Outclassed in Vienna?

Concert Hall at Schonbrunn
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Migrant and highly intoxicated bums greeted our arrival into Austria's capital-by far the most we´ve seen in a large city.  Not exactly how I pictured Vienna, but we soon climbed out of the train station and set foot to the streets of this wonderful city.

While walking the streets, and in very little time, we were approached by a Mozart lookalike, attempting to sell us expensive concert tickets to the evenings show.  So of course we purchased two, feeling this is what you do when you visit such a city.  Wolfgang assured us that our backpacker attire was appropriate for the evening's event, and whisked us on our way.

Mozart turned over in his mass grave

Part of the gardens at Schonbrunn
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Anne and I arrived at the concert hall later that evening, and received some sneering glares from our "less than formal" attire, which incidentally, was the best we had.  We quickly made our way to section "C" seating, which was the cheapest available amidst the three-tiered system of hierarchy.  Although we occupied a seat in the scattered last row of peasants, it was as good as the top-dollar section due to the small sized venue.  There were many empty rows directly behind us, for the sneering aristocrats had all chosen to purchase the more expensive seats, which again, were just a few feet in front of us.  The performance was about to begin, and this would be the last that Anne and I would be outclassed.

Happy Pipka
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For starters, when the first violinist entered stage, I went to applaud but realized no one else was clapping upon her arrival.  I stopped short, fearing a major faux pas in a foreign city.  Just then, I heard loud running footsteps behind me, as the usher ran from the back of the hall and past the empty rows of chairs.  He stopped short, just behind me, and started the applause which the "upper society" audience had failed to realize.  It didn´t stop at that.  The aristocrats applauded at completely inappropriate times, interrupting the symphony on several occasions, and caused the conductor undue stress.  And when the ballerinas and vocalist came out, it was complete chaos.  They clapped every time the male dancer performed a tour jete', or whenever the opera singers entered or exited stage.  It was as if the performers were performing for the visually and hearing impaired.  I was completely embarrassed to be a member of this now, uncultured audience.  And I´m sure that I now sound like a snob, but if you are going to have the audacity to glare at me and my wife´s clothing prior to the event, make sure you have the decency on how to act during a professional performance.  By the way, I counted, and am certain, that Mozart turned over in his mass grave 22 times during the evening´s event.  At least it was an even number, so he should be facing upwards.  Moving on...

Mozart Statue
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Our second day in Vienna was spent at the Schonbrunn Castle.  This came highly recommended from a man in Prague.  Although Anne and I were starting to get "castled" out, this was a nice changeup.  There are immaculate gardens, dazzling water fountains, and even a zoo, at this one time summer retreat for royalty.  Kind of a large summer cabin if you ask me.

bkh