Noisy Italians

I must be a magnet for talkers.

This summer, we were in Vienna and took an organized tour around the Baden, just outside the city.  Between the two of us, we know some French, German, Spanish, and, of course, English.  No Italian!  It’s not like I am a recluse or antisocial, well, a little, and I am always friendly when I travel abroad.  I’m an unofficial “Ambassador” for my country.

So, on with the story …

I notice that the person sitting across from me is looking at me, so I look back and speak.  If I recall, he asks me where I’m from.  His English was about what my French is … not good.  So I say, we are from the United States.  Where in the United States?  Kentucky.  Where’s that?  West of Washington, D.C.

A few minutes pass, are you here for business or holiday?  Both.  What is your business here?  Conference.  So now, I am becoming a little annoyed and turn quickly and start fumbling with my camera.  I have a few minutes of no talking.

But that did not last.  What kind of camera is that?  Nikon.  It is nice, do you like it?  Yes.  Is it digital?  Yes.  How much did it cost?  A lot.

Thank goodness, we arrived at our destination.

Please charge me more

I have just returned from a business trip to New Orleans … it’s still hot, humid, seedy (at least Bourbon Street) and rich in culture (food, architecture, and history), but that’s not my purpose here.

I flew US Airways and they have already instituted changes in how they operate and by operate, I mean that they are nickel-and-diming fliers now.  I am an elite member with United, a Star Alliance member, so I enjoy perks and privileges like selecting my seat assignments … until now.  It’s $5-10 to do so now.  Yes, this is not a lot of money, but it is the principle.  Charge me a true dollar amount for my ticket that covers everything … check baggage, snacks, air, lavatory, seat belt, arm rest, use of the jet bridge.  Okay, some of this is an exaggeration, but it may just be a matter of time before we have to pay for these “amenities.”

Perhaps, most shocking about my trip, was how many passengers actually purchased snacks.  Way to go in letting the airlines know how unhappy you are with being nickel-and-dimed!  I would rather dehydrate than pay $2 for what is probably tap water!

Airline executives, stop nickel-and-diming me and just charge me a fair fare.  I don’t care if you make a nice profit, I do care if I feel as if I am “taxed” to death.  I thought we had a revolution about that 232 years ago!

Visiting the Vienna Woods

While in Vienna, we took a tour operated by Vienna Sightseeing Tours that’s called Vienna Woods.  This was a most interesting tour just outside of Vienna.  So on this tour, we visit an old hunting lodge, an abbey, and the largest subterranean lake in Europe.

In route to the old Mayerling hunting lodge, which is now a chapel, we passed through the picturesque and culturally rich Baden.  The hunting lodge is dedicated to the Crown Prince Rudolph and Baronesse Vetsera.  There’s a lot of history about these two … like how did they die.  Was it suicide or murder.

The Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz was absolutely incredible and well worth the visit.  The abbey dates back to 1133.  If history appeals to you, you want to visit the abbey.  Like so much of the historical sites of Austria, the abbey helps connect the history between Austria and Hungary.

After the abbey, we make our way to the Seegrotte, the largest subterranean lake in Europe.  This subterranean lake is like a massive air conditioner and it too has a rich history, particularly, it’s use by the Germans, during World War II, to build machinery for the war effort.

The Seegrotte ends our tour and on our way back to Vienna, we get a treat and drive by an old Hapsburg castle.

Fortunately, for this tour we had an excellent tour guide.

Airline ad agencies … are they pinheads?

I recently returned from my summer holiday in Eastern Europe and now I am on my way to New Orleans for a business trip.  Between these two trips much is changing in the airline industry … some of which has many fellow travelers threatening to figuratively storm the corporate boardrooms with torches and pitchforks in hand.  I ask my fellow travelers, “what’s the matter with you?  why do you want to harass and pick on the airline industry?”

To all the US airline carriers, I want to say, “I stand with you and the appreciate the great services that you provide in the face of all your financial woes.”

I remember many years ago, during one of the many airline industry crises, (by the way, these crises are never the airline’s fault, our government, instead of bailing them out, should just subsidize them all the time … more so than they already do) the airlines stop serving food.  Hey, all of you naysayers, that was a good idea.  If I recall, most passengers complained about airplane food anyway.  “Oh, airplane food doesn’t taste good.  It’s over/under cooked.  I think that food made me sick.”  Then, there’s the sanitary conditions.  So, look the airlines did us a favor by not feeding us anymore.  Besides, who wants those tasty meals that the Europeans serve anyway?

The airlines are about to do us another favor … no more snacks or beverages (unless you want to buy them).  We don’t need all those snacks.  We have an obesity problem in the United States anyway.  The airlines are just trying to contribute to a more fit population, besides, there no place to exercise on a plane so you are just storing all those calories as fat … and that contributes to the weight of the plane and fuel cost and your flight discomfort (trying to fit in to those every comfortable seats).

Now, this one, I really do not understand the uproar.  $15 or $50 for a second checked bag sounds reasonable to me.  All those extra bags just make the plane heavier and feul inefficient.  If we cared about the economy we would be more wasteful and only care the bare minimal and buy everything else once we reach our destination.  That would be a real shot in the arm for the economic.  Think about those poor underpaid baggage handlers who always take special care not to damage our bags.  With fewer bags, they will no doubt do an even better job.

Some unreasonable people may accuse the airline industry of nickel-and-diming us to death, but I say baloney.  Food and bags are non-essentials for traveling.  The only thing that you ticket promises is arrival to your destination, which the airlines always do … maybe a couple of days later, but you generally get where you need to go.  For example, when you go to the movies (another great bargain), you have to buy popcorn and soda separately.  Same principle.

In fact, we have been cheating the airlines for quite some time.  They are due their just reward.

Kudos to the ad agencies for managing this public relation nightmare with such competence.  They deserve ever nickel and dime that they receive.  Anything more would be cheating the airlines.

The Unfriendly skies may be getting noisy

According to the June 2008 issue of Global Traverler, the unfriendly skies may be getting a little noisy.  Several European airlines and some US airlines are considering offering passengers WiFi use and allowing passenger to use mobile phone and devises.  Please tell me it is not so … at least about mobile phone use.  WiFi is fine, I would like to be able to check my email, read news, or blog, especially on long flights.

Mobile phone use is another issue, actually a problem.  It’s bad enough to have to listen to some passengers talk, but now they are going to be talking on the phone and talking to their travel companions.  Then you have a lot of mobile phone users who seem to have not etiquette … they talk long and loud.  As an aside, I can see those who travel alone as the most agregious.  I think for some talking on the phone is a way to feel that they are not alone.  Then you are going to have those business travelers who think that they are so important that they must be connected at all times.

Air travel may just get a little noisy … noisier.  Congratulations to Luftansa who is only considering WiFi and not mobile phones, because it may disturb some passengers.

WiFi, yes, mobile phone use, no!

By the way, I thought these devises interferred with navigation?  Hmm?

Salzburg brandy … hmm

One of the things that I like most about traveling is learning something new.  I always thought that the Austrians were known mostly for their beer.  I must say that I was a little indignant when asked for a local Austrian beer and the server brought me a Budweiser.  I thought what the hell!  I don’t even drink Budweiser at home.  I am really a wine drinking, but I like beer too, but if I am going to drink beer it better be good stout beer.  Well, as it happens to be, this Budweiser is a local beer and it was good.  Not as strong as some German beers that I had in Frankfurt, but not American beer either.  So, this was lesson one.

During our trip to Salzburg, I had no idea what to expect in terms of alcoholic drinks … other than beer.  Well, to my surprise, during our city tour, I learned that brandy is big in Salzburg … at least that’s what the residents told us.  I am such a skeptic, they are probably laughing at me right now, saying that “Dumb American.”  I don’t really think that and so what … that brandy is really good!  It’s apricot brandy and very smooth.  Actually, that’s bad because you tend to drink too much!  So, I learned at least two things on my Salzburg trip.  Actually, three, their wine is not too bad either.

Best Dining Experience in Vienna

Whenever we travel, we always eat local food.  We even do this when we travel within the United States.  So, no restaurant chains for us … except Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but that’s a story for another day.

While in Vienna the the summer of 2008, as usual we eat at a variety of places, “mom and pop” owned restaurants to 4 star gourmet.  One may think that the 4 star restaurants are always the best food, but this has not always been our experience; however, they tend to have the best service though.

As for Vienna, this is a must “eat at” restaurant — Mörwald im Ambassador.  This restaurant is definitely one of the high end restaurants and is located in the Hotel Ambassador.  Not only is the food to die for, but the service is excellent … even by pampered American standards.  You have a captain and co-captain ensuring that your dining experience is excellent.  The food is Viennese, but not necessarily traditional.  You can either order the 3 or 5 course dinner or order a la carte.  My foie gras was excellent … and grilled.  I have never had foie gras grilled.

While not inexpensive, the meal and the experience will be worth it.  As an aside, don’t forget to make reservations.  We were smart enough to do this, but also wear a business coat/jacket if you are a gent.  I was not smart enough to do this.  I felt a little under-dressed.

Enjoy your dinner …