On Bread and Cake

"Wenger’s vision of football is so idealistic that he will not allow the concept of negativity or denial to enter his thoughts. This is about doing it the right way. So the purists love the team, whilst admitting that it is doomed to failure."

- Kevin Whitcher, from the Online Gooner

So yesterday, I decided to do Vienna properly. Caught a tram around the ring road instead of walking it. Went to the Hofburg Palace and saw the Spanish Riding School. Bought an actual meal instead of munching on raisin bread. Went to the opera and saw La Traviata, and met this gorgeous Korean arts student there. Had an espresso and a Sacher torte at the Sacher Cafe across the way. 

But today, I've a bit of buyer's remorse. No girl, no money and nowhere to go until Friday. I've overspent my budget and I've a day and a half left in Vienna. I have €30 left in my wallet, and the bulk of that's going towards my bus ticket fund. And maybe to see Faust on the Thursday night. As a result, I'm reduced to raisin bread and water for the rest of my time in Vienna. 

I'm literally on the bread line. 

I think it was worth it, though. The Sacher torte is a landmark achievement in the field of chocolate cakery, and there's something surreal about sitting in a plush, classy coffee house wearing a smelly beanie and torn cargo pants. And Vienna can be exceptionally beautiful when you're not dazed by lack of food and exhausted by constant walking.

The only thing I really regret is not taking the time to watch the Arsenal. Thumping 5-2 wins don't happen every week, and it's always nice to be present when they happen. It's especially important because, as the Online Gooner opines, it's probably the only kind of joy we're going to get while we're so frickin' poor at the back. We have to enjoy the beauty of our game on the nights when everything clicks, because we'll crash and burn far too many times to mount successful title challenges. 

I guess it's a matter of cake or bread. Bread fills you up and keeps you walking, but cake...well, nothing's sweeter than a Sacher torte with an espresso. 

Before Sunrise

"Yeah, right, well, great. So listen, so here's the deal. This is what we should do. You should get off the train with me here in Vienna, and come check out the capital." 

- Jesse (Ethan Hawke), in Before Sunrise

There's a bunch of Germans in the lounge and they're waiting for something. They wheeled in their bags in a moment ago and are now standing around a tour guide, waiting a bit expectantly. I thought for a minute that it was a Busabout group, but I kind of doubt it - not enough Australians for that. 

God, I'm tired. Spent the afternoon walking around the Museum Quarter munching on a raisin loaf and worrying about Cyrillic. If I want to go to Transylvania and meet the vampires, I'll have to learn the alphabet. Inconveniently, I'm about to come across a populace that won't speak English. 

I put up the quote because I remember watching that film when I was a kid. The premise goes that an American guy bumps into a French girl on a train to Vienna. He's got a flight out of the city in the morning, but they agree to spend the day walking around the city. It sounds pretty mundane, but when I first watched it, I couldn't think of a finer think to do. And the city looked wondrous at night. 

At that time, Europe seemed so far away, and those cities were more sounds to be savoured than places to visit. There was something magical about names like Prague and Vienna and Budapest - probably because I never thought I'd ever get there. But now that I'm here, I'm very jaded. One you've seen one awesomely majestic, once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, you've kind of seen them all. And I've had my fill for a while. Anyway, after a while, all you really want is to sleep in a bed for more than four nights in a row, and a lounge room that doesn't pump out industrial music and ply drinks to hyped-up backpackers. 

The Germans have gone, and I probably should go as well. It's actually a really nice day outside. I should enjoy the sunshine while it's still around. Maybe have a walk around the ring road. It's a nice little tree-lined avenue with trams running through it - much like Royal Parade in Parkville. 

In Arsenal news, we're severely depleted going into the Fenerbache match. And van Persie firmly believes that losing winnable games against weaker sides is damaging for our campaign. He's a sharp one, that van Persie.