GMC in Europe 2008

As the group discussed our transit from Vienna to Salzburg, we realized that we would be passing through Linz, less than five miles away from the village of Mauthausen and its Nazi-era concentration camp. About 40 of us requested the opportunity to deviate from the planned program and visit the camp. (I should add that those who chose to go on to Salzburg had either visited a camp previously, or had other good reasons not to go.)

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Wow…the Greater Middletown Chorale is in Vienna.

No exclamation mark, just a fact. We’ve been grounding ourselves in the local culture for the past two days and having a blast.

Our two groups were reunited at the Hotel Ananan on Friday evening, and those of us who were on the Northwest/KLM flight were reassured to know that the Lufthansa folks had had their own “hardships” (no choice of movie on the plane; an early arrival that resulted in an unscheduled wait for two hours; a Mozart visit that was less than spectacular). By comparison, our wait due to “technical difficulties” at the Amsterdam airport (we were finally airborne at 2:30, about three hours past our scheduled departure) was almost pleasant.

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Well, believe it or not I have come across yet another patient who is well-connected to Vienna.  She is an American native who spends the better part of each year in the city and she recently offered the following recommendations to us as it pertains to working the muscles of mastication and ambulation:

Consumption:

1.  DeCapo restaurant, in Schulerstrasse district.  A “European” Italian as opposed to “American” Italian place which is known for taking full advantage of seasonal foods, e.g. asparagus (”spargel”) and pumpkin, in order to always keep the menu fresh and interesting.  This is her favorite place in Vienna where she swears she has never had a bad meal.

2.  Cafe Demel, near the Hofburg.  A “MUST” for the best pastry.

Observation:

I personally don’t know what the following sights are, yet anyway, or what they signify, but these are what she recommends.  Some of you I’m sure are familiar with these places.  Please feel free to comment:

1.  Hofburg Palace

2.  Schloss Shonbrunn

3.  Stephansdom-a “Must See”.

4.  Kunsthistorches Art Museum- “Absolutely fabulous”.

5.  There is also a music museum, just off Kartnerstrasse, and a Freud museum (Rich, this one has your name written all over it.  I’d love to check it out with you).

There you have it, from someone who knows. 

Cheers,  Adam

I have the good fortune of having as patients a lovely couple who are native Austrians.  They have graciously forwarded a list of the best in Viennese dining establishments.  Here is the list complete with websites for some advanced reconnaissance if one so desires.  All of these places are in Vienna’s “inner city”, the Innenstadt:

Restaurants:

1.  Figlmuller- A Viennese tradition.       www.figlmuller.at

2.  Gusshaus- Viennese cuisine.    www.gusshaus.at

3.  Plachutta- Viennese cuisine.   www.plachutta.at

4.  Julius Meinl- A Viennese tradition for fine coffees/food

Wine cellars:

1.  Zwoelfapostelkeller- great wine/good food.   www.zwoelf-apostelkeller.at

2.  Augustiner Keller       www.bitzinger.at

3.  Melker Stiftskeller      www.melkerstiftskeller.at

Cafe:

1.  Cafe Landtmann beim Burgtheater    www.cafe-wien.at  

There you go.  As the Autrians say  “Wien, Wien, nur Du allein”.   

Enjoy,  Adam