VII. Café Prückel

It's the Vienna Marathon today. After church (Anglican; special music included an excellent brass quintet), we walked over to the Ringstraße, where the runners were. There were Strauss waltzes being blasted out by loudspeakers around the course! Only in Vienna, I suppose; I certainly can't imagine any sort of classical music being played at marathons in the states. At an outdoor table at the Café Prückel (which, I've decided, is my favorite Kaffeehaus in the city) we had omelettes and coffee and watched the runners. I finished it off with some exemplary Sachertorte. It's been simply a wonderful day, so far; the trick is to take time to observe, to think, to discuss. That's why the Viennese have cafés: to eat slowly, watch people, and generally enjoy themselves. (The waiters at these establishments are professionals, and act as such. They realize that it's their job to see that customers are content, and accordingly give them all the time they want. Never are we forced to eat quickly and leave, here.) Americans would do well to emulate this way of living: if only we had time to sit back and relax, we'd be happier and more productive.

If there's a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than at a Viennese café with some Sachertorte in the Springtime, I've not experienced it.