Every move he makes still fills him with nerves. But during those moments he reminds himself that he was able to navigate and make his way through a handful of new, unfamiliar cities over the last few days and things turned out all right every time.
The instructions for the metro are easy to follow, just like any of the other metro systems were, and he’s beaming with satisfaction as he makes his way down the street toward his goal. Vienna is another city that’s mesmerizing in its gothic-like glow. It’s dark, melancholic and utterly breathtaking. Everywhere he turns there’s marble, cobble stones and utterly charming streets. The Christmas spirit feels rich, seeping into the being of the city, and the smells that accompany him down the street paths fill him with holiday cheer.
Chestnuts, roasting on every street corner, call to him like a beacon. It’s one of the things he jotted down in his notebook, trying roasted chestnuts at a Christmas market in Vienna. For a moment he hesitates, questions if he wants to tick that from his list today or wait until tomorrow and share the experience with Gabriel. The urge of wanting to shareanother new experience with Gabriel wins, and in the end he finds himself strolling further along the city.
The streets are flooded with people. Something the online forums and blogs warned him about, but it’s not yet overwhelming in its crowdedness. People are happy, walking along the shops and holiday displays with drinks clutched in their hands and warm scarves tucked into their jackets. The city feels mellow and inviting, but the heaviness of the history found within these streets is present as well.
The sight of the cathedral makes him pause. It shocks him into a halt in the middle of the sidewalk, staring up to it in wonder. Looking at it from here he can understand why it took so long to build. The spires that erect into the sky look endless in the low hanging fog of the winter morning.
James wonders if it’s the gloomy winter weather that’s making the building look this ethereal, or if it just feels like this on any given day. The darker day does fit rather well with the gothic architecture. He just knows that this is one of those pieces that Gabriel would like to sketch. James hopes he’ll make the time to do so, but just to be safe he snaps a couple of photos.
He’s got a reservation to go inside the cathedral at noon. It gives him the opportunity to pop into the little bakery he researched, to get a cup of tea and try a piece of Christstollen. The rich, sweet bread turns out to be the perfect companionwhile he sits outside of Stephansdom to take advantage of the little bit of time he has before going inside. Within the pastry he finds different kinds of dried fruit and almonds, a combination he wouldn’t have come up with but enjoys, nonetheless.
With a happy, satisfied hum he takes his notebook out of his pocket and puts a little tick next to ‘try christstollen (bread?).’ The powdered sugar sticking to his fingertips leaves a smudge on the page. Just two weeks ago he would’ve panicked, thinking the notebook was ruined, but now he realizes that it gives it character. Every page reflects a memory, a snapshot, of the moment he completes one of the items.
The snow in Prague did a real number on the pages, causing the ink to smudge and the paper to crinkle as it dried. In Venice the humid air didn’t do it any good either. The salt in the air colored the pages and left stains. Flicking back to those particular pages now, it just gives him the opportunity to think back to those moments and recount the memories.
His watch beeps, flashing a quarter to twelve, and he drains the last of his drink. The notebook returns to his jacket pocket, zipped away to protect it. For now, he’s got a cathedral to visit and history to learn.
*
He should’ve expected it, shouldn’t he? He smiles to himselfwhen he spots Gabriel outside of the cathedral, on the bench he himself used just hours prior. The fog seems to have lifted sometime during the afternoon, leaving behind a clear, but gray sky. It seems to be the perfect light to draw by, since Gabriel’s bent over his sketchpad, completely focused on the finicky lines of the building in front of him.
“Knew you’d want to draw it,” says James, sitting down on the bench next to Gabriel. A glance at his watch tells him it’s just after three. Which means there’s still a bit of time to go before their dinner reservation. Gabriel finishes his outline of the impressive building in front of them and turns to him. “I love the darkness it radiates.”
“Should see the inside, just as impressive.” James shrugs, a smile on his lips.
“You know I’m not for all those paintings and the worship,” Gabriel quips.
He settles back, nodding at Gabriel. It’s something that was one of the first things he told James, when he first brought up the idea of Gabriel joining him. That Gabriel might like the architecture, but he’s not one for walking aimlessly through museums and churches. From what James was able to gather, religion’s a big thing in Gabriel’s family, so he can understand the reluctance.
It’s one of the reasons why there’s always a place for Gabriel to join him, always a second reservation, but with anopen invitation for if and when Gabriel feels like joining.
Most churches in Europe are free to enter, with just a booking for a timeslot, and if they do require a fee, it’s not much and something James will happily take as a loss, as long as Gabriel’s comfortable.
Besides the dinner and concert, there’s nothing else on his itinerary for the day, so taking a break doesn’t sound too bad. He stands up, telling Gabriel he’ll be right back and goes in search of a cup of coffee for the both of them. He can’t be sure how long Gabriel’s been out here, but the blue hue hovering around his lips is telling enough.
*
Dinner is a warm affair, like it often is these days. It’s different from the meals they share back home, but at the same time it’s got the same essence and understanding to it that James has gotten used to. They laugh, Gabriel asks about some things James saw inside the cathedral and James wonders about what Gabriel’s been up to all day.
James settles for a beef roast, full of hearty vegetables and different kinds of meat. The rich flavor leaves him full and satisfied, sated for the evening. Gabriel picks a classic in the Wiener Schnitzel, and James can honestly say that if they’re doing dinner onThe Evergreentomorrow, he hopes they’ll have some of these Austrian classics on board. His companion insists they try dessert and with their stomachs full of applestrudel they leave the restaurant.
The walk to their evening activity is short, something James kept in mind with the colder weather and darker evenings. They’re greeted by candle light and low lighting in the St. Peter’s Church. With high hopes, Gabriel’s warm body at his side and a belly full of good food, James settles in for a night of a rendition of Vivaldi’sFour Seasons.
18 [James] Vienna, Austria
December 13th
Still on a high from the wonderful evening full of music and companionship, James figures it’s his turn to treat Gabriel to a morning cup of tea and sets out to grab a tray of drinks. He doesn’t shower before he goes, but he does make sure that he’s at least decently dressed in jeans and a soft emerald, green sweater before he leaves their cabin.
The early hour of the morning means that the hallway is mostly deserted as he quietly passes the different cabins in the compartment. Inside some of them he can hear people talking, already up and about to start their day. It brings a smile to his face, the fact that there’s so many other people on the same journey as he is, but each and every one is having such a different experience. It’s such a whimsical thing to think about.
James takes his time in the dining carriage, knowing thatGabriel will want to sleep as long as he can. He doesn’t make much eye contact, not feeling up for the small talk that’ll most likely follow when he does, but he’s polite when he’s served the two mugs of hot water and a cannister of milk. He figures they can both enjoy a piece of the Christstollen he purchased yesterday as well.
Leaving the restaurant proves a little more difficult than arriving had. With the tray now balancing in between his hands, it’s a challenge to sidestep the people that are slowly but surely filling up the space. With soft, hurried apologies he maneuvers around the people between him and the door. He’s almost in the clear when a familiar hand lands on his shoulder. James hates the way the tension seeps into his body instantly. He swallows.
“Well, good morning, James,” Paul drawls, stepping around him to block the door way in its entirety. “Finally without your guard dog, I see.”
