Comments on: Viennese Memories 3

By: Anjali

Anjali — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 11:02:43 +0000

Thanks! Have been a bit busy at work. Read all your posts yesterday as I was ‘working’ from home. Still chewing on the Indian post…not sure what my stand is.

Love your latest post!

By: Surya

Surya — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 21:56:29 +0000

Hee, I have a soft spot for Vienna =) I said Imperial feel more because of the similarity in some of the lofty buildings and architecture. And unlike many other European cities, the old buildings in both Paris and Vienna are well maintained.

Guess I have to grudgingly admit its not as “happening” as Paris =)

Good to see you aro..havent heard from you in a bit! Welcome back!

By: Anjali

Anjali — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 12:32:55 +0000

Vienna is overall an excellent place – almost like Paris, in its imperial feel…

Oh, c’mon Surya, how can you compare Vienna to Paris? Vienna is a nice city, i agree, but nowhere as lively and diverse and exciting as Paris!

But, I see your point about feeling more comfortable in Vienna. I feel the same way about Brussels (though Paris has its own charm!:)

By: Surya

Surya — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 04:56:25 +0000

Oops..I didn’t mean that to come out as Franco-bashing. But some places in Paris definitely had the worst customer service I have ever seen – like hotel waiters who make it look like they are doing you a huge favor by bringing you food. I guess if you get to know the French, they are really nice people, but first impressions some times seem a bit snobbish – IMHO:). Also, as I said, it could be since I am comfortable with the German language than French, I just felt more at home in Vienna than in Paris.

By: najeeb

najeeb — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 21:41:19 +0000

Nice writeup Surya! I tend to agree, Venkat. French are distict in many ways, but that doesn’t make them snobbish. In my own experience I found them to be extremely genuine people – they are so proud of their heritage and so on, who is not? that doesn’t bother me :)

By: Venkat

Venkat — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 17:50:27 +0000

almost like Paris, in its imperial feel, yet down-to-earth and non-snobbish in a way that makes one feel comfortable and at ease…

I feel this “snobbish” image has been perpetrated way too much by the media and popular culture, that now it has become standard expectation. I have seen tourists act like jerks, and when they don’t get their way, complain about “French attitudes”. I am not necesarily defending the French (I have had my share of lousy customer service etc.), but feel they get maligned unfairly often (see the Oprah-Hermes dustup from last month, for example).