Places to Go: Vienna March 18, 2007 Jill To visit the Museum of Contraception and Abortion. And its founder sounds pretty badass. I hear there’s some other stuff to see in that city, too.
Since no one else is commenting, I thought I would point out that Vienna as a whole is pretty bad ass. They have a very ovaries-out art scene.
My grandmother was born in Vienna in 1901, died there in 1992, and in between led a hell of a life. She dated the philosopher Karl Popper, got married a couple of times, and by her own account had “many, many abortions” in the ’20s and ’30s. She also had three children, lived in a communist barracks at the end of World War One, and though not-Jewish herself, helped her Jewish husband (my father’s father) and their children emigrate to England in time to avoid the Shoah. She was a great influence on me, and she taught me to love Vienna. My aunt still lives in the 16th district, and I try and get over when I can.
Anyone who ever has a chance to visit Vienna (Wien) should absolutely check out theHundertwasserhaus. It is an architectural wonder with its bright colors and undulating grounds. They also have fantastic coffee houses (think opposite of Starbucks) with waiters in suits and decadent desserts (and of course coffee).