The Vienna Of My Dreams
It has to rank as my second favourite city in Europe. Yes, after Inverness I would have to choose Vienna. I've only been there twice, mind you. The first time was in 1986 when I was studying psychology and had developed a worrying infatuation with Sigmund Freud. This led me to grow a beard and, as you can see in the photograph, hang around the great man's memorial stone wearing skimpy shorts.
I also visited which have been recreated in the very building where he treated his patients and developed his ideas of a subconscious mind. Years later I realised that Freud's theory of psychonalysis was riddled with mysogynist flaws and I turned my back on notions of the id, ego and super-ego. (My amateur work as a dream interpreter still comes in very handy at parties though.)
I returned to Vienna a few years ago as a simple holiday-maker intent on nothing more mentally challenging than taking in the sights and findlng the place that makes the chocolate torte. It really is a city of the imagination. Its imperial grandeur, its culture of art and music and it's dark history under Nazi annexation. You can walk the streets for hours and never get bored.
It was our website team who asked me to look out this dodgy and discoloured photograph. They're making a online album on the 30 Days in Europe website and if you have a look there you'll see a variety of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Scotland personalities in exotic locations.
If you find yourself dreaming about any of them tonight, do let me know.
I'll get my cigar.
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