served the Viennese way,
with a glass of water
and a downturned spoon
on a silvery tray
to join me, and sit down.
on his way to take your order
Dorotheergasse
Eight years of drinking coffee in Vienna,
and I have yet to encounter a grumpy Viennese waiter.
Signed: Merisi, 10 Decembr 2013
Images first published in June 2012, 50mm lens
Images and Text © by Merisi
That's an interesting detail... something to keep in mind if I ever write a sequence set in Vienna!
ReplyDelete*smile*
DeleteI read a book recently, with a chapter or two set in Vienna. It made me wonder if the author had ever been to Vienna, or at least consulted a map. ;-)
This looks so inviting. Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :-)
DeleteFab-u-lous! I am sure when a waiter sees you, he will be anything but grumpy. More likely, delighted :).
ReplyDelete*smile*
DeleteIn my experience, any waiter appreciates a customer who treats him or her with respect. And at Hawelka's, they certainly make you feel you are a very special customer, without going into the cloying, overeager mode. They create an atmosphere that truly makes me feel I am not a stranger in a city that at times keeps very much to itself.
You know by now I am partial to your coffee posts for some reason -- maybe it's because I'd like nothing more than to be in Vienna, relaxing with a cup of coffee in a beautiful cafe, being served by a non-grumpy waiter!
ReplyDeleteHaving lived here for a while now, I actually miss "my" coffee houses when I am abroad. Even in my beloved Italy, where I love being able to have coffee at the bar counter, after a couple of days, I miss the ease with which I can slip into a home away from home, a Viennese Kaffeehaus, just like that. On the other hand, there are instances when I long for a quick coffee break "al banco" - come si dice, "la donna e' mobile"? ;-)
DeleteMerisi, I do love your updated affidavit!
ReplyDeletexo
*smile*
DeleteI simply feel the need to counter that myth about the grumpy Viennese waiters, it simply is not my experience. Often it is a simple misunderstanding, different traditions or customs. The incredibly generous act of not disturbing customers, even if the coffee cup sits empty, is often interpreted as "bad service" instead of seeing it for what it is: being left at peace until YOU want service. Studying the menu and expecting a waiter will come and interrupt you, is another misunderstanding: you have to close the menu and put it down, only then will the waiter rush to your table. And so on .... ;-)
(Merisi will cover her head in shame if she uses "simply" one more time.)
DeleteCome to the MQ Corbaci, some of the waiters there are well known for being super grumpy! They even earned a "lemon" in KURIER Freizeit, where people complain ... >;-)
ReplyDeleteI love the Cafe Bräunerhof for a relaxed coffee. Only now it is probably almost impossible to find any relaxed café- Maybe at Café Florianihof? Do you know it? It is very serene.
I have not yet been at Corbaci's! ;-)
DeleteBräunerhof has eluded me, maybe I have read too much of Thomas Bernhard? I know and love the Florianihof. I wished I could steal more time for all those gems out there!
i love the process/effect you used on these ..may i ask what you did?
ReplyDeleteDaryl, this was a one-time thing, I played with various settings in Camera Raw, no filters or Photoshop.
DeleteSunday afternoon I met a man "aus Wien", and of course I had to tell him about your blog and all the beautiful images, including from the cafes. I showed him your blog, and he told me about Mr. and Mrs. Hawelka who had this cafe..... I work at the airport, and I had people waiting, but it is nice to be a blog follower. So thanks Merisi! Always nice to see your new and old postings.
ReplyDelete