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VIENNA - AUSTRIA
Before the Second World War, Vienna
stood side by side with Paris and London in importance,
beauty, and power, thanks to its status as a major
transit point between Western and Eastern Europe.
The rich and elite of Europe vacationed here while
the poor viewed it as an opportunity to escape
their miseries. Here, artists and composers sought
inspiration and revolutionaries ironed out their
plans and theories.
Vienna, however, has not always been
considered such a romantic destination. The city
found itself just a few miles from the Iron Curtain
during the Cold War. Hence, trade ceased with
the East, and foreigners found little reason to
visit a war-torn city. However, with the sudden
popularity and growth of the Eastern Jewels (Budapest,
Prague, and Kraków), Vienna rediscovered
its role as a gateway. In-transit tourists, as
well, have rediscovered Vienna's old-world charm,
often making an unexpected extended stay. There
is no better time than now to visit this magnificent
city.
People traveling to Vienna looking for
fin-de-siècle architecture and a relaxed
atmosphere will not be disappointed. Imagine a
city shaped by artists and composers 150 years
ago. Huge palaces seem to appear on every major
street corner, and the sky is pierced with towering
church steeples. The buildings along the Ringstrasse
seem to offer a bit of every European building
style, from the medieval Rathaus, Gothic Stephensdom,
to the Greco-Roman parliament building.
Visitors quickly embrace the old-world
style of Vienna. The streets are lined with quaint
shops, cafés, and bakeries. Men are still
gentlemen, while women still dress themselves
up before strolling around town. The locals are
generally conservative, well educated, and well
mannered. They will notice you looking at a map
or deciphering a sign, but are too polite to bother
you. However, if you ask them, then you will find
that most Viennese speak a bit of English and
are happy to help a traveler.
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