As I typed into the “say whatever you want” typewriter at MAK, the very funky modern art museum downtown, if cities were people then Vienna would be out of my league. Also, I had to be shown how to use a typewriter, so my dreams of writing the great American novel during this year off took a second hit.*
Formerly a series of palaces, occasionally broken up by enormous churches when building palaces became boring, Vienna is a place to go to see art, drink coffee, eat pastry and just generally out-Melbourne Melbourne. Go wandering and find a shop that makes bars/coffee storage/bookshelves from refurbished airline drinks trolleys. Get lost looking at galleries inside courtyards that 200 years ago were actually courts (in the courtly sense). And when do you get lost, walk around the corner and the metro takes you home.
Highlights;
1. The Belvedere, in particular Klimt’s “The Kiss”. I’ll admit to expecting to be disappointed by this particular work, especially after having a tired print of it hanging in my bedroom for the past 3 years, but it was actually astonishingly beautiful in the flesh (or in the gold lamé so to speak).
2. MAK - really well curated modern art museum. Stefan Sagmeister’s exhibition @thehappyshow did a wonderful thing for me when I sat down and listened to his TED talk about sabbaticals. It really has reinforced my slightly wavering conviction that I am doing the right thing by taking a year off.
3. Coffee - The Viennese are very serious about this. I can appreciate and respect this, usually three or four times a day.
4. The Kunsthistorisches Museum (god you’ve gotta be careful typing that word out). A monumental palace full of art collected for the sake of collecting art, interspersed with some true masterpieces, and some unintentional comedy.
Lowlights;
Pretty much none. The first day we arrived was glacial with 40kmh-1 winds, but it’s good prep for Zermatt, so upsides all around!
*the first hit being that I am not American and won’t have ever been there until later this year.