[seclorum]

Beauty is obviously in the eye of the beholder - I grew up in the wide-open desert of Western Australia, and spent my young adult life in Southern California, so I'm used to having more sky above me than the pitiful strip that most Viennese residents have to put up with in their daily lives.

I'm a huge non-fan of all these buildings glommed together, 5 or 6 stories high, and I find it oppressive, personally.

By my reckoning, Vienna is an Imperial Fortress with working-class box-traps being used as buttresses around the center. I wouldn't call it beautiful by any stretch of the word - oppressively architected inventory of the masses does not a beautiful city make.

But hey, to each their own. If you find it beautiful, more power to you. I can't stand Vienna, personally, and am glad I live outside the city border near Bisamberg ..

[mitsche]

I agree with everything you wrote. I recently moved back to Mattersburg because my dad passed away and I took over the house. And I really enjoy living in the open again.

But the things you describe are something that many big cities have in common. It makes me wonder if you've ever been to a city with a somewhat dense population that you enjoyed being in.

[seclorum]

I lived in Tokyo for a year. That has similarly oppressive issues too, but there are aspects of Tokyo that are tremendous for the soul. Haven't found much of that in Vienna, yet, after 7 years.

And, 15 years in Los Angeles - well, I love LA. To each his own. ;)

[mitsche]

I think our tastes are very much alike. I feel what you're saying about the oppressiveness, and I wouldn't want to live in Vienna for the rest of my life either. I just think it's a bit much to call the city of Vienna horrid, especially when so many people say so many nice things about it in general.

You've actually made me want to check out LA sometime soon.

[seclorum]

Really, the only people I've heard say nice things about Vienna have been American tourists who seem to be most impressed of all by the imperial, oppressive, architecture .. but everyone has their taste. Thanks for listing to my rant about my tastes .. ;)