Freitag, 2. Dezember 2011

The Glamour of the Days gone by

It took me a long time to write this post, much longer than I intended. The subject is last weekend which I spent in Vienna. Although I'm Austrian I don't live there, I live in Graz, the second biggest (250.000 inhabitants) town, about two hours drive away from the capital.
I know Vienna very well and that is maybe my problem when it comes to describing it. In my opinion no one who has not walked through this city's streets once in their live can possibly understand what they mean, why they are not just roads and buildings.
Vienna is the sound of classical music, the sight of waltzing people under crystal chandeliers in marble halls of palaces that were built for emperors who controlled the fate of Europe for centuries. Vienna is luxury and prestige, it is gold and glamour, it is philosophy and high society.

But more than anything, Vienna is longing.

The word nostalgia is a huge understatement for the feeling that is hidden behind every smiling face there.
This city is a fantasy we have to believe in.
Before the end of monarchy, Vienna was the centre of Europe. Internationally renowned characters were heading for the capital of the Habsburg Empire; they enjoyed the sophisticated ambiance and the well-educated society, and many of them produced their greatest works there. Vienna was fertile ground for ambitious ideas and grand cultural projects (classical music for example was born there!) and the whole city took part in the cultural peak, even those who didn't have any knowledge of philosophy were vividly discussing Freud's books for example. There was no place in the world which could be compared to Vienna.
In fact, there still isn't.

Vienna means something else too. It is the ideal place for people who want to be alone but need company for that. To be in Vienna is to feel connected with everyone around you, to feel as if everyone understood you and shared your thoughts, even without ever talking to anyone.

Visiting Vienna these days is walking on a fine line between the present of the twentyfiirst century and the imperial past. Most of the time it is crossing this line constantly.

To say that time stood still in the city would be a lie, and not even a very convincing one: there are just too many skyscrapers, H&Ms and Starbucks!
However, the traditional, sophisticated Vienna is anything but gone.
It is almost as if Vienna had a shadow self, where the memory of all great events and persons is still present: it lingers in every corner, even decades and sometimes centuries after these events are over and these people have died.



I am trying all the time to cross the boundary between the real Vienna and the ghostly one, but whenever you look too closely at the splendid glamour of the shadowy city it blurs and disappears. Then you are left alone in the 21. century again and wonder where all the time has gone.

35 Kommentare:

  1. Really impressive post. I read it whole and going to share it with my social circules. I enjoyed your article and planning to rewrite it on my own blog.
    http://merrychristmasquotesimageswishes.com/2016/12/short-merry-christmas-quotes-messages.html
    http://merrychristmasquotesimageswishes.com/2017/09/christmas-wishes-for-friends.html

    AntwortenLöschen
  2. very nice website on this topic. Would like to read more. Here is the link to my website
    4th Of July 2018 Messages
    Funny 4th Of July Quotes
    4th Of July 2018 Pictures

    AntwortenLöschen
  3. Thanks for creating nice post. Such a cooling post that is admittedly alright written. will be referring lots of friends regarding this. Keep advising.
    Friendship Day Quotes 2018
    Happy Friendship Day 2018 Messages
    Funny Friendship Day Images

    AntwortenLöschen
  4. presonus-studio-one-pro-crackThanks for this post, I really found this very helpful. And blog about best time to post on cuber law is very useful.

    AntwortenLöschen
  5. Amazing blog! I really like the way you explained such information about this post with us. And blog is really helpful for us. raheelpc

    AntwortenLöschen

  6. dr-fone-crack
    can be a productive and fantastic tool for assigning all one of those misplaced data out of the own system. It may operate on different hardware systems, for example, cellular apparatus, and is very flexible.new crack

    AntwortenLöschen
  7. Thanks for the post. Very interesting post. This is my first-time visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog. Keep posting.. windows-movie-maker-crack

    AntwortenLöschen
  8. I really enjoy reading your post about this Posting. This sort of clever work and coverage! Keep up the wonderful works guys, thanks for sharing.pycharm-crack/

    AntwortenLöschen

  9. This article is so innovative and well constructed I got lot of information from this post. Keep writing related to the topics on your site. serif-affinity-designer-crack

    AntwortenLöschen
  10. MATLAB Crack
    ProCrackerz
    This software is very helpful for as, thanks for sharing.

    AntwortenLöschen
  11. Its a Very Great and Amazing Blog Dear This is Very Great and Helpful..
    Talha PC
    Crackedithere
    expressvpn crack
    foxit reader crack

    AntwortenLöschen
  12. I am very thankful for the effort put on by you, to help us, Thank you so much for the post it is very helpful, keep posting such type of Article.
    Revo Uninstaller Pro Crack
    Beamng Drive For PC Free Download
    Omnisphere Crack

    AntwortenLöschen
  13. By hiring Houston Strong Roofing Company, you can be guaranteed of long-lasting repairs and reliable, high-end roofing systems, saving you from more costly repair work in the future.

    webstorm crack
    typing master pro crack
    vso convertxtodvd crack
    mackeeper crack
    teamviewer crack with torrent

    AntwortenLöschen