Everything Here is Something

Jason and I went today to find a coffee shop here in Salzburg worthy of hanging out and doing homework. He was adamant about finding a reliable internet connection, as well as finding the intelligentsia and youth culture. I was mostly looking for a place to sit down. We decided to go across the river Salzach as an adventure, since the Getreidegasse, the location of Mozart's birthplace, is riddled with tourists and is overpriced. We walked past many mouthwatering bakeries and Konditoreis, none of which had internet, and several of which were engulfed in carcinogenic clouds of smoke. While walking along a deserted alley full of bars, Jason spotted a sign reading "Immernett" and asked "Does that mean Internet?" I said "No, actually that means 'Always Nice'."

On the way, we found a discount store selling all sorts of odds and ends including gloves, which Jason was looking for, slippers, which I was looking for last week before finding a fuzzy pair at the mall, wigs and costumes for Fashing, the Fat Tuesday carnival this month, and erotic playing cards.

We finally gave up and made our way back to the school-side of the river, when we passed stairs leading up to "Coffee Symphony" which turned out to be a wonderful, warm coffeeshop where Jason ordered "the best carmel coffee I have ever had," as well as some Frankfurters mit Semmlen. When I asked for a bite, he offered me the piece off of his fork, unsure of how to transmit it to me. He said "I almost just fed you." and I said, "I almost just let you." it was almost romantic. My tea was served in a pot on a tray with a stick of rock candy. I was reminded of how Dad had said Europe would be "Civilized" like eating breakfast at Julius Minel.

The couple at the next table were giggling and I am sure it was because I was puzzling out my German homework aloud which I am sure any Austrian second grader could have done in about two seconds. In between the frustration of navigating this new country and negotiating simple transactions such as ordering food or going to the bathroom in McDonalds (where you have to buy a voucher to prove that you will buy something and not just use the bathroom and leave) I have to admit that Austria is designed to be quite relaxing and pleasant.