52 CultureShock! Austria
a variety of plant and meat products, such as wheat,
vegetables, fruit, wine, milk, eggs, pork and beef. The dairy
products, especially, are thought of as truly superior.
Farming is hard work, and everyone in the family
contributes. Working hours on a farm (Bauernhof) are from
sunrise to sunset, and the women do as much as the men.
Despite this, many farms, unless they are large, have difficulty
making ends meet in spite of subsidies. Many have had to
offer rooms to travellers in order to bring in an additional
source of income. They are great vacationing spots, as
children enjoy learning about and interacting with farm
animals. The fresh milk, cheese, eggs and freshly baked
bread are also a treat.
Generally speaking, people on the farms are much
friendlier than city folk and much easier to talk to and laugh
with. Certainly, the Heurigen (wine taverns) in the country
are much more interesting because of the light-heartedness
of the people. (Plus their wines are nothing to balk at!)Safety
Austria is a very safe place to live and work in. One can
walk the streets alone in the wee hours of the morning,
whether in a small or large city, without fear of muggers,
rapists or the like lurking around the corner. One does hear
of the occasional pickpocket in large department stores or
on the metro, and of home or car burglaries, but crimes are
generally rare.Austria’s Unconventional Side
Prostitution
If you think the average Austrian a bit too demure, take a
drive late at night along the Gürtel or the Prater in Vienna,
and you might be surprised at the scantily-clad women
waiting for customers. Prostitution is legal in Vienna and the
rest of Austria. Legalising prostitution could have begun with
Emperor Franz Josef, as he did not have a blissful marriage
and sought other women to satisfy his needs. Franz Josef also
felt that prostitutes should be well taken care of and had a
special health system instituted for them.