In Vienna: Volkssommer.

09 April 2011

The month of April is off to a great start! Vienna comes alive in the springtime with such vibrancy characterized by a billion activities focused at those who live here, not just tourists (unlike other cities in which I have resided that shall remain nameless...and here in Vienna, I will call it Volkssommer, where summer is for the people). Vienna does, however, throw in a few tourist-centric activities but they seem to keep those quarantined to the Rathausplatz.

I learned there is one whole department of the city government focused only on keeping the greenery and flowers beautiful and alternating the arrangements appropriately as the seasons progress. This knowledge was acquired as I walked through the city this past Sunday with a new friend and neighbor. She used to work as a tour guide and was able to offer me some interesting insights in a manner only a former tour guide could master. I learned one of the huge structures near Stephansdom was to honor those who died or thank God for those who lived (or something like that) during the time of the plague.

We set out that sunny Sunday afternoon in search of the 1^st district Easter markets. Unfortunately, we discovered they did not open until the following weekend. But this may have actually made things better because it gave us a chance to wander to the Rathausplatz and catch the bike expo that included a mountain bike jumping competition. (The guy from the US was pretty awesome and took second place – go USA, go USA!). I also had my first beer/lemonade concoction that is known as a “cyclist” and it was yummy.

This week’s top highlight was going to Rock the Ballet in Halle E of the Museumsquartier. It was thoroughly entertaining! Here is the breakdown…the show opened with the Black Eyed Peas’ song “I Gotta Feeling” and out came the “amazing boys of dance” in brightly colored T-shirts and jeans. They hyped the crowd and showed a preview of only about 1/8 of their dance potential. This was followed by the introductory number for the one female in the show to Lenny Kravitz’s version of American Woman. Then the rock and roll stopped and classical ballroom music started quickly followed by laughter as the guys entered stage-left dancing with pornshop blow-up dolls! It was hilarious and amazingly choreographed. Then there were several songs and a whole emotional love/hate relationship sequence between the one female dancer and the male lead (who happened to be the tallest dancer I have seen in a while! Hotness!). The first half closed and when the second half opened, I finally saw what these “amazing boys of dance” could do! The stage was dark except a screen in the back covered in one bright color after another and the dancers were shadowed. It was stunning as they curved and moved their bodies so fluidly that you could feel the amazement ripple through the crowd. The best part came next… The guys took their shirts off!! That’s right, these amazing male specimens with their perfect pecs and abs bared their chests and made the women scream. There was a nice Michael Jackson montage to round out the show and it ended in an encore of Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” and yes, they were!!

Last night, I had my first date in Vienna. A very nice guy took me out for a drink at Sky Bar. I loved Sky Bar and he was...nice. Another nice guy with whom I have absolutely no chemistry with bites the dust. At least I have confirmed this unfortunate class of men exist in Austria, and not just America. As my co-worker assured me last night after I got home, it is summer and a good man will come along. Until then, I will soak up the sunshine and enjoy myself.