FROM THE CEMETERY TO THE SEWER

On Wednesday I boarded a bus at the Vienna International Center to visit the Zentral Friedhof (Central Cemetery.)  It wasn't the most pleasant day to tour a cemetery as it was steadily raining, windy, and very cool.  Due to the weather we were not able to see as much as was planned.  We were able to visit the Ehrengräber (special) section where composers, writers, artists, and politicians are buried.  The cemetery opened in 1874 and three million have been buried there in the last 133 years

Here are a few of those buried there:

Johan Straus (1825-1899) was the son of that other Johan Strauss who composed the Radetzky March.  He was born and died in Vienna.

Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827) was the author of nine symphonies and one opera.  He began to change directions from pianist to composer in 1800 when he gradually began losing his hearing.  He became totally deaf in 1815.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was famous for his piano concerts and of course, his compostions.  Inspite of being in love two times in his life, he died a bachelor.  He also hated cats.

Franz Schubert 1791-1828) was composer of  "Die Winterreise" and many other works, including twelve operas, nine symphonies, and over 7000 songs.  He died at a young age and his death was attributed to syphilis.

Beethoven

Brahms

• Straus

The next day found us near the Karlplatz area for the Third Man Tour.  We donned helmets with lights and walked down narrow concrete steps through a man hole to tour the same sewer area that is in the movie, The Third Man.  The smell was not pleasant, but I was amazed by how long and massive it was.  We actually were able to tour three areas.  There is a river down there that flows extremely fast.

The movie was set in post WWII Vienna, with emphasis on black market profiteering occurring at that time.  The film's villain, Harry Lime played by Orson Welles, was becoming rich from his involvement in racketeering in watered down penicillin.  There is a great final chase scene that takes place shot on location in Vienna, mostly at night .  Well, actually, there is one little bit of behind the scenes information like the fact that Orson Welles was so put off by working in the actual sewers that he refused to return and the crew had to build a sewer set at Shepperton Studios.

   

                The boots that the sewer workers used to wear, but they were discontinued because of the spikes that damaged the concrete.  They weren't too happy since these boots lasted ten years and the ones they have now wear out in a year.

                 Down the narrow concrete stairs after entering the manhole