Sign in with Facebook"Wien Wien Nur Du allein" Vienna by Sirvictor
Vienna Travel Guide: 7,173 reviews and 17,491 photos
After graduating Ankara College I decided to study in Vienna. I was 20 years of age. I took the train from Istanbul's Sirkeci Station to Vienna at 8 PM on December 10th 1961. In the compartment there was another young man from Jordan called Ragip el Shammud. The journey lasted 3 days and 3 nights. In early 1960's train was the only transportation vehicle to Europa. Next day leaving behind the Turkish border our train entered Greece, 10 minutes later we were in Bulgaria. At that time Bulgaria was under the iron curtain. A Bulgarian border police with his unhuman behaviour entered my cabin and longed for my passport. I was realy crared of his way of service. The Bulgarians immediately locked all the train doors and not allowed to open the windows. At the end of the day the train entered Jugoslavia. Jugoslavia was also a communist state but more free then Bulgaria. Jugos opened the locked doors. Suddenly a hord of wild men and women poured into the train. In this disorder some passengers filled my cabin and one of them even sit at my place.I told him in Turkish, English and German that that place was mine. Naturally he and the others didn't understood. There was only one thing to do. I seized his collar and throw him out. All night long I didn' clip my eye. In the early morning our train entered Beograd. I saw first time in my life River Danube from the window of my compartment. The Jugos were very dirty. There was no cleaning service. The toilets were full of dirt. No water, no soap. I had my own provisions from Istanbul but I had no water to drink. All day long we passed through Jugoslavia. At dawn of December 13th 1961 we entered Austria.
My Allah you are great!
Suddenly everything changed. I found myself in another world. A world of civilization, a word of prosperity. At the Austrian border two women entered our wagon with washing materials. In an hour our wagon was as clean as a palace. I asked one of those cleaning women that I need something to drink. Because I wasn't drinking since the last 2O hours. She went away and returned with a man who was selling eating stuff. I drunk like a barrel.
Austria was wonderfull. Es war Wunderschön. We passed Bruck, Graz and finally we reached to Ostbahnhof. (East Railway Station).
A friend of mine was waiting for me at the station. He took me at a hotel in Mariahilferstrasse.(I forgot the name) I spent ther two nights. During that time I looked for a room for students. On the street I asked a young man if he knows where was the University. He showed the way. I walked all the way from Mariahilfer to University. At the University a student told me that in Führich gasse near the opera there was a office for students. I went there and got an adress: Löwengasse nr 10. The owner of the apartment was Frau Radovan. She was an old women who lost his two sons during the battle of Stalingrad. Poor women. Later in 1997 I visited Löwengasse for famous dwellings coloured by Hundretwasser style.
I am writing my old experiences to give a brief knowledge to young travellers.Nowadays travelling is very easy. Bulgaria and Jugoslavia changed very much. Both are clean like a palace. The border police is friendly. You can buy whatever you want in the train.
At Heidenschluss 3, Strauchgasse 1 Vienna 1,on the corner of Montenuovo place's first floor you may see a statue of a Turkish horseman, a Sipahi. He is called Çerkes Dayi. According to historians during the siege of Vienna by the Turks in 1683 this Turkish horse soldier found his way through Austian lines and fought bravely and noble until he reached to the centre of the city. The good Austians never forgot this brave man and erected a statue for his honour.
May Allahs merrcy on him.
After staying at Löwengasse as a tenant I moved to Rathausstrasse at Schottentor. My rentner was a 90 years old lady with her 20 cats. She was a beautiful women in her youth. She was translater and writer. Her late husband was a nevalattaché in Istanbul before the First Wold War. Therefore I had a great time in her appartment. My room was just at the back street of University of Vienna. You can see University building. On the right at far distance is the famous Wiener Rat Haus.
- Cons:The waiters of café's
- In a nutshell:Vienna, Vienna only You Wien Wien nur Du allein.
Reviews (11)
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My younger son Emre Saral M.A. infront of the palace waiting the doughter of Emperor. March 2009 more travel advice
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- Posted in Travel Istanbul Forum "Re: Travelling to Ancient wonders..."
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Comments (6)
hello good profile and thanks for the zwolfapostlekellar tip. gordon
thanks for stopping by vienna with me. we did have a piece of very bad luck there but still a great city to visit.
Hi Interesting your train journey from Istanbul, Thank Goodness things have got better, mine was late but safe with some fellow brits.
The story of your journey to Vienna and your student days there is absolutely fascinating. Thank you for sharing it here - as you say travelling was not so easy in those days.
Vienna seems to be a nice city. Greetings from Serbia and Montenegro
It was great experience!