Op-Expat

The Austrians have a deep appreciation for nature. Proof lies in exploding flower boxes hung out on windowsills with care. Gardens and parks cleanly maintained and appreciated. And most impressive, 50% of Vienna’s surface taken up by woods and other green areas. http://www.hotels-austria.com/vienna-info/wien-practviennainnumbers.htm

(Above image is an aerial view of Vienna. Note how much green there is to see.)

When visiting a Viennese you’ll usually end up at an apartment. Think of it like New York City. No one has a house in the city. Same holds true for the citizens of Vienna. Living in an apartment however, doesn’t stop the Viennese from getting some greenery. Most apartment complexes are designed in a square format, with the center being devoid of building. The center space of the complex is left open to a small park with grass, large trees, and sometimes flowers.

Once outside of their own apartment, the Viennese can take advantage of the many parks and gardens that the city maintains. Entrance into all parks and gardens is free. People take advantage of the opportunity with a variety of activities like sunbathing, leisurely walks, casually playing soccer with friends, jogging, picnicking and more.

(Above image is one of the famous gardens in Vienna, the Belvedere.)

If the green opportunities aren’t enough, Viennese can purchase a piece of garden. These gardens are called schrebergartens. Sometimes they are in Vienna, sometimes they are just outside of the city limits. Weekends are dedicated to tending flowers, fruit trees, a vegetable garden, or whatever the owner wants. Often friends are invited over to the schrebergarten to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee or glass of wine.

(Above image is a typical schrebergarten.)

As a native to Los Angeles, I have an unending appreciation for the greenery of Vienna. Real estate being what it is in L.A., nature doesn’t get much of a chance, making it a concrete city. I sometimes have a hard time believing that the Viennese willingly give up precious spots of real estate for parks, gardens, and even bits of wood. Clearly though, they wouldn’t have it any other way. I admire the Viennese for it. They would rather live tightly together where buildings are allowed to be, and keep whatever they can open to nature. In fact, where I currently live, there are schrebergartens right next door to my building. I love it!

During the daily routine of my life I run errands around the city. I usually find myself stopping for a moment to admire a tree lined street, or a park. It’s one of the loveliest aspects of Vienna.

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A lot of people have been asking me why I moved to Vienna. They think I’m insane for having traded in Los Angeles for Vienna. How could I walk away from the perfect weather, the beach, and that glamorous lifestyle that L.A. is all about? Well, I have a short and sweet answer for all those people.

BusinessWeek’s website has an article titled “The World’s Best Places to Live in 2008.” Guess which city ranked #2? Vienna, Austria. Guess which city didn’t even make the list? Los Angeles, California.

Check out the article at:

The World’s Best Places to Live in 2008

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I have graduated to actually driving in Vienna. After spending months walking on the streets, using the public transportation, and observing how this madness works, I felt ready to give it a try.

It was frighteningly easy to get a driver’s license. I went to the DMV over here, showed them my American driver’s license, and I was granted an Austrian driver’s license. No schooling, nothing.

My husband Paul and I decided it was a good idea to drive together for my first few rounds. I needed to get comfortable. I would drive and point to different street signs and ask, “What does that one mean again?” In typical husband style, Paul would mutter, “Oh Jesus,” and bury his face in his hands. In defense I would call out, “Hey, I haven’t killed anyone yet, so cut that out!”

When Paul didn’t have his face buried in his hands he would periodically ask me if I knew how fast I was driving. I would sigh. “Paul, there is way too much craziness on the street for me to take my eyes off the road long enough to see how fast I am going. I am keeping up with traffic, obviously it’s fine.” I would pause then ask, “What’s the speed limit in a residential zone again?”

Personally, I think it would be good if the Austrian government would insist that people at least take a course on what all the street signs mean and what the speed limits are. Then again, since I have been driving awhile, I can see why they don’t. The Viennese shamelessly ignore all the rules any way. You have to, otherwise you wouldn’t survive against the pedestrians, the bikes, the buses, the streetcars and the other cars. It’s like go-cart racing; you don’t know what’s going to get thrown your way!

The Viennese zip here and spin there. U-turns at any point in the street, sharp last-minute-turns with no blinkers, tailgaiting, double parking on the street, you name it, it’s unofficially allowed. To be honest, it makes the whole experience fun. I feel like I’m getting away with something every time I drive around here. I’m right there with the Viennese doing things I’m not supposed to. It’s gleeful madness! The best thing is, whenever you pull one of these stunts, no one honks at you with outrage. It’s the norm. They’re just happy you go out of their way!

So far I haven’t gotten a single ticket. We’ll see how long that lasts!

(Above image is of traffic in the inner city. Only taxis and the truly insane dare to drive in the inner city.)

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