"WELCOME TO GRAND GLUM LAND" a Vienna Travel Page by iandsmith

With virtually no expectations except that I was going to stay in a converted castle, I arrived at Vienna around 6.30 in the morning.
The snow lay in most places around the town, adding a romantic air for me, someone who rarely comes across the white stuff.
I caught a train into town and commenced walking. As buildings go it is an impressive city. "Grand" was a word that sprung to mind often.
Greek, Roman and medieval it certainly wasn't. Here was 18th and 19th century splendour in droves. Palace after baroque palace until there was a sameness about them after a few days. Sometimes you yearned for a Gaudian influence to pop up for some variation.
I should explain the opening picture. I carried it with me everywhere, along with several others, to show people where I came from and some places I had visited. Without fail, everyone thought I was crazy, leaving this for snowbound Vienna. They didn't understand that weeks of plus 30 degrees (celcius) weather is more draining than a couple of weeks of snow.
After the first day I had a distinct feeling about the people and found a perfect opportunity to try out my theory.

Whilst walking the vast grounds of the Shonbrunn Palace I tried a "Guten Tag" or two on everyone walking past. Not one person replied! All bowed their heads and turned them slightly in the opposite direction without so much as a mutter. At least the birds in the superb grounds (where you can walk for free) were more accommodating, as were the squirrels. Some people even hand feed some of the birds, so tame are they.

Meanwhile, back to the people. I couldn't believe it until, much later, I mentioned it to other people in the town. The three that I happened to speak to all agreed; but, they were all from elsewhere. An ex-Greek, Nigerian and a Peruvian all concurred that Viennese need to loosen up a little. Remember, smiles are free and a hello costs nothing. A similar walk in Australia would have netted about a 100% response and, in Italy 2 weeks later at Rilke's Promenade I elicited an 80% response trying the same thing. Communication can be a wonderful thing.