For those who have not ventured to this corner of the world, Austria is a small, beautiful country with rolling hills, lush fields, old growth forests and quaint villages. The people appear very hearty and have a life focus which does not seem very friendly at first but warms with time...even just a short time. They are jovial en masse and have a suble joie de vivra. The villages are pristine and full of a heritage preserved with obvious pride. The cuisine is equally hearty, as is the beer and wine.
Vienna is similar to other large European cities. It may be cleaner than some but, like all others, it has its very beautiful parts and its parts that are not so appealing. The city center (altstadt) is full of very elegant facades, however, there is much construction which dampened their beauty. Also, the city planners have allowed modern buidlings to creep in amongst the beautiful facades. The combination is often not too appealing. The city has many parks, which softens the effect of the helter skelter of city life. The city is a melting pot of tourists as well as residents. There are many Eastern Europeans, a growing number of Asians, many Italians and too many Americans (mostly doing business). Overall, I liked this city and may return to spend more time during next year's European vacation.
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