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Vienna
 
VIENNA Submit a Tale here | More Tales
We reached Vienna early in the morning and rushed straight to the hostel.

Ich bin mude. We had just arrived in Vienna on an overnight train from Venice with barely enough sleep and we really hoped to get to our rooms. We reached the hostel at 8:40am. Glad and really looking forward to our beds, we knocked on the door with expectant hearts. We were met with a lecture: "No, no the hostel is open only at 9 - neun punkt!". Neither the fact that it was only 20 minutes to 9 nor our tired faces moved the receptionist.

Well, fine.

Vienna was very different from Tuscany and Rome where we had just been. For one, no one jaywalks here. It seems that everybody here is strictly law-abiding. Too strict.

We went to hear the Vienna Voice Choir. Being backpackers, most of us chose to stand and hear the choir for free. But Alex and I couldn't see the rationale of standing after a sleepless night so we spent and got seats. The music was in classical German - which we do not understand. The long breaths and high pitch sounded like bees on our tired ears. Someone rebuked an American behind for talking and we were subsequently warned. We tried to be polite, sit straight and listen. Our flesh fails us however as we nodded off. Someone kicked my chair to wake me up. Again, thoughts of stuffy religious pride in their high standards of moral living came to mind. Outside, one of our female companions fainted on the floor. The power of classical music on tired bodies…

Alex and I went to attend an English service after the choir at Vienna Community Church. The whole atmosphere seemed so different. Warmer, friendlier and happier. Maybe it's the language but I enjoyed the singing and service so much more. The kindly old priest with the two cheeky boys reminded me of being in the house of God, which I needed, in a foreign continent.

We walked to several places later, including a theme park. Smile-less, unfriendly Vienna had given me wariness around people. So when an Austrian couple sat next to me at the theme park, I was cautious. The lady was large; with huge round unblinking eyes, messy hair and (you're right) a smile-less face. For some reason, she kept staring at me. It may not be a Wien culture to smile but it is certainly my habit, so I smiled at her. (What else do you do when someone stares at you unblinkingly for minutes?) It was then that I realized: there's a soul behind that grotesque mask. She broke into smiles, and though she still look scary, smiles made her look more human. We struck up a conversation and she told me many things about Vienna. She is obviously proud of her city and wanted to let me know every good food, every fun place and every memorable site in town.

Places may be different. Foreign culture may deter. But people's heart can always meet.