Journey to the End of the Night Vienna
Summer 2009 - 15 years ago - life somehow landed me in a crowd of a few hundred people that were about to embark on Vienna's first Journey to the end of the night - an urban game of epic proportions that is meanwhile organized by volunteers in cities all around the globe.
Not only did I have the time of my life that night (as you can read below), but much more than that, when I afterwards walked up to one of the organizers with an enthusiastic declaration that if there was to be a next Journey Vienna they could count me in on the team, it set me on a life trajectory where I met some of my dearest friends, co-founded a festival (and association) called play:vienna, and indeed was on the team for almost every Journey Vienna that followed.
It's been a long 6 years without strangers and friends paranoically and joyfully chasing each other through the streets of Vienna, but now the time has finally come: On September 21st, 2024 we are once again organizing the Journey Vienna! Save the date, and bookmark either journeyvienna.at or playvienna.com to stay in the loop when we finally announce the starting time and location (which is all that will be revealed beforehand to those who dare to join!).
To celebrate the occasion, today I'm also re-releasing a post I wrote and shared 15 years ago when I returned home from my first Journey to the end of the night. Enjoy!
My first journey
In short: 3 hours, 46 minutes duration, 2 times almost caught, travelled approximately 17.2 km (4.3 km by public transport and 12.9 km by foot).
Check out the full story below the map!
Starting off there was a bit of a vague paranoia going on when i rushed away from the starting point with the huge crowd, kind of like suddenly being part of a 28-days-later-esque runaway scenario where you don't really know who's already been infected, or as in this case, caught. In order to get some overview and distance my running-companion and me went straight through the small forest area up to the north and then joined in with about 12 other runners, taking the bus that arrived right in time when we arrived at the north border of the Messegelände. After getting out of the bus we seperated from the rest as a team of three and carefully walked the remaining way to the first checkpoint with some preventive running on the last meters - just in case.
Checkpoint 1 added a great portion to the atmosphere of the journey with the blood gurgling action by monochrom. Took some photos there and also picked up some water, and then my fellow runner from the start and me were off again.
Halfway to the next point we got joined by another new runner after some panic emerged somewhere far back behind us and he catched up to us. We took a generous roundabout round, ending up on a street that headed straight down to the park where checkpoint 2 was located. Getting out of the dark and ready to cross the last large street before the last 200 meters or so, we were suddenly facing two suspicious people on the other side of the street. As they were still about 20 meters away from blocking the direct way to the checkpoint i walked on, as calm as i managed, looking at them, and they back at me. With only the slightest hint of me getting ready to run for it, one started chasing after me and the other one went after my fellow runners who had stayed back a bit. My pursuer was constantly up close behind me, and after 50 meters i already felt a painful sting in my legs, but i went on. Out of nowhere i was suddenly faced with a deep pit of a construction site, but as i couldn't stop anymore anyway i jumped (right after a suprised scream along the lines of "SHIT!!!") and landed three meters further on a heap of sand, noticing with some relief that the chaser had stopped at the edge of the pit. Then got out of the sand, took the last meters to the park and dropped myself down on the grass, fighting for air, rallying.
Checkpoint 2 had a beautiful airy atmosphere, but sadly there was no task required there to get the manifesto signed, which definitely would have been cool to get some distraction from the chase and to help the overall feeling of the game.
Left the park then with 2 guys and teamed up with 2 others after half a kilometre, then we we took a long walk all the way on to the Millenium tower. Originally we had in mind to go by bus but then we took the U6 at Dresdnerstrasse because the bus route turned out to be blocked by the Friday Night Skaters passing at that time. Arriving at Jägerstrasse we noticed just in time that we were in the same wagon with two chasers who had fortunately not seen us yet. To be on the safe side we stayed in the subway and drove one more station and then back. When we returned they were gone. Took the tram to Wallensteinplatz then, but directly at the station there was a chaser waiting outside so again we went one more station than planned. Walking the way back a chaser came up from the other side of the street. At that point we got seperated because one of us slipped out when running towards the chaser. (he didn't get caught though!) The remaining runner and me then took the last few meters, again in a preventive sprint.
Checkpoint 3 was great fun with all the kids hanging around, and the water awaiting us was a welcome refreshment. The possibility to respawn also seemed to have fueled up the motivation of everyone again which was awesome!
Got into the tram then (together with many runners and some chasers) and dropped off on the bridge to stay in a safe area. Teamed up with my freshly respawned companion with which i initially started off. We then took a precautious route through some sidestreets, through the train station, and then through some side streets again. The biggest problem in getting to checkpoint 4 was actually finding the way, but eventually it worked out.
The twist-n-drink task at the checkpoint was actually quite nice, although i have a not so nice childhood memory connected to drinking twist-n-drink which includes vomitting and never again drinking the stuff thereafter, but hey - you gotta face your phobia! So i drank it and smiled even brighter when nothing bad happened. =)
Heading for Checkpoint 5 we picked a medium-cautious way and didn't see any chasers on the way at all. Warm welcome at the church checkpoint and some cheering that i and some other people arriving shortly after us where still wearing a blue ribbon. Deciding which snack to eat was a tough one, but i made it! ;)
For the way to the Rathaus we originally had in mind to go all the way with the D-tram, but as some chasers occupied the tram station right when the tram arrived, we decided to sprint away towards the Donaukanal while the tram was blocking the chasers from seeing what we are doing - which worked great! Shortly before reaching the first bridge we were joined by another runner, with which we then took a long way straight through the middle of the first district, feeling quite safe between all the people out on the streets. We walked up to the Rathaus coming from Volksgarten and seperated, so we wouldn't attract any attention on the way through the crowds. The feeling of sneaking through the middle of the partying masses was undescribable. As I approached the top right end of the festival area and the crowds had cleared i was facing a chaser straight ahead of my way.
To my right was a wall, to the left the terraces from the film festival, and turning around wasn't an option for me as he clearly was observing me and turning around suddenly without any clear reason would have given away my identity right away, and i wasn't sure if i would endure a long sprint with my depleted energy reserves. So i walked on, with about 16 meters left to him. Two meters ahead was a tourist making photos, but my mind was so overwhelmed by the situation that i just didn't find any words to get into a conversation with her that would trick the chaser into thinking i was a tourist as well. So my effort expressed itself as a vague half turn towards the tourist while passing her and then turning back again and walking on in the same direction as before. Now the chaser was REALLY alert. =) But he yet hadn't seen my ribbon so he walked more and more into my destined way to catch a gaze on my right upper arm. With now only 9 meters left, there emerged another chance for me to stop and turn away from the chaser. It was a newspaper holder standing right by the wall. Again i half turned towards it, but only to find that it was empty! So again i turned back and went on with what probably already must have been the expression of pure panic on my face. Between the chaser and the end of the wall there was a now a mere 3 meter wide gap for me to walk through, and he was still walking on and peering at my right shoulder. He probably must have thought i'd be crazy to go on walking now, so with the greatest luck i could have he let me pass by him and the end of the wall and only looked after me, not taking any effort to now get a clear gaze at my right upper arm, although i was now facing him with the back!
My mind was still racing when i reached the corner of the Rathaus and started running. I finally reached the park at 00:06, dropped down on the grass, gasping, and was happy and totally exhausted. Thanks everyone for this great evening!