The Perfect Cupof Viennese Melange Coffee
with a very Viennese glass of water
and a Viennese daily, Der Standard.
All so very innocent.
Moments BeforeI had walked past this
scaffolded building,
with a Madonna over the entrance
to "Pizza Mari".
Where Else,But in Vienna:
The boundaries
between the Profane and the Holy,
so teasingly close,
you'd not be surprised to see
St. Peter welcoming you in
and Mathew tapping beer
behind the bar,
not to forget the chorus of angels
marching in and singing for supper.
Earthly Delight?I could not help but smile
when I sat down next door -
at "The Beautiful Pearl -
with a good cup of coffee,
a glass of water,
a newspaper,
and ... a Drunken Capuchin!
Where else,
I thought,
but in Vienna? ;-)
Besoffener Kapuziner
An Austrian coffee cake,
made with eggs, sugar and nuts,
and soaked in hot wine
after baking.
Served with whipped sweet cream
or sour cream.
What else?
*
Photographed Friday Afternoon
by the absolutely sober Merisi
at and near the "Schöne Perle"
13 November 2009
Images and Text
© by Merisi
So, so true, Merisi. In Wien, the lines between the sacred and the profane are so blurred -- I love it.
ReplyDeleteLove what you write about Saints Peter and Matthew!
I agree with the comment above.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of being wildly religious the US lacks
saints on a day to day basis.
Love it! The coffee, the comments, the unexpected pictures. What a treat for us. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhere else but in Vienna sounds like an intersting story or novel title.
ReplyDeleteA tantalizing juxtaposition indeed!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine cake soaked in hot wine and later served with whipped cream or sour cream! But I'm sure it is delicious....
ReplyDeleteI adore this sentence:
ReplyDeleteThe boundaries
between the Profane and the Holy,
so teasingly close.
I can't wait to try drunken cake (when I come to Vienna).
That cake look delumptious. Could you email me a little?
ReplyDeleteRe the name of the pizzeria, Marì:
ReplyDeleteThere is a Neapoletan song called "Maria Marì" - also known as "Oi Marì" - listen to it sung by Mario Lanza,
here.
Enjoy! :-)
@ Steph,
ReplyDeleteI find it astonishing how similar this relationship is to one between old friends who know how to take a good loving tease. Where else but in Vienna would anyone sing a song about angels enjoying a holiday in their city and have the heavenly creatures ride the streetcar like everybody else? (Imagine drunken angels flying into trees!)
Was is denn heut nur los,
was is denn heut nur g'schehn,
heut san so überfüllt,
die achtadreiß`ger Wäg`n,
der Schaffner, den i frag`,
der schwitzt vor lauter Plag`,
und sagt mir gleich den Grund für diesen Feiertag.
"achtadreiß`ger Wäg`n" - Streetcar 38
Number 38 is the famous line that carries revelers from the city center to the Heurigen - the famous vine bars in the Viennese vineyards - and then safely back home again.
Please forgive me for using famous twice.
ReplyDeleteI got carried away. ;-)
Merisi, this is a gem!
ReplyDeletexo
It was indeed this mood that I felt while spending a couple of days in Wien earlier this year.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful Wednesday for you.
You never fail to charm and entertain, my dear friend!
ReplyDeletehugs
Sandi
A lovely vignette about Vienna, Merisi. And that coffee cake...mmm! I want a slice!!
ReplyDeleteI want the recipe! And what kind of wine is used?
ReplyDeleteYou're forcing me to eat another bite of the scones that the B & B hosts have left in my room for an early breakfast.
delicious decadence...
ReplyDeleteAnother gem Merisi. I love that you were perfectly sober photographing all the P words.
ReplyDeletePretty punny post.
@ Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteit's nice to feel that the Saints are one of us. Well, among us, I guess. ;-)
@ lakeviewer,
you are welcome! :-)
@ Charles Gramlich,
ReplyDeletesort of a Viennese "Angels and Saints". ;-)
@ Arija,
*smile*
I am glad you agree! :-)
@ Sara,
it isdelicious, you can trust me here. ;-)
It is sweet treat that is not cloyingly so,
a bit nutty and spirited ... there we go again ... ;-)
@ Bee,
ReplyDelete*smile*
Yes, you have to put this cake on your list,
at the "Schöne Perle"!
@ Estelle des Chevaliers,
Sorry, you'll have to ride to Vienna to enjoy this devilishly good morsel! :-)
@ Frances,
ReplyDeletethank you! :-)
(hug)
@ robert,
I am convinced Vienna somehow exists in a further dimension, somewhere between heaven and earth, not quite here, but not there either. It feels like not only traveling through time just by turning a street corner at night, but walking through several centuries all at once. At times this can be quite disconcerting! ;-)
May your Wednesday be filled with special moments!
@ Sandi McBride,
thank you! :-)
@ Feronia,
ReplyDeletethank you!
I'd love to have one right now myself. ;-)
@ Vicki Lane,
I shall sit down and translate it!
What wine? Only the best, red or white, I prefer red.
I bet the scones were delicious!
(I brake for scones!)
@ Shadow,
I imagine that this simple cake was thrown together in some farmer's kitchen, with the ingredients at hand. With work never ending, sweet were far and few between, but this one lends itself to be prepared ahead of time and then brought back to deliciousness by pouring the hot wine over it.
@ photowannabe,
ReplyDeleteyou made me laugh out loud -
the "P" words a coincidence, or so I thought (do I spot divine intervention here?):
I actually started out with that magnificent large green "P" I had told you about, only to end up with this post. Inspiration is a funny thing, it comes in the most unexpected ways. I won't promise, I have that "P" right at the top of my blog folder, who knows, maybe there's a post there for today. Or tomorrow. ;-)
I think this is a beautifully constructed post. I have tried to read the headline in Der Standard but it defeats me :-)
ReplyDeleteI want to have coffee w u in Vienna Merisi.
ReplyDeleteWhat else? George Clooney, may be?
ReplyDelete