April 16
DFR-Wien
It was not pure chance that I began my morning at Café Central. The coffeehouse was just a couple of blocks from DFR-Wien on Petrarcagasse, so passing by the café gave me a good opportunity to check it out.
Moments after Alana left the table – dropping a Euro on the table for tip – I stood, sipped the last of my espresso, and departed also.
DFR-Wien has a grand entrance, like many venerable banks in Europe. I guessed that it had occupied this prominent spot for many years, just a few steps up from the roadway and perched on granite risers to emphasize its girth and height. The façade sports tall columns that themselves support a triangular pediment above the massive bronze doors. Soaring windows with polished brass frames allow pedestrians to peer inside the lobby of
