DQ&A	DQA 23 LeBlog James by Dana Quercioli

Well hello, reader. I'm writing this week as a catch-up and tribute to our European vacation. Vienna, Brussels and Amsterdam were amazing, and I hope to get there again someday.

In Vienna we had a week to enjoy the most beautiful city I've ever seen. In Belgium we had a little over five days, and in Amsterdam, I had four days, which didn't end at a normal hour on any of those nights. Miss Mary Sohn and I got to hang out at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, and with our friends and SC alumni Hans Holsen and Andel Sudik. We loved it there! Thanks for having us!

So, this week our questions come from Second City's own Josh Miller and Beth Kligerman, so I'll let them take it from here! Take it away, you two.

Beth Asks:
What were the Viennese audiences like in comparison to audiences you have come across in the U.S.?

DQ Answers:
Well, Beth, the audiences in Vienna were actually quite different than your average audience here in the States. We here in the US of A are immediate gratifiers. When something makes us laugh, we do so immediately, a knee-jerk reaction to comedy. And when we laugh, we LAUGH. We are loud, proud, quick, responsive laughers. In Vienna, they speak English as a second language, and no matter how well they speak, (which is generally very, very well) it's still going to take them a minute to process it. So as they do this, time passes and no matter what the laugh feels a bit different. They are also not as big on laughing during a scene. It's not a snobby reaction, it feels more like they don't want to be disrespectful and interrupt our work. So they politely laugh and then wait until the end of the scene and applaud generously. It's different and it took us a minute to get used to, but we did. And they are wonderful audiences!

BK Writes:
What is a mélange?

DQ:
Beth, A mélange is a coffee delight that you got me hooked on! Some people would confuse a mélange with a cappuccino but there are a few subtle differences. Espresso isn't used, it's actually delicious Viennese blend of coffee. So it's half wonderful coffee, half steamed milk. Yum. It's outstanding, and I had SEVERAL of them throughout the trip. It was also easier on my ticker than most coffee is, so I was bananas for it.

BK Asks:
Can you speak German?

DQ responds:
No! Not really! I learned a few things to be polite, but not nearly enough. Helene and Julia (our lovely contacts/friends at the Vienna English Theatre) taught us some phrases that proved handy. Phrases such as:

• Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. - "I speak a tiny bit of German"
• Danke – "Thank you"
• Bitte – "Please"
• Guten Tag – "Good day," or "Hello"
• Gruss Gott – "God's greeting" or "Hello"

For the most part people speak very good English so you don't have to humiliate yourself if you don't speak much. But I tried to make an effort!

Thanks Beth! Now it's Josh's turn!

Josh Miller writes:
Is it true that everything in Europe is just "better"?

DQ Answers:
You know what, Josh? I wouldn't say better, but wonderful! Apples and Oranges, you know? I LOOOOOVED Vienna so much. Everywhere you look is culture, history and beauty. It's hard to imagine walking by such beautiful sights everyday and getting used to something like that. It's overwhelming to try and do/see everything in one week, but we certainly tried to see/do as much as we could. I hope to go back again to take another crack at it.

JM:
Was your tour to Vienna & Brussels all that you expected? I mean come on, it's the best right? You can tell me. Don't feel bad that I never went.

DQ:
It really was. I mean, an all-expenses paid trip to Europe?! Please! When I was growing up, we saved quarters in a bank to try and go to Disney World, and we didn't do it until I was thirteen. Humble beginnings meant I didn't go to too many tourist destinations, and that's something that touring has made up for. I'm eternally thankful and grateful. Thanks, Second City!

JM:
How was the Schnitzel?

DQ:
Wiener Schnitzel is a Vienna staple. It can be made with veal (no thanks!) or pork (sure!), and is essentially pretty much a fried cutlet. It was good, but I didn't go crazy for it like I did to mélange.

One of the things I did try was Vienna sausage. Now...I don't eat sausage usually, and I haven't had a hotdog since prom weekend 1998, but I forced myself to try it. Our first night there, we went to this "stand" that sold Kabobs, Pizza, and these sausage things. So they take this long roll, like a cross between a baguette and a hot dog bun that's longer than a footlong, impale it on a spike so it's hollowed out, then shove a sausage inside of it. The sausage I got had cheese already in it. It was an experience, and though I don't like hot-doggish foods, I didn't mind this one. It was pretty good. Overall, food was good!

Jorsh Miller:
More importantly, how were the adult beverages?

DQ writes:
In Vienna they were fine, and I discovered I kinda like Gin and Tonics. In Belgium...wow...beer central. They are very particular about beer there, and the way it's served, and they know what they're doing. I have discovered some delicious beers that actually made me want to drink beer. I don't really like it that much. They have Kriek, which is a cherry beer, and Framboise, which is raspberry, apple, cherry, etc. and those were great. But then we went to a bar called La Reserva and I had a Hoegaarden Rosee, and it was AMAAAAAAAZZZING! It was SO wonderful. I can't wait until it's available in the States, if that ever happens. Treat yourself. The Framboise that I drink here at home is Lambic's. If you're of age, try that. If you're not, just say no. They also have very specific glasses for the beers they sell, and vendors won't let the bars sell it if it's not in the proper glass. Here are some examples of that!

Vienna was amazing, Brussels was great, and Amsterdam was fantastic. So...I'm pretty lucky.

So, those are my questions for this time! I hope to actually receive some questions for you, reader, so I can keep writing this blog! DQA@secondcity.com. Write in.

Go Cavs, by the way.

On a personal note, much love to my Aunti Mary who's in the hospital right now...if you read this, send out some positive vibes for her, would you reader? I love her very, very, very much.

More soon,
D to the Q.

Want to ask your own question? Email Dana!

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posted: 04/27/2009

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