I don’t know what decadence tastes like, but I bet it’s delicious.
The Habsburgs liked theirs served hot with a side of schnitzel. In case you’ve never visited a former world empire, they tend to be outrageously luxurious. Vienna is proof that the Austrian monarchy was no exception.
Vienna’s neighborhoods are consistently beautiful, but the central area that was once the imperial estate stinks of wealth like you wouldn’t believe. The Habsburg family’s “apartment”—as if you could call it that—inundated me room after room with unimaginable riches. Golden chandeliers, silver spoons, and modern toilets!
That’s why it’s funny to look at Austria now, and see how far it has come from the times when aristocrats ruled the land. The country now shares its wealth among the citizens, so that everyone can enjoy comfortable lifestyles the likes of what the Habsburgs had. Its once exclusive palaces that entertained the rich are now exhibits that teach history to the public.
Talk about a transition. 200 years ago this country involved itself in affairs of world conquest. That’s hardly on its agenda nowadays, but are the people okay with that?
The way I’ve seen Austrians live, they should be. Vienna is a refined city with a government that takes great care of its citizens. It’s soaked in royal history, puts on great operas, and has all the heavenly strudel your belly can hold (something I can bear witness to). Did I mention that Mozart used to live here?
Outside the city, it’s just as good. I took a boat through some of the countryside, and if there are more picturesque places to be found than the towns I saw, I would make it a wager. Imagine retiring in a town like this.
High quality of life is no longer the Viennese aristocrat’s domain; every doctor, plumber, and teacher claims that now. And they bask in their cushy lifestyle while living under the radar amidst all the craziness in the world. I don’t recall hearing about Vienna—or Austria, for that matter—coping with major conflict lately. A quieter role than during their imperial heyday, for sure, but Austrians probably prefer being away from the drama.
Such tranquility is a pleasant thought, especially for an American. With all the international turmoil the US gets caught up in, I’m sometimes overwhelmed by my country’s troubles. It can feel like an unwanted burden, and I sometimes think about how nice it would be to live in a country that draws less publicity.
I’m not sure how high up Vienna is on people’s lists, but I get the impression that it gets overlooked more often than not. Can’t imagine why, but if that’s the case the Viennese probably won’t mind. That just means more loveliness for themselves.
Excursion tip: Visit the town of Melk to see the monk abbey. The cathedral’s brilliant gold-plated furnishings, frescoes, and religious “bling” blew my mind. From there you can take the riverboat I talked about through the green and luscious Wachau valley.
Salzburg is next.
