15 February 2008

Austrian Nature and Second Nature

As you walk around the streets of Vienna, the beauty of the Austrian capital captivates and leaves you ?ooing? and ?aahing? at every turn. Without a doubt, the architecture is some of the finest in Europe.

The majesty of the city, sitting on the banks of the Danube, is echoed in the natural beauty of the countryside surrounding Vienna and beyond.

But it?s not just the urban streetscapes or the valleys and hills (alive or not), that strike a chord. It?s the way they?re maintained.

The Austrians are proud of their beautiful country and that pride is obvious. Vienna is one of the cleanest cities in Europe.

Unlike other European capitals, there is not a piece of rubbish to be seen, not one cigarette butt clogging up the drains and not a wall daubed with graffiti. It?s immaculate.

With a city so visually beautiful, any form of vandalism or wanton neglect would stand out hideously against the backdrop of architectural splendour so the Austrians just don?t tolerate it.

And the spic and span appearance extends well beyond the city limits deep into the countryside.

Motorways have a distinct lack of garish advertising billboards allowing the distant views to be enjoyed. The secondary roads are magnificently maintained and the smaller laneways and streets look like a landscape painting. Verges are trimmed, fences are upright and weeds seem to be non existent.

The towns and villages, while quaint and historic, are also sparkling. Every house seems freshly painted with all their bits in perfect working order. There?s no junk in the yards or old wrecked cars in the drives, just neat, petite gardens and streets. Again, there is no rubbish ? not a scrap.

Walking around Vienna and driving through the countryside, it?s difficult not to draw parallels with the state of our own cities and country towns. And frankly, they put us to shame.

The very notion of a ?Tidy Town? competition in which Australian country towns are rewarded for erecting a rubbish bin or mowing their nature strips speaks volumes.

Here is Austria, every town is a tidy town. And for Austrians, keeping them that way is literally ?second nature?.

An on location report from Austria and Central Europe by Kevin Moloney international travel writer