Episode 2
shariq Ali
Valueversity
The spaciousness and organized environment of Vienna International Airport pleasantly surprised us. The immigration process was completed in a friendly atmosphere and quickly. This airport felt much more peaceful compared to London airports, with very little hustle and bustle. The reason for this is that Austria’s population is just around nine million, which is less than half the population of Karachi. The quality of the facilities at the airport was excellent. This airport is renowned worldwide for its fastest services, with the shortest connection times of only twenty-five minutes. It also provides family and disability-friendly amenities. Its modern lounges are considered among the best in the world. Various parts of the building are adorned with the artworks of Austria’s famous artists, Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, which seem to spread cultural fragrance everywhere.
Vienna’s famous artist Gustav Klimt is known for his controversial and emotional paintings. His most famous painting, “The Kiss,” portrays romanticism and intense emotions. In Vienna, his museum, the “Gustav Klimt Museum,” is adorned with his twentieth-century masterpieces
Vienna is also recognized for its unique “Vienna School of Painting.” Here, artists creatively depicted social and cultural changes. Among these artists were Egner, Schinwolf, and Steiner. Another important Viennese artist was Franz Wiles, who promoted the expressionist movement. His work reflects the intensity of emotions, the warmth of colors, and the depiction of social issues.
After finishing the immigration process and using the restroom, the next step was to arrange for a train ticket for our week-long tour. The airport is about eighteen miles away from the city center. We reached the central train office and requested a pass for the entire week. The staff member, in a friendly manner, advised us that it would be better to buy a ticket for the train to the city center and then get a weekly pass from a nearby private train station for the rest of the city’s travel. We followed this advice. The nearby private company’s office issued us a very reasonable weekly train pass, valid for buses, trains, and trams within the city center. During all this hustle, we congratulated each other on the wisdom of traveling with light luggage, i.e., just a backpack and a carry bag. Then, we boarded the train to reach the city center. After about a half-hour journey, we got off at the station named Mitte. From here, we had to take the U4 or Green Line underground train to reach our hotel.
Mitte is a small underground railway station, oblivious to the hustle and bustle of Vienna’s main city. The station’s modern design was a testament to clean and simple lines. The platform was cheerful with a blend of soft yellow and white lighting. Passengers walked across the smooth, polished floors while waiting for the train. The station, though small, worked effectively and efficiently. Clear and simple instructions were available for the passengers. A few minutes remained for the Green Line to arrive. For some reason, I was reminded of a small town in Sindh called Mithi. Perhaps because of the similarity in the name. Mithi is an obscure town where the streets are fragrant with religious tolerance and brotherhood, where the walls of Hindu and Muslim homes are joined together. Here, both cultures actively participate in each other’s joys and sorrows, shoulder to shoulder. I wish the light and fragrance of this small town could spread across all of Pakistan, overcoming the thick and heavy religious extremism with love and fraternity…
To be continued