Billy Joel Was Right. Vienna Waits for You.

This is a love letter to Vienna. To warm cups of Häferlkaffees at Viennese coffee shops and street corners rich in architectural history. 

Vienna: A cultural melting pot 

As a Muslim student of Indo-Aryan ethnicity, I had expected to feel some degree of “otherness” while living in a European capital. Much to my surprise, I found Vienna to be home to a multitude of people—immigrants, vagabonds, students, families, dreamers.

Vienna, being located in the heart of central Europe, is diverse in food, religion, and culture. While German serves as the national language of Austria, it is not uncommon to hear locals conversing in Arabic, Russian, or Hungarian (to name a few). I don’t recall a single moment of feeling unsafe in my identity either as a woman, a person of color, or as a non-native German speaker—no matter what part of the city I found myself passing through.

Vienna: A place of unique culinary experiences 

Döners (kebabs originating from Turkey) and würstels (hot dogs originating from Germany and Austria) can be purchased at just about any commercial street in the city. My friends and I would frequent döner stands after class, seeing as these kebabs make for a quick, delicious, and filling meal. When it comes to sweets and desserts, there is no shortage of flavors in Vienna. Kaiserschmarrn, for example, is a fluffy shredded pancake often served with applesauce or cranberries. In English, the name translates to the “Emperor’s Mess”—be sure to ask a local about the fascinating story behind it! 

And last but certainly not least: Viennese coffee. Coffee shops in Vienna go back hundreds of years and initially served as the meeting places for notable historical thinkers and socialites. There is not so much of a “grabbing coffee” culture in Vienna as there is a culture of spending hours at a coffee shop, reading, or conversing with people. Considering that the water comes straight from the Alps, it's no wonder the coffee tastes as good as it does. Did you know that the cappuccino was invented in Vienna? 

Vienna: The epitome of European art and architecture

Under the Babenberg Empire, Austria was heavily influenced by Romanesque art. St. Rupert’s Church, for example, is the oldest one in the city and has all the classic characteristics of a Romanesque church: semi-circular arches, painted columns, and thick barrel vaults. Later, under the Hapsburg Empire, Vienna saw a transition to Gothic art. St. Stephens Cathedral in the heart of the city center is a prime tourist location. The cathedral is composed of ornate designs and pointed arches. In true Gothic fashion, the idea of the highest point of a cathedral signifies leaving the terrestrial world for a heavenly realm. For more contemporary examples of architecture, be sure to look into the works of Otto Wagner whilst in Vienna! Much of Vienna’s modernist architecture during the fin de siècla (such as the Kirche am Steinhof—Europe’s first modern church) can be attributed to Wagner. 

Vienna, thank you for waiting for me. For a semester of personal growth and cultural exploration. Until next time...tschüss!