Today is exactly 6 months since I’ve moved to Vienna. Half of the year has passed, it’s crazy how fast time flies! At this point, I can definitely say that I know something about this place: I’ve observed many interesting things during my stay here and I’d like to share some highlights. Some of you will relate to them, I’m sure.
1. You’ve mastered grocery shopping planning
Vienna is one of those places where almost the whole city is shut down on Sundays. While this is a good thing, because this day is usually dedicated to friends, family or just to yourself, this can be a problem if you need those two bloody eggs for your morning pancakes recipe. That’s why everyone here plans ahead: Saturday morning is the prime time to see families filling their shopping carts with tons of stuff. Working days are tricky too: if you live in Vienna, you know you should get your evening beer before 20:00.
2. … if no, you know how keep calm in these enormous queues at the train station supermarkets
If your memory, like mine, sometimes fails you, then you’ve definitely experienced this lifelong waiting in the Billa at Praterstern or in the Spar at Landstraße. And you’ve probably also cursed at yourself million times and promised yourself that it was happening for the last time.
3. You praise Viennese transportation system
Public transport in Vienna, or Öffi, as locals call it, is pretty amazing. It’s clean, safe and super efficient: you can get basically anywhere without any problem. When you travel, you compare the local transportation system to the Viennese one, but soon you realize that Vienna is unbeatable.
4. „Grüß Gott“ doesn’t freak you out anymore
Here, instead of being greeted with standard German Hallo, you’ll hear Grüß Gott, which is not going to make sense at all at first. Don’t be shocked though, this phrase doesn’t have anything to do with religion these days and it’s a perfectly normal way to be polite in Austria.
5. You find a cup of coffee served without water bizarre
I haven’t seen any single coffee house in Austria, where you’ll get your coffee without a glass of water. In fact, you get so used to it, that any other coffee drinking scenario sounds extraordinary.
6. You know how to avoid these Opera tickets sellers
Every time you pass Opera, you see them: a bunch of guys dressed in costumes, trying to convince you to buy an overpriced ticket to a show. Most likely you instantly speed up, ignorantly stare in your phone or just throw a quick „Nein, danke“. Alternatively, you just avoid walking in the 50 meter radius from them.
7. This is your idea of a perfect summer evening stroll
8. And you wouldn’t have your Christmas any other way
