Aug3

The flight from Vienna to Marseille

Posted on by
Standard

Thursday, 04-July-2024


On July 4th, I learned that the robots have started taking over Austria.

I hadn’t expected to learn this, of course – so far I hadn’t seen any hints of an AI overthrow while in Vienna. Just normal people, everything running smoothly… I should have known it was too good to last.

As I walked through the Vienna airport, looking for a good spot to settle in and have some breakfast, I heard a beeping ahead of me, and saw one of those floor cleaning things puttering along… though its driver seemed to be taking a break, because I didn’t see a person on it.

Of course, the reptile part of my brain got curious, and told me to jump on and take it for a spin while the driver was away… I wouldn’t do that, obviously, but the call of the void exists whether we listen to it or not. As I got closer though, I noticed that it was moving… and that there was caution tape around the seat. It wasn’t that the driver was taking a break… the machine WAS the driver! The caution tape proved it, reading “Caution: Autonomous cleaning in progress”.



So yeah, robots. Takin’ our jobs.


Aside from that, the flight to France was lovely and quick. I had a lovely Viennese brunch, read a bit on the plane, reviewed a whole ton of photos, and even got some climbing recommendations from the guy sitting in the row with me.

Got some great views as we descended into Marseille, and… yeah. Definitely a nice and lovely flight! Fully recommend both Vienna and Marseille airport

Aug2

Belvedere Castle – Schloss Belvedere

Posted on by
Standard

Wednesday, 03-July-2024


Yesterday, I’d had the opportunity to wander the gardens of Belvedere Castle – enjoying the views, the air, and the lovely sounds of the water features burbling away.

Today, I wanted to tour the castle itself.


I’ll admit that, after the emotional tribulation of the Vienna Museum, I was feeling a bit overstimulated and burnt out. Cafe Central had helped, since chocolates and hazelnuts always help, but… well, sweets and lattes could only carry the day so much.

They did give me the energy to forge onward, though, and so onward I forged into the heart of the castle. Perusing art, history, paintings and carvings. Modern and ancient, from the exhibit on the top floor dedicated to contemporary art to the tiny crucifix from the 12th century that is the oldest piece in the collection…

It was neat, but honestly not that much of a standout of a gallery. I enjoyed it, to be sure, but… Well, I’d go back to the Art History museum, or Natural History museum, in a heartbeat. But the Belvedere Castle… I think I’m good on, now.

Aug2

The Vienna Museum – Wien Museum Karlsplatz

Posted on by
Standard

Wednesday, 03-July-2024


This was a tough museum for me.

I’d been excited to see it ever since I first noticed it on my initial forays into Vienna, passing by on my way to the art history museum. I put it on the list, prioritizing other museums above it simply due to their global reach, but making a point to include the Vienna museum in my itinerary so that I could learn a bit more about the city that my Grandfather had grown up in.



It started off positively enough, just like any other museum really. Learning about the origins of the land, and of the first settlement of the region. I wandered and read, learning details about the Roman occupation, and little tidbits about those who came before, and some salient details about how the European world around Vienna had been expanding.

Then we came to the first mass extermination of the Jewish population.

From there, a thread emerged. Not something critically visible, or consistent, but… a thread, none the less. An undercurrent throughout the history of Vienna of Antisemitism, but also of forward progress being ripped out from under the feet of the people.


Even now, writing this from a hotel room far removed (both physically and chronologically) from Vienna, it makes me a bit sad. Learning about the fall of “Red Vienna”, a government aiming to better serve the population, to the forces of an Authoritarian regime which would go on to aid Nazi Germany… It was enlightening, but hard to learn about.

There was a constant theme to the museum; a theme reflected far too directly in today’s world, in my opinion. A story of opulence and poverty. Of incredible wealth on one end, and incredible scarcity on the other. A story which ended in war, and death.



I pushed on, becoming more and more overloaded and mentally saturated as I continued. I learned, I read, I photographed… and then, when it was all done, I headed out.

I needed coffee and sweet delicious things.