All's not good in Vienna though! The Chinese joint (located opposite the street in the pic) seemed a misfit. But I really want to talk about the cafes here. This one was bang adjacent to my hotel but it gave a queer vibe. As I walked past it, I could see the inside was dark, smoky and dingy - such a sore spot in the middle of a bustling shopping center. I dared to walk into it many days later one evening, and was greeted by unwelcome stares. I guess these guys get fed up of the hustle and bustle outside and try to ensure they limit visitors only to their crackpot patrons! I couldn't even get myself to order a coffee or a glass of wine. There were a lot of newspapers and journals on the shelves besides the entrance and I glanced through them looking for signs of the 'political leanings' of the place. Well, Vienna is known for its Cafes. Located everywhere on street corners like this one, the cafe culture has inspired its writers, artists and even politics for centuries. I hadn't been to a place where you can just sit in the middle of a city center and just privately enjoy your wine, beer or coffee, alone or with a bunch. And people talk about everything from under the sun, particularly passionately about their culture and socio-economic realities. This one, though, I stayed away from.
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