this smell. During the summer, it would slowly creep its way to our olfactory systems, and add to that the fact that Japanese typically take a bath before going to bed at night, not before leaving the house in the morning.
After riding the shuttle, I encountered the smell again in the elevator. And surprisingly, nobody except me was there! Someone must have been a carrier of that smell and rode the elevator before me. The smell decided to linger in the elevator for a while, and attack the next rider, who happened to be me. I almost couldn't breathe for a minute. Good thing I wasn't trapped in the elevator for a while.
Yesterday, a student came to my office hours. After consulting with me, she asked what those two weird-looking figures who happen to be displayed in my office are. She was referring to the shrunken heads I got from Quito. Apparently she was scared of it. I then explained that they are fake, but they are replicas of the shrunken heads that the Shuar people from the Ecuadorian Amazon used to perform whenever they capture an enemy.
Hmmm, there is still a month and a half of summer. In the meantime, enjoy this photo from my Quito Centro Historico Series. This is the Ecuadorian flag flying high above the Presidential Palace.
.JPG)
30 July 2005
A Guide to an Austrian Museum
When I was in Vienna, Austria, I was astounded at the number of museums that await the tourist. Indeed, Vienna is a city of museums. I visited quite a lot when I was there. And then, today when I opened Yahoo!, I saw this quite interesting news article regarding another Austrian museum.
Apparently, the Leopold Museum had an exhibit and they would let nude or semi-nude people get in for free...
Hmm... Why didn't they have that exhibit when I was still there?!?!
I didn't get to enter the Leopold Museum, but I got to enter the MUMOK, which is the museum across the plaza from the Leopold Museum. MUMOK stands for Museum Moderner Kunst, or in English, Museum of Modern Art. And it was definitely an experience. If you ever get to enter that big slab of basalt (the building is made from slabs of basalt lava), start from the fifth floor, and do not even attempt to enter the basement unless your stomach can carry it. As they say, all the nasty stuff are stored in the basement. The exhibit in the basement is actually rated R-18. Everything in the basement deals with Wiener Aktionismus, or Viennese Actionism. The main artists were Gunter Brus, Otto Muhl, and Hermann Nitsch. The exhibits range from the mildly offensive to the explicitly gross. They use the body itself as the canvas, and they perform different stuff on their own body. One video clip was showing when I was there, and I think it was Gunter Brus' work, but I cannot be sure. It is called Endurance Test, in which for 30 minutes, the video showed the artist defecate, urinate in a glass, drink his own urine, masturbate, and mutilate his body. Well, what can I say? That is still art, if your aesthetics permit it.
Another museum I got to enter was the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien or the Museum of Art History in Vienna. It was a splendid place, and I saw the originals of paintings that I only saw before in encyclopedias and other reference books.
My museum trips didn't come without some comedy. When I was visiting the Imperial Treasury, where they were displaying the Imperial Crown Jewels of Austria, I had an incident with a local. I wonder why these Austrians, especially if they are senior citizens, they think that they know everything, and they have the right to correct everyone if they think that someone is making a mistake. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Austrians, I am only relating something that happened because of a cross-cultural situation.
Well, I had my mother's digital camera with me. When we bought our tickets, we asked the staff if we could take pictures inside. They said yes, as long as we don't use flash. Not using flash wouldn't be a problem, since my mom's digicam had this thing where it can capture the light and the picture would seem like it was taken with flash when in reality it wasn't. I just don't know the exact description, I'm not a camera person, sorry.
So, I was taking pictures of the gowns, the crowns, the scepters, everything with jewels on it, of course, without flash. Then, there comes this old Austrian lady, who comes in front of me and murmurs, "Es ist verboten hier zu fotografieren." (It is forbidden here to take pictures.) I was standing about 4 feet away from an exhibit, and she just stood in front of me, blocking the way for me to take the picture.
So I just waited, patiently, until she moved. Of course, it would be very awkward if she just stood there waiting for me to move, but since I didn't budge, she stepped away. I then clicked away.
But the Austrian lady wasn't satisfied. She directly spoke to me this time, and she was speaking in German, and I, although I could understand her German and was capable of answering in German, I opted to answer her in English, for I might stumble and not give the desired effect. Our dialogue went like this.
Lady: Es ist verboten hier zu fotografieren.
LIW: No it's not!
Lady: Es ist VERBOTEN hier zu fotografieren.
LIW: NO IT'S NOT!
Lady: ES IST VERBOTEN HIER ZU FOTOGRAFIEREN.
LIW: (shuts her off, clicks away)
When I ignored her, she even went to the room staff (there were personnel on every room making sure that the visitors behave) and "squealed", saying I was taking pictures. I had the laugh of my life when I saw her hear the answer, that one can take pictures as long as there is no flash.
And I smiled to her one last time, and clicked away.
Apparently, the Leopold Museum had an exhibit and they would let nude or semi-nude people get in for free...
Hmm... Why didn't they have that exhibit when I was still there?!?!
I didn't get to enter the Leopold Museum, but I got to enter the MUMOK, which is the museum across the plaza from the Leopold Museum. MUMOK stands for Museum Moderner Kunst, or in English, Museum of Modern Art. And it was definitely an experience. If you ever get to enter that big slab of basalt (the building is made from slabs of basalt lava), start from the fifth floor, and do not even attempt to enter the basement unless your stomach can carry it. As they say, all the nasty stuff are stored in the basement. The exhibit in the basement is actually rated R-18. Everything in the basement deals with Wiener Aktionismus, or Viennese Actionism. The main artists were Gunter Brus, Otto Muhl, and Hermann Nitsch. The exhibits range from the mildly offensive to the explicitly gross. They use the body itself as the canvas, and they perform different stuff on their own body. One video clip was showing when I was there, and I think it was Gunter Brus' work, but I cannot be sure. It is called Endurance Test, in which for 30 minutes, the video showed the artist defecate, urinate in a glass, drink his own urine, masturbate, and mutilate his body. Well, what can I say? That is still art, if your aesthetics permit it.
Another museum I got to enter was the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien or the Museum of Art History in Vienna. It was a splendid place, and I saw the originals of paintings that I only saw before in encyclopedias and other reference books.
My museum trips didn't come without some comedy. When I was visiting the Imperial Treasury, where they were displaying the Imperial Crown Jewels of Austria, I had an incident with a local. I wonder why these Austrians, especially if they are senior citizens, they think that they know everything, and they have the right to correct everyone if they think that someone is making a mistake. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Austrians, I am only relating something that happened because of a cross-cultural situation.
Well, I had my mother's digital camera with me. When we bought our tickets, we asked the staff if we could take pictures inside. They said yes, as long as we don't use flash. Not using flash wouldn't be a problem, since my mom's digicam had this thing where it can capture the light and the picture would seem like it was taken with flash when in reality it wasn't. I just don't know the exact description, I'm not a camera person, sorry.
So, I was taking pictures of the gowns, the crowns, the scepters, everything with jewels on it, of course, without flash. Then, there comes this old Austrian lady, who comes in front of me and murmurs, "Es ist verboten hier zu fotografieren." (It is forbidden here to take pictures.) I was standing about 4 feet away from an exhibit, and she just stood in front of me, blocking the way for me to take the picture.
So I just waited, patiently, until she moved. Of course, it would be very awkward if she just stood there waiting for me to move, but since I didn't budge, she stepped away. I then clicked away.
But the Austrian lady wasn't satisfied. She directly spoke to me this time, and she was speaking in German, and I, although I could understand her German and was capable of answering in German, I opted to answer her in English, for I might stumble and not give the desired effect. Our dialogue went like this.
Lady: Es ist verboten hier zu fotografieren.
LIW: No it's not!
Lady: Es ist VERBOTEN hier zu fotografieren.
LIW: NO IT'S NOT!
Lady: ES IST VERBOTEN HIER ZU FOTOGRAFIEREN.
LIW: (shuts her off, clicks away)
When I ignored her, she even went to the room staff (there were personnel on every room making sure that the visitors behave) and "squealed", saying I was taking pictures. I had the laugh of my life when I saw her hear the answer, that one can take pictures as long as there is no flash.
And I smiled to her one last time, and clicked away.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)