Vienna

Greetings,

Corrie and I on the Karntner Strabe

Cheryl and I returned to Romania after a one week stay in Vienna.  It was a wonderful experience for us, highlighted by the fact that we got to spend this time with Corrie.  We missed not having Ross and Clive, and we often thought of how much Erin would have enjoyed these memories. But, we were delighted at the opportunity to experience a city, one which Corrie studied in for six weeks back in 2004.

Cheryl and Corrie sitting at Corrie's favorite cafe

Vienna is a five-hour car drive from Oradea.  It is a nine-hour bus ride, and it is a twelve-hour train ride.  We took the train!  Corrie's cross Atlantic flight from Vienna to Chicago took less time than our train trip.  Our friends in Oradea tell us that even though the two countries (Austria and Romania) are only separated by about 250 miles, it feels as though they are worlds apart.

As I have mentioned before, Oradea is located in the region of Transylvania, which makes up about 40% of Romania.  In 1867, at the time of the Compromise that combined the Kingdom of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary (to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire), Transylvania was part of the Hungarian Kingdom.  Thus, when you are in central Oradea, the look and feel of the center city is very much like that of Vienna.  Most of the prominent buildings in the center of town were built around 1900, and thus have a heavy dose of Austrian influence.  In fact, at that time, Oradea was the ninth largest city in the Kingdom of Hungary.  But, the fate of the two countries diverged at the end of World War I.

Downtown Oradea

City Hall in Vienna

As part of the Treaty at Versailles, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dismantled and Transylvania became part of Romania.  After World War II, Austria ended up on the western side of the "Wall" and Romania resided on the eastern side.  Austria was able to preserve and rebuild its fine heritage.  Unfortunately, under Soviet domination, much of the Austrian influence in Romania was destroyed or left to crumble.  History matters!!  One of the wonderful benefits of this experience has been an enhanced appreciation for history in general, and an enhanced understanding of Eastern European history in particular.

Corrie and Cheryl in front Schonbrunn Palace

A few of the highlights to our week included a self-guided walking tour of the city, visiting the Spanish Riding School with the Lippizan horses, tours of the Palace at Hofburg and the Palace at Schonbrunn, lunches in indoor and outdoor cafes, Saturday evening Mass at St. Stephen's Cathedral, wandering through the Shakespeare Book Store, evening meals with good food and good conversation, and a day trip to the quaint town of Melk.

View from the Abbey

The Abbey at Melk (half of it)

Melk is about 70 miles west of Vienna.  It is known for its large abbey that sits high above the town.  We had a delightful tour led by a recent graduate of the school that is lodged in the Abbey.  Our hope was to rent some bikes and ride part of the way back to Vienna, but alas, we were one week too early.

Inside the Abbey

Recent news that has caught the attention of the people here in Romania is the Russian presence in the Crimea.  Romanians have had a history of aggression from the west (Germany, Austria, Hungary), from the south (Ottomans), and from the east (Soviet Russia).  Their concern is that history may be repeating itself.  The word I would use to describe their feelings about the situation is worrisome.  Cheryl and I are tentatively planning a trip to Moldova at the end of April.  This is much closer to trouble spots, so our sense of prudence may override our sense of adventure.

Pace, Cheryl & Tom

What we are all looking at in the previous picture