Well
A lot of people I've encountered have suggested that I start a blog on my travels, so I think I'm going to use Languish as a kind of proto-blog for posting stories and whatnot. I'll probably start with a longer recollection of my (horrible, terrible, nightmare-enducing) time in Vlore, Albania, but for now I'm planning on what to do in Hungary. I'm leaving for Budapest from Belgrade on Monday, and I've never been in Hungary and don't know nearly as much about it as I do the Balkans. Anyone have any Hungary tips?
Quote from: Queequeg on December 09, 2015, 09:22:01 AM
Well
A lot of people I've encountered have suggested that I start a blog on my travels, so I think I'm going to use Languish as a kind of proto-blog for posting stories and whatnot. I'll probably start with a longer recollection of my (horrible, terrible, nightmare-enducing) time in Vlore, Albania, but for now I'm planning on what to do in Hungary. I'm leaving for Budapest from Belgrade on Monday, and I've never been in Hungary and don't know nearly as much about it as I do the Balkans. Anyone have any Hungary tips?
Fly in, what ever you don don't try crossing the land border, if necessary hide in the back of a truck, one of your nearly made Albanian friends might be able to help you. :)
Quote from: Queequeg on December 09, 2015, 09:22:01 AM
Anyone have any Hungary tips?
(Recycling this from a previous post)
If you can, see a symphony at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. It's a beautiful hall and the Hungarian orchestras are excellent. It's small, though, so get a reservation early.
I liked the National Gallery; but from what I remember the Hungarian artists seem to have an awfully gloomy outlook.
Buda Castle is a must see.
I enjoyed the palatial coffee houses with Austrian pastries at Hungarian prices.
They sell candles shaped like Stalin at the Museum of Totalitarianism. Make Languish proud, comrade.
My two favourite places in Budapest were the Terror House museum, and the big statue park with all the old communist monuments. :)
Is Syt still in Vienna?
This thread is bullshit without pics. :mad:
I'm going on Monday.
Dang Syt, your calendar is booked with Languishites this Dec. :P
https://www.instagram.com/concreteluvr69/
This is my Instagram if anyone is curious about my Balkan travels. I can post some highlights.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-wt7VSvGlA/?taken-by=concreteluvr69
This is Gardosh Tower, in Zemun. It's one of my favorite buildings I've ever seen.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-bq1bfPGuD/?taken-by=concreteluvr69
This is Grachanitsa, a wonderful Orthodox Cathedral dating to the Serbian Empire in the ethnic Serb enclave of Grachanitsa. You can't really take photos inside most Orthodox churches. In the case of the Pec Patriachate, however, I had a one-legged nun escorting me through the church and she was easily outfoxed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-YYcb-vGlY/?taken-by=concreteluvr69
This is Prizren. It's probably the most scenic town in Kosovo, but it didn't feel as connected to the west as Pristina, and I had fewer friend there, and it seemed a lot more Macedonian Albanian in its religiousness and Ottoman-ness.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-TvA-TvGlw/?taken-by=concreteluvr69
I know some Albanians I am very fond of, but Albanians as a whole are insane.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-RH__VPGpD/?taken-by=concreteluvr69
This was maybe the best bottle of liquor I've ever had. It was aged perfectly. Sweet, relatively light, fruity, kicked like a mule with it's ass on fire. We finished it in like, 40 minutes. My second bottle was not as good, but the good monks made up for it with the wine.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-OBkg_PGkK/?taken-by=concreteluvr69
TAKE THAT ONE LEGGED NUN.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 19, 2015, 02:53:22 PM
I'm going on Monday.
Aw, that's a shame - I would love to meet you, but this pre-Christmas week I'm pretty booked between work and social gatherings. :( I don't suppose you'll have another stop between Christmas and New Year's?
I cant believe that no one got the concretelovr69 account name before you, spellus. Vonmoltke must be crushed.
What's a "Byzantine Commonwealth"? :huh:
Sounds like a Crusader Kings themed joke.
Syt, would you be able to meet before the 28th?
Quote from: Martinus on December 21, 2015, 02:05:48 AM
What's a "Byzantine Commonwealth"? :huh:
I guess this is a reference to that new historical theory: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Byzantine_Republic.html?id=bOI9BgAAQBAJ&hl=en
Quote from: Queequeg on December 21, 2015, 05:10:18 PM
Syt, would you be able to meet before the 28th?
I'd be good for meeting on the 26th or 27th.
Keep in mind: with the Christmas Holidays, much of the city comes to a halt. Most shops will be closed from Thursday afternoon (Christmas Eve) till Sunday (25th/26th are Christmas holidays, and 27th is a regular Sunday). There are supermarkets at a few train stations in case you need to pick something up. Some museums may have different opening hours or may be closed - best to check their websites. Some restaurants might also be closed.
Quote from: Martinus on December 21, 2015, 02:05:48 AM
What's a "Byzantine Commonwealth"? :huh:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=byzantine+commonwealth+
Quote from: Syt on December 22, 2015, 03:15:38 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on December 21, 2015, 05:10:18 PM
Syt, would you be able to meet before the 28th?
I'd be good for meeting on the 26th or 27th.
Keep in mind: with the Christmas Holidays, much of the city comes to a halt. Most shops will be closed from Thursday afternoon (Christmas Eve) till Sunday (25th/26th are Christmas holidays, and 27th is a regular Sunday). There are supermarkets at a few train stations in case you need to pick something up. Some museums may have different opening hours or may be closed - best to check their websites. Some restaurants might also be closed.
Vienna is far, far more expensive than I am used to on this trip, so honestly my plans are Gluhwein+Doner+Museums for the next few days, almost exclusively, and going to fancy or even decent places to eat is barely an option.
Ok, what do you think of meeting on the 26th, noon, at the Christmas Market between Kunsthistorisches and Naturhistorisches? We can grab a bite (or at the Sausage/Kebab stands at the nearby tram station across from parliament) and then either go to a museum or for a walk around the Inner City?
Is there a museum you haven't seen yet and would like to go to?
If you're on a tight budget, many places have lunch time specials on work days (usually 5-8 EUR), and many Chinese and some Turkish places will have all you can eat buffets.
You could also go to Gagarin - they have fixed prices for drinks, but "pay what you like" for food: http://cafegagarin.at/
Sounds good, Syt. Meet in front of the Art History Museum itself?
I love this city. Way more than anticipated. It's wonderful.
Do you know of any aid organizations that work with ex-Yugoslav or Russian refugees? I could see myself working here.
Might be easier to find a job if you're willing to work with Arabs.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 23, 2015, 04:36:16 AM
Sounds good, Syt. Meet in front of the Art History Museum itself?
Yep. :)
QuoteI love this city. Way more than anticipated. It's wonderful.
Glad you do. :)
QuoteDo you know of any aid organizations that work with ex-Yugoslav or Russian refugees? I could see myself working here.
I honestly don't know. AFAIK most ex-Yugos here in town are settled down, and while they may have their own networks, I'm not sure there would be an aid organization geared to them. I don't think we have many Russian refugees, unless you count Chechens.
The biggest aid organizations would be Diakonie (Lutheran) or Caritas (Catholic), and probably more. There is a website for NGO jobs, though: http://www.ngojobs.at/working-for-an-ngo-in-austria/
Yeah I was asking about who would work w Chechens yesterday and my crazy, literally crazy ex-Fascist hyper-Catholic super handsome bisexual self-hating nobility-descended Austrian friend I met in exile in Belgrade suggested Caritas. Then today I ran in to a Chechen gathering in the middle of the city and talked to a bunch of the non-terrifying looking people.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 24, 2015, 12:21:31 PM
Yeah I was asking about who would work w Chechens yesterday and my crazy, literally crazy ex-Fascist hyper-Catholic super handsome bisexual self-hating nobility-descended Austrian friend I met in exile in Belgrade suggested Caritas.
Wow. Sounds like your type of guy alright :hug:
Squeelus, if you don't mind my asking, how did you come up with the pelf for this trip?
Delayed graduation present. I've been living really cheaply until now.
Syt, do you have PayPal? My debit card was stolen alll the way back in Macedonia and WesternUnion is closed.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 25, 2015, 03:15:14 AM
Syt, do you have PayPal? My debit card was stolen alll the way back in Macedonia and WesternUnion is closed.
Unfortunately, no.
Have you checked the store locator on the Western Union webpage? https://www.westernunion.at/WUCOMWEB/staticMid.do?pagename=agentLocator
I would think that at least in First District a few should be open.
Quote from: Queequeg on December 24, 2015, 12:21:31 PM
[...] my crazy, literally crazy ex-Fascist hyper-Catholic super handsome bisexual self-hating nobility-descended Austrian friend I met in exile in Belgrade [...] I ran in to a Chechen gathering [...]
That's mildly unsettling. :unsure:
Syt, I can assure you, that's pretty mild stuff compared to what I'll tell you about the Balkans tomorrow.
Hate caritas. Once went into one of their shops thinking it was a normal crappy supermarket and they were really rather rude with me.
Food banks should be round the back of churches, not in regular shopping centres. <_<
Psellus; I'm afraid I need to renege on tomorrow. I got hit with a major case of the runs and puking. :( So much for spending Christmas Eve with little kids. "Oh, yours had a stomach bug, too?" "Oh, don't worry, if she was contagious, we'd have it, too!" <_< Not how I imagined to spend Christmas Day. :x
I'm here till Monday. VIENNA SO GOOD. Very tired. Did the Albertina and Leopold museums today.
Sorry, still feeling pretty shitty (pun intended). :(
But it sounds like you love Vienna a bit, and maybe there's another chance for meeting - I think you're on of the most intriguing people on Languish, so I hate to miss the opportunity.
If you feel like taking a look at the working class areas of Vienna, there's two tram rides (ca. half an hour to hour each) that you can take: Line 5 from Westbahnhof (U3/U6) to Praterstern (U1/U2) first takes you through 7th, 8th, 9th district, which are hipster, bourgeois, middle class, respectively, then 22nd after the Danube Canal and the 2nd which are a bit more working class/immigrant (though the worst areas of Vienna are still not too horrible IMHO). Or there's Line 6 from Burggasse (U6) to Reumannplatz (U1). Reumannplatz is considered a horrible place by many people from nicer Viennese areas, because in summer it's crowded by immigrants from all ethnicities. Line 6 goes through the 5th district, which is middle to lower middle class, depending of area you're in, and the Quellenstraße in 10th district which is one of the main streets there. You could take a walk down the pedestrian area from Reumannplatz to the next U1 station at Kepplerplatz (about 5 minute walk), or further down to Hauptbahnhof. It being Sunday, all shops will be closed, though, and it will be much less busy than on workdays. You could also take the line 6 further to Enkplatz (U3) or Simmering (U3) which goes through 11th district.
There's no significant sights along the roads, but it would give you a decent idea of Vienna off the tourist paths. :)
I am in Vienna again, prior to a trip to Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Lviv and Kiev. Any suggestions?
Damn Spellus how long is this trip?
Eat some sacher torte.
Quote from: Queequeg on February 17, 2016, 12:00:34 PM
I am in Vienna again, prior to a trip to Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Leopolis and Kiev. Any suggestions?
Suggestion added! :smarty:
As for Sachertorte, and for many Vienna things, I assume Syt knows about Hotel Sacher and Demel.
SPellus, the Kunsthistorisches Museum was well worth the visit.
Leaving for Prague for a week tomorrow. God damn I love this city. I wish I could find some way to work with migrant populations here, I have no idea how this city manages to have so many Serbs, Turks, Albanians, Croats and Arabs without exploding every night. Instead it looks gorgeous and organized and is full of nice, attractive people and reasonably well behaved tourists.
If you need some ideas or help for Lviv and Kiev I can help. Spend a few weeks over there last summer.
Glad you enjoy(ed) it here. Besides the sights, have you ventured into the other parts of Vienna?
If you want to get the immigrant/low income area feeling, I recommend taking a tram to Quellenplatz (6 or 71, I believe), walk the last bit to Reumannplatz (the actual Reumannplatz, not the U-Bahn exit next to the Libro), have lunch at the Türkis (or the nearby Kümmeltürk in Davidgasse), and take a stroll to Columbusplatz and Südtiroler Platz (U1 station Südtiroler Platz).
Or go to Praterstern, take the 5 to station Rauscherstraße and take a stroll down Wallensteinstraße to the U4 Friedensbrücke. During weekdays, take a detour by turning right at Jägerstraße and heading to the Hannovermarkt (cheap but great kebab to be had).
Also, the area behind the Westbahnhof (or anywhere near the Gürtel on the double-digit district side).
I'm in Warsaw RN. Very, very tired.
Warsaw was my last stop in Europe. I took a train from Berlin to take advantage of a $700 Warsaw-San Francisco flight and was only there overnight. I wish I'd stayed longer. Everything was so cheap and the people were so attractive.
Quote from: Queequeg on February 21, 2016, 11:48:41 AMI wish I could find some way to work with migrant populations here, I have no idea how this city manages to have so many Serbs, Turks, Albanians, Croats and Arabs without exploding every night.
Well, every now and then we get this ...
http://www.thelocal.at/20160308/50-teens-in-mass-brawl-as-afghan-and-chechen-rivalry-continues
QuoteFifty teens in violent brawl in Austria
A fight between 50 teenagers that left seven people injured and five arrested has become the latest incident in an ongoing feud between young Afghans and Chechens living in Austria.
The fight, which happened at the weekend near the Base 20 youth centre in Vienna's Brigittenau district, started following online bullying and insults made over social media.
The argument quickly escalated to the streets, where the youths armed with knives, iron bars and wood, attacked one another in a mass brawl.
According to Gabriele Langer, the head of the youth centre, there had been no indicators beforehand that there was a problem and the fight had suddenly started when a group of young Chechens left the centre and met the Afghans outside.
She added that the insulted teenagers probably felt group pressure to respond in order to "save face".
Most of the group fled when police arrived, although five were arrested and seven people aged between 14 and 17-years-old were hurt, including with life-threatening injuries.
Following the fight, locals said many residents now had a 'bad feeling', with witness Maria Ritt saying: "I feel uncomfortable if I go out alone."
Conflicts between young ethnic groups in Austria is nothing new but is now, according to Langer, "mixed with the asylum topic".
Ten years ago around 30,000 Chechens fleeing wars in their home region were granted asylum in Austria, at the time making them the biggest diaspora of that ethnic community in Europe.
By the end of 2014, however, the number of Afghans in Austria had overtaken the number of Chechens, and with it ethnic clashes between the groups on issues related to 'territory control', pride, women and drugs also increased.
Police have been called out to major fights between these two groups throughout Austria, including in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Wels, Linz and St. Pölten.
Speaking to newspaper Die Presse, spokesperson for the Vienna probation service Nikolaus Tsekas says the repeated clashes between Chechens and Afghans "has to do with the fact that they share many similarities."
Although they live in a strongly patriarchal society, according to the magazine Profil, around 50 percent of Chechens and Afghans in Austria do not have a father in their lives. Both communities suffer from low levels of education, with some people having missed years of schooling due to fleeing wars, and high levels of unemployment.
Tsekas adds: "Both groups have a bad reputation. It is now probably also about deciding who has the toughest guys."
Efforts have been made with some success to calm the conflict between the groups in Vienna, with community leaders working with the police on the issue. The latest brawl, however, suggests much more work is needed to resolve the peace between the two.
Doesn't sound like a Muslim thing so much as a "Jets vs. Sharks" scenario...
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on March 08, 2016, 06:58:20 AM
Doesn't sound like a Muslim thing so much as a "Jets vs. Sharks" scenario...
Yes. The Thirld World Edition.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on March 08, 2016, 06:58:20 AM
Doesn't sound like a Muslim thing so much as a "Jets vs. Sharks" scenario...
Much worse music, though.
Still in Warsaw. Trying to find work until the fall. However, I am eating pljeskavica and drinking nikshichko while wearing a SRBIJA sweater, so I am obviously somewhat confused.
Quote from: Syt on March 08, 2016, 07:45:42 AM
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on March 08, 2016, 06:58:20 AM
Doesn't sound like a Muslim thing so much as a "Jets vs. Sharks" scenario...
Much worse music, though.
Islamic rap battle? At least, you avoided Balkan technopop.
I can confirm that turbofolk is one of the worst things to ever happen.
Quote from: Queequeg on March 12, 2016, 10:32:26 AM
I can confirm that turbofolk is one of the worst things to ever happen.
It is terrible, yes, but in my limited exposure it seems to be slightly better than Manele, the Romanian version of turbofolk.
Larch, have you been to both Serbia and Romania?
Quote from: Queequeg on March 12, 2016, 02:23:52 PM
Larch, have you been to both Serbia and Romania?
Haven't been to Romania (yet) but know plenty of Romanians.
I GOT A JOB IN AUSTRIA! I WILL BE LIVING THERE FOR 4 MONTHS!
Quote from: Queequeg on March 18, 2016, 09:34:16 AM
I GOT A JOB IN AUSTRIA! I WILL BE LIVING THERE FOR 4 MONTHS!
Cool.
Quote from: Queequeg on March 18, 2016, 09:34:16 AM
I GOT A JOB IN AUSTRIA! I WILL BE LIVING THERE FOR 4 MONTHS!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Quote from: Queequeg on March 18, 2016, 09:34:16 AM
I GOT A JOB IN AUSTRIA! I WILL BE LIVING THERE FOR 4 MONTHS!
Are you going to be working taking care of the children of a widowed former navy captain?
Quote from: Valmy on March 18, 2016, 12:09:12 PM
Quote from: Queequeg on March 18, 2016, 09:34:16 AM
I GOT A JOB IN AUSTRIA! I WILL BE LIVING THERE FOR 4 MONTHS!
Are you going to be working taking care of the children of a widowed former navy captain?
Painting watercolors.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDMcDhFvGi5/
Marty sicked his twink boytoy on me.
Hey if you want to talk about Poland you better get the fuck out of Poland bitch!
You gonna take that shit? Kick his ass.
Just got back from a trip to Vienna and Budapest. Visited the military museum to see Franz Ferdinand's car, totally blown away by how awesome that place is. Possibly best military museum I've ever been to. :mmm:
Also, the newly reopened Kunstkammer :wub:
Quote from: Maladict on April 06, 2016, 07:49:28 AM
Also, the newly reopened Kunstkammer :wub:
You make me want to swing by Vienna on my trip. :angry: Well, I'm going to Bratislava anyhow.
The hammer of the cunts? :unsure:
Quote from: Liep on April 06, 2016, 07:56:39 AM
Quote from: Maladict on April 06, 2016, 07:49:28 AM
Also, the newly reopened Kunstkammer :wub:
You make me want to swing by Vienna on my trip. :angry: Well, I'm going to Bratislava anyhow.
Bratislava is a lot more fun than Vienna, that's a fine choice.
Just returned from my Belgrade + Zagreb trip. Fun as always.
It's striking how different those two cities are.
Quote from: The Larch on April 06, 2016, 05:32:07 PM
It's striking how different those two cities are.
In what way?
Like Austin and Houston.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 06, 2016, 05:55:01 PM
Like Austin and Houston.
So one has no zoning and smells like sewage and the other is the epitome of hipsterness? :hmm:
Like Calexico and Mexicali.
Quote from: Valmy on April 06, 2016, 05:53:14 PM
Quote from: The Larch on April 06, 2016, 05:32:07 PM
It's striking how different those two cities are.
In what way?
Zagreb (or at least its center) is clean, pretty, has a strong central-European feel and is relatively well ordered. Cars are nicer, traffic is fluid, people dress sharply.
Belgrade is dirtier, looks a bit run down in many places, has a much more chaotic (and much more lively) feel. Traffic seems a nightmare, and you get a few odd looking fellas even in the city center.
Quote from: Maladict on April 06, 2016, 07:49:28 AM
Just got back from a trip to Vienna and Budapest. Visited the military museum to see Franz Ferdinand's car, totally blown away by how awesome that place is. Possibly best military museum I've ever been to. :mmm:
Also, the newly reopened Kunstkammer :wub:
I went there without knowing that the car was there. My jaw dropped to the floor I entered the room and saw it.
The model ov Viribus Unitis was cool as hell also. Great museum.
Quote from: Threviel on April 07, 2016, 01:20:06 PM
I went there without knowing that the car was there. My jaw dropped to the floor I entered the room and saw it.
The model ov Viribus Unitis was cool as hell also. Great museum.
Yes, awesome model.
I also liked how it takes you through the war, ending with the armistice and reflecting on all the horrors, and then you turn the corner and see the car again.
Quote from: Threviel on April 07, 2016, 01:20:06 PM
Quote from: Maladict on April 06, 2016, 07:49:28 AM
Just got back from a trip to Vienna and Budapest. Visited the military museum to see Franz Ferdinand's car, totally blown away by how awesome that place is. Possibly best military museum I've ever been to. :mmm:
Also, the newly reopened Kunstkammer :wub:
I went there without knowing that the car was there. My jaw dropped to the floor I entered the room and saw it.
I felt really sick. Thought I was going to throw up. Totally unprepared.
Do you ever have a small, normal reaction to anything? :unsure:
:D
Another unexpected surprise was at the Neue Burg, the custom made suits of armor worn by Alessandro Farnese, Philip II and the Austrian emperors.
It overshadowed the real reason of my visit, the Ephesos museum. That place really needs an update.
Quote from: garbon on April 07, 2016, 05:07:41 PM
Do you ever have a small, normal reaction to anything? :unsure:
Besides, it's just an old car with bullet holes on it.
Spellus, did you faint when seeing the Eutropius statue at the Kunsthistorisches? :P
Spellus upon visiting the Armenian Genocide church that got blown up by ISIS:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-m3yeZZmkkRA%2FT7_D0c6_SlI%2FAAAAAAAAABE%2FU37BJQvhBbg%2Fs400%2FGifScanners.gif&hash=b1789c221a7a42c753b7f2097510459cf8b93219)