Blechtrottel: Tin Idiot — “Blech” means tin. You perhaps recall the Nobel Prize winning German author – Günter Grass – and his famous novel – “Die Blechtrommel” (Tin Drum) about the boy who refuses to grow up during WWII — well the only thing that a Blechtrottel has in common with a Blechtrommel is the word “Tin” in the beginning.
Trottelis the Austrian word for idiot.
So a Tin Idiot normally refers to a computer. I imagine if my personal experience is universal, this term will inevitably evolve to encompass more the user than the machine.
However, according the “Der Kleine Wappler” the word can also refer to athletes who have won only tin – meaning those who must be satisfied with 4th place. (Did I ever mention that Austria is not a country that gives every kid a trophy just for showing up).
Der Kleine Wappler – How to swear and bad mouth in Austria
Delve more into the Austrian creative side with their rant words: “Der Kleine Wappler” by Astrid Wintersberger, Residenz Verlag — book is completely in Austrian language.
Beuschlreißer: Lung Ripper — “Beuschel” is a word worth remembering lest you accidental find yourself consuming an Austrian specialty of the same name – Beuschl – which is nothing more than chopped lung in some kind of white sauce. Don’t say you weren’t warned. The second half the compound word – reißer – comes from the German word “reißen” meaning “to rip.” So together the word literally translated means “Lung Ripper” — which is a reference to any activity that is so strenuous to your lungs that the pressure could cause them to rip apart. It is often used as a creative way to describe strong cigarettes. Personally, I was thinking more along the lines of a strenuous run.
Der Kleine Wappler – How to swear and bad mouth in Austria
Read more interesting Austrian Rant Words: “Der Kleine Wappler” by Astrid Wintersberger, Residenz Verlag — book is completely in Austrian language.
(HOW TO BE HIGHER THAN THE LEGAL LIMIT – for a limited time only)
Not macht erfinderisch. – Austrian adage (literally: Necessity renders innovation)
In Vienna, Abbot and Costello wouldn’t have been talking baseball (see video below) in their classic “Who’s on First?” skit, they would have been discussing floors.
“Who’s on first? What comes second? And where I am?”
No, the Viennese aren’t trying to have a little fun by putting one over on their foreign guests. (Though it is amusing the first time you witness an ignorant out-of-towner boldly, athletically, opting to take the stairs only to realize four floors up that the third floor is actually maybe the fourth, fifth or even the sixth).
Yes, the Viennese were being creative with their numbers long before it became fashionable on a worldwide scale to do so.
Rathaus at Sunset – view from Skyliner
When the Vienna Building Ordinance stipulates (as it has for centuries) that no resident buildings within the so-called “Gürtel” (districts 1 -9) be taller than 5 floors – no problem. Start your building with a ground floor (Erdgeschoss). Maybe add a Mezzazin, Hochparterre or Belle-Etage and go from there to the first floor. What? A Mezzazin is supposed to be a half-floor, you say? No worries. No one’s checking. As long as the top floor is the 5th, all is good in the Empire. In the Republic. In the inner districts. For goodness sake, even the Vienna City Hall has a Mezzazin.
View of Burgtheater and St. Stephans from Vienna Skyliner Tower
Despite Viennese finesse for creative solutions, the city has indeed managed to keep the building heights within the inner districts low and thus maintain a beautiful old town skyline for centuries. Now that’s good city planning.
And precisely the reason why you have to get yourself down to the Rathaus before March 8th. Because right now you can ascend the “City Skyliner Gondel” — a temporary tower –erected beside the Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) in honor of the Ringstrasse’s 150th anniversary and the 20th Anniversary of the Vienna Ice Dream (Eistraum) Skating Rink at the City Hall. Yes, the UFO-looking contraption has caused a fuss among some fun-spoiling Viennese sour grapes steadfast in their century-old ordinances (I would expect nothing less) but they’ve had their turn. Now it’s yours to enjoy a good view of this beautiful city. Go now while the winter sun is shining and don’t miss the limited opportunity (until March 8th!) to pay your 7 € (kids pay 4 €) and boogie on up the 81 meter high tower (you’ll be up 60 m high) that will offer you a slowly turning, 360 degree panorama view of Vienna. Buy a drink at the stand while waiting in line and take it up with you. No problem. The queue moves quickly (60 people per trip fit in) and the trip up lasts 7 minutes (one minute up, 5 minutes turning, one minute down). All seats are good because the tower turns and everyone ends up standing up anyway. Give a shout out to the little Rathaus man on top of the Rathaus. Maybe he’ll wave back. (In which case, don’t opt for the alcoholic beverage next time you go up).
How to get there: Subway U2 to Rathaus or to Schottentor and walk over or take trams 1, D or 71.
This week it’s me. Expat Blogger, KC’s Top 10 Favorite Austrian Things
1) Food Putenschnitzel hammered, breaded with a slice of lemon on the side and served with parsley potatoes (Petersilerdäpfel), a mixed salad gemischtes Salat) and a Seidel of Ottakringer. Then a Marillenpalatschinken (apricot crepes) with a Melange for desert.
2) Drink Grüner Veltliner
at the Heuriger Weinhof Zimmermann on a summer evening with a bunch of beloved friends.
3) Film or TV Show
“Liebesg’schichten und Heiratssachen” (Love and Marriage) Cause I’m a sucker for affairs of the heart and can’t resist rooting for the lonely tuba player from Burgenland who has never had a girlfriend but has an amazing collection of hoola dancing dolls and is looking for love on Austrian national television.
The show is produced by the very talented Austrian documentary maker – Elisabeth Spira (who also did the great “Alltagsgeschichten”) and the production crew is extremely talented at capturing people in their native environments, and finding just the right theme song for the lone wolf as he struts his stuff, nordic walking in the local park or playing catch with his guinea pig. Don’t miss this show – it’s a definite must-see. In fact, the US should consider a spin-off with all the US Eleanor Rigbys out there looking for love.
Master of the Deep POV, Arthur Schnitzler :
“Es gibt Herzen, in denen nichts verjährt.” (There are hearts immune from time’s lapses)
Bottle of Grüner Veltliner from Bründlmayer
***
“Sie fragen mich? Sollt es ihnen noch nicht aufgefallen sein, was für komplizierte Subjekte wir Menschen im Grunde sind. So vieles hat zugleich Raum in uns-! Liebe und Trug …Treue und Treulosigkeit… Anbetung für die eine und Verlangen nach einer anderen oder nach mehreren. Wir versuchen wohl Ordnung in uns zu schaffen, so gut es geht, aber diese Ordnung ist doch nur etwas Künstliches…Das Natürliche…ist das Chaos. Die Seele…ist ein weites Land..”
(You ask me? Have you not noticed, how complicated we humans at heart are. So much has room in us all at once! Love and deception… Loyalty and disloyalty … Worship for one and longing for another or more. We try to create order, insofar as possible, but this order is only generic… The Natural … is chaos. The soul … is a vast land...)
5) Month May (with December as a very close second)
I love the month when the city reawakens from its grey winter slumber and every cobblestone, street artist, daffodil and magpie comes to life.
Tel Aviv Beach, Donaukanal, 2nd District, Beach Bar, Vienna – May in Vienna
6) Place
On the terrace in summer at exactly 7 pm when the bells of surrounding churches begin to chime and the sun slowly descends
7) Historical Figure Karl Kraus sassy and klug, with his clever observations and controversial viewpoints, he certainly knew how to stir things up in the city steadfastly resistant to change .
“War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the end, one is surprised that everyone has lost.” ***
“Everything that’s created remains as it was before it was created. The artist fetches it down from the heavens as a finished thing.” *** “Language is the mother of thought, not its handmaiden.” *** “Education is what most receive, many pass on, and few possess.” ***
“In Berlin, things are serious but not hopeless. In Vienna, they are hopeless but not serious.”
Krampus misunderstanding – he thinks KC’s been naughty
8) Tradition / Past time Krampuslauf
Oh the thrill that someone or something knows that impish side of you and if you don’t behave, will snatch you up and carry you off so you best be careful. Stay away from creatures with Ruten and baskets on or around December 5. And be good.
9) Song
Classical: Mozart‘s Clarinet concerto in A major, K. 622 (25 Mozart Favorites) was written in 1791, shortly before Mozart’s death – maybe I like it so much because for many years I tried my hand at playing clarinet and still have a soft spot for my old instrument despite my own obvious lack of talent.
mozart or “Wolfi” as the Austrians like to call him
Austropop: “Shakin My Brain” – Attwenger (see video below) – how can this song not make you laugh?
These guys ingeniously combine drums and an accordion with Upper Austrian dialect to come up with songs with the most inappropriate texts that capture the feeling of life in an Austrian small town. Artsy folky Volksmusik. These guys don’t take themselves too seriously and — I think — are musical geniuses.
10) Word
Oachkatzlschwoaf [‘ɔaxkatzlʃwɔaf] Eichkätzchenschweif – Small oak cat’s tail which is a small squirrel’s tail) – a so-called “Schibboleth” or language test that Austrians love to give to non-Austrians – Germans especiallyhttp://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Oachkatzlschwoaf – if you hang out in Austria long enough, you will eventually be challenged to Oachkatzlschwoaf. You will fail miserably and the Austrians will find this rather hilarious. Be good-humored, laugh along with them, then have a sip of Ottakringer while they recover from their laugh-induced hiccups and challenge them to a “squirrel’s tail” or “Valentine’s day” or “how much wood, would a wood-chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood.” Who needs to ice-bucket when you can Oachkatzlschwoaf? Below is a little something to help you practice a bit and up your game.
ATTWENGER – SHAKIN MY BRAIN
Fascinating Dissertation by David Kleinberg with more info about Austrian dialect
Shibboleth: According to Judges 12:5-6, the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim and only the survivors from Ephraim who could properly pronounce “Shibboleth” were spared death. 42,000 didn’t manage. So any word a group uses to distinguish members of that group through the ability to pronounce the word properly (Pittsburghers would fit this as well) is referred to as a “Shibboleth”
ORF – Liebesg’schichten und Heirratssachen (Act now! They are looking for singles as candidates for their 2016 show. Go for it! Show your princess-in-hiding your superior tuba skills)
Blechtrottel: Tin Idiot — “Blech” means tin. You perhaps recall the Nobel Prize winning German author – Günter Grass – and his famous novel – “Die Blechtrommel” (Tin Drum) about the boy who refuses to grow up during WWII — well the only thing that a Blechtrottel has in common with a Blechtrommel is the word “Tin” in the beginning.
) was written in 1791, shortly before Mozart’s death – maybe I like it so much because for many years I tried my hand at playing clarinet and still have a soft spot for my old instrument despite my own obvious lack of talent.
