Vienna, Vienna
Feeling WAY too much at home in Vienna. Have completely stopped taking pictures after getting here, because I just don´t feel like a tourist around here. Perhaps, this feeling of belonging can be attributed to the fact that I already had a bunch of people to socialize with before I got here...different social circles, even!
After musing over modern art at the museum, getting thrilled at the Haus der Musik, having one Viennese Melange Coffee after another, sitting through a rehearsal of an outstanding Vienna choir, getting treated to dinner by one of the most eminent Indian personalities in the world of Western music and having a couple of Viennese and Salzburg beers and so much more, I came back to my room and realized I hadn´t had my daily quote of one smoke.
As I stepped out to treat myself to a smoke in solitude (just the way I like it), I was siezed by an impulse to do it in a better manner than just step out into the corridor or outside the hostel. So I grabbed my purse and headed out past 11pm, strolled to the Metro station and hopped onto a train towards Stephansplatz. Those who´ve been here would know, while the place isn´t too far off from where I stay (Westbahnof), it isn´t exactly next door either. I quickly did a mental check on whom I could call in case of an emergency and put my map away to avoid looking like a tourist (and also, because I was feeling at home enough to need a map anymore for some of these routes :P).
And there I was at Stephansplatz, standing and admiring the Cathedral of St. Stephens, built way back in 1147AD and enjoying the long drags of my precious cigarette. Since I don´t smoke much, every smoke feels almost like smoking up (almost being the operative word). I can barely stand up after an entire stick, I get pretty faint at the end of it :D
As I stood there, contemplating the wonderful day that had just passed, loving the work of beauty standing in front of me and feeling the nicotine kick in, while embracing the moment of solitude (starting to enjoy it more and more lately), I could have died of happiness right there :)
Happiness is in moments like these. Thank you, God, for such moments.
After musing over modern art at the museum, getting thrilled at the Haus der Musik, having one Viennese Melange Coffee after another, sitting through a rehearsal of an outstanding Vienna choir, getting treated to dinner by one of the most eminent Indian personalities in the world of Western music and having a couple of Viennese and Salzburg beers and so much more, I came back to my room and realized I hadn´t had my daily quote of one smoke.
As I stepped out to treat myself to a smoke in solitude (just the way I like it), I was siezed by an impulse to do it in a better manner than just step out into the corridor or outside the hostel. So I grabbed my purse and headed out past 11pm, strolled to the Metro station and hopped onto a train towards Stephansplatz. Those who´ve been here would know, while the place isn´t too far off from where I stay (Westbahnof), it isn´t exactly next door either. I quickly did a mental check on whom I could call in case of an emergency and put my map away to avoid looking like a tourist (and also, because I was feeling at home enough to need a map anymore for some of these routes :P).
And there I was at Stephansplatz, standing and admiring the Cathedral of St. Stephens, built way back in 1147AD and enjoying the long drags of my precious cigarette. Since I don´t smoke much, every smoke feels almost like smoking up (almost being the operative word). I can barely stand up after an entire stick, I get pretty faint at the end of it :D
As I stood there, contemplating the wonderful day that had just passed, loving the work of beauty standing in front of me and feeling the nicotine kick in, while embracing the moment of solitude (starting to enjoy it more and more lately), I could have died of happiness right there :)
Happiness is in moments like these. Thank you, God, for such moments.