[introspectif]

Nice city, but with 114% of the population being smokers...

I love Europe, but for being so developed, it's amazing how many places there people still think smoking is 'cool,' and 'a symbol of freedom.'

I do like Vienna, but I think I'd choose Hamburg if I had to choose a city in the German-speaking world. Or Berlin - only slightly less cosmopolitan, but the tech start-up scene is kind of happening, and the cost of living is cheaper.

[davidw]

Depends on the country: they banned smoking indoors in Italy a while back, and at least in the part of the country I live in, people have always respected that ban (I was a bit surprised). In Austria, when we left, they still let people smoke anywhere and everywhere, pretty much - the only places where it was banned in Innsbruck, where we lived, were McDonalds and Ikea. My wife went out with our baby daughter for cake and coffee with a friend one afternoon, to a pastry shop, and came back reeking of smoke, because some other patrons sat down and started chain smoking. It made my blood boil.

That said, Vienna struck me as a very nice city - very livable for its size, although the climate leaves a lot to be desired.

[precisioncoder]

That's a huge problem in Austria, coming here from Canada I was shocked that you could still smoke everywhere here. I rarely go out to bars or cafes here due to the fact that I then have to change clothes and shower in order to get rid of the smell of smoke.

[dbaupp]

I agree. I'm Australian, and I'm so used to the very hard line on smoking (e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_packets_in_Australia) that the European attitude is really annoying, and I'm very surprised when I openly see ads for cigarettes and even vending machines.

It's probably something I'll never understand, since (to me) it is an obviously bad idea to inhale the carcinogenic burnt residue of some paper and leaves which has well-known, major long-term health impacts as well as compelling you to continue doing so, and to pay for the privilege (not to mention the damage done to others, and the smell all through ones clothes, etc.). Eurgh, the big cigarette companies (and their ad agencies/publicity departments) are some of the scum of the Earth.

[WA]

Being from Germany I have to agree with the smoking aspect. I'm a non smoker and after spending a few months in the US and returning back home, I was quite surprised how few people in the States smoked and how often you smell cigarettes in Germany. It was very irritating that I didn't have this annoying odor for quite some time in my nose.