According to a survey recently published by Mercer HR Consulting Vienna ranks fourth among the best places to live worldwide, only surpassed by Zurich, Geneva and Vancouver. See: www.mercerhr.com
Despite of having lived in Vienna for quite a while I have never thought of the place in such terms.
Sure, it is a nice and safe place to live, crime is low, poverty is relatively well controlled; economy is healthy and growing, in fact the Austrian stock market marked a very successful past year. The social welfare system guarantees health care for all citizens. The only downfall is this is of course all financed by taxes that can be exorbitant. But all in all in congruence with statistical analyses a very liveable place.
One just never notices such, once you get used to the status quo you take things for granted.
And I am no exception, I have failed to notice the beauty of some of the most remarkable architecture to be found along Vienna’s famous Ring road long ago. Where tourists stand in awe, and marvel, I simply stroll by.
The only times I come to really notice, to see, is when it is not present. The times when I am away, when I picture those details in my memory.
I begin to miss the small alleyways, the downtown pedestrian zone, the botanical garden steps away from my apartment… Not that I am unhappy or discontent when that happens. I just start feeling this urge, longing. Funny how we always long for what we don’t have. Or maybe we just need a constant comparison, contrasts.
Things in motion tend to fascinate me, draw my attention. A train in the distance, an approaching plane, sailboats drifting off toward the horizon…
However good of a place Vienna may be, I am starting to feel restless again as I write these lines. Time to see new shores, new cities, new people…
Archive for April 10th, 2006
According to a survey recently published by Mercer HR Consulting Vienna ranks fourth among the best places to live worldwide, only surpassed by Zurich, Geneva and Vancouver. See: www.mercerhr.com
Despite of having lived in Vienna for quite a while I have never thought of the place in such terms.
Sure, it is a nice and safe place to live, crime is low, poverty is relatively well controlled; economy is healthy and growing, in fact the Austrian stock market marked a very successful past year. The social welfare system guarantees health care for all citizens. The only downfall is this is of course all financed by taxes that can be exorbitant. But all in all in congruence with statistical analyses a very liveable place.
One just never notices such, once you get used to the status quo you take things for granted.
And I am no exception, I have failed to notice the beauty of some of the most remarkable architecture to be found along Vienna’s famous Ring road long ago. Where tourists stand in awe, and marvel, I simply stroll by.
The only times I come to really notice, to see, is when it is not present. The times when I am away, when I picture those details in my memory.
I begin to miss the small alleyways, the downtown pedestrian zone, the botanical garden steps away from my apartment… Not that I am unhappy or discontent when that happens. I just start feeling this urge, longing. Funny how we always long for what we don’t have. Or maybe we just need a constant comparison, contrasts.
Things in motion tend to fascinate me, draw my attention. A train in the distance, an approaching plane, sailboats drifting off toward the horizon…
However good of a place Vienna may be, I am starting to feel restless again as I write these lines. Time to see new shores, new cities, new people…
