Sojourn From Budapest to Vienna

Budapest was such a visual city, we wished we had more time just to walk through and look. The winding cobbled streets, yellow bricks from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, neo-gothic cathedrals, labyrinths, giant indoor markets. A small and sophisticated city with good food and vibrant nightlife. My friend and traveling companion was really only wanting for a lesbian bar (Note, as of August 2019, there are no femme-oriented gay bars in Budapest, though there are a few for men).

Hours can be spent walking around. The well-known Fisherman's Bastion is certainly a recommended and essentially free attraction. The city is a striking landscape of stalagmite-esque towers. Much of the ceremonious grandeur of the empire is evident in the day-to-day. Just walking across one of the many bridges across the Danube river is breathtaking (Note that Budapest in the summer is very hot and humid, I hear some expect it to be cooler).

Vienna would prove just as much visual stimulation with a huge array of ornate buildings. Right up to the city limits, though, the countryside was as rich with farmland as propaganda would promise.

There is little-to-no phone signal between the two cities. For sightseeing purposes, this is a quiet blessing. Try and book in advance to request a window seat. If budget-possible, avoid economy, as it can fill up to the point of passengers sitting on the floor between cars.

Reading and writing are quite comfortable on this train, as it is not so fast as to induce illness (even traveling backwards I was able to write for much of it), and is on fairly even ground.

The well-tended farmland is quite a sight for someone living in urban America. Towering wind-turbines are a strange sight, indicative of a world bracing for the effects of an environment unraveling. Beneath the stoic giants, the villages and orchards sit still and idyllic.

Try and look out the window where possible.

Visiting foreign countries, I always try to visit a standard market. They tend to be indicative of a culture's values. Vienna, albeit at the height of tourist season, acquiesced its notoriety in that half of the supermarket aisles consisting of beer and chocolate.

In the toiletries section, tiny bottles of booze were being sold alongside razors and toothpaste—completely unceremonious about stashing bottles in the shaving kits.

It felt especially candid having come straight from the outdoor nachtmarkrt—a stunning outdoor market of spices, chocolate, souvenirs, street food, cheeses, and pastries. A rainstorm had swept many other pedestrians into the the shelters of the overhangs. It was beautiful; streams of water as thin walls between the eighteen inches of space between people across the aisle, patrons of cafes sipping wine as they regarded the couples huddled in corners, some making a dash across the road beneath their coats. The damp air kicked up a series of smells that managed to not meld as an odorous peripheral, but still act as distinguishable sources: spices, cakes, meat, pasta, sweets.

Coming straight from this, the supermarket seemed especially indecorous and honest, aside from the cardboard booth of Mozart-themed chocolate, as there couldn't seem to be enough reminders around Vienna that Mozart lived there.

We'd passed by Mozarthaus on our way to St. Stephen's Cathedral from the Belvedere. Vienna is a city that can be quite happily visited on the outside, observing the architecture. The Belvedere, housing many Klimts, was something we wandered into entirely accidentally after being somewhat underwhelmed by the botanical gardens.

This is the appeal of a city like Vienna. There are no wrong turns. Joy is available in every direction.

Vienna is certainly an artist's city. Within the structure itself, the inspiration, and the residents. However, August is an incredibly quiet time to go, with most of the locals on vacation. We were lucky enough to have had drinks with an amazing comedian named Denice Bourbon. Her life and presence were absolutely delightful.

We didn't have time to see Klimts at the museum. Next time, will be sure to add in time. Apparently, Christmas is a great time to go to Vienna.