Burrrr it’s Cold out here.... no Really.

This morning we got very lost trying to find our concert venue then when we found it we had missed the first piece. We listened to the string quartet perform their pieces then had a couple hours to get lunch before we took a tour of the city. The tour lasted all day then we went out to dinner as a group and that was our day today. It was super cold on the tour and it was snowing a little on it. We huddled together for warmth a lot and tried really hard to just stay warm in the below freezing weather.

Inside the church 

Paige photo bombing

Trains are Fun and Showers are Hard

Today we traveled to Prague! We got up this morning and left our hostel and got on a train for four hours. We left from platform 9 so of course we said we left from 9 3/4. Paige, Erica, Tomick and I played hearts, I lost (sorry Mom). Then we all either watched showed or listened to music and dozed off.
We arrived at our new hostel in time to go scrounge up some food then leave for the concert. We arrived at the concert hall an hour early so we went a few blocks over to a really cool bridge and explored there. Then went back and watched the Czech Philharmonic perform. It was an amazing performance and one of my favorites so far! After that we went into the town square to see where all the shopping gets done.
Then back at our hostel we all struggled to figure out the shower because the water controls go hot and cold really fast. Also to get it from the hand held shower to the over head you have to pull s little bob that pulls the entire panel out which feels like you’re gonna break it. 11 pm shower adventures in the Czech Republic!

The concert house

The bridge 

Statue next to the bridge 

Castle with a church in the background

My view of the concert 

Apparently I own a leather shop too

A really big working church 

The biggest working mechanical clock in the world (under renovation)

The theatre where Don Geovoni first premiered 

Explore and Explore Some More

Our last couple of days in Vienna have been pretty amazing! We’ve explored grave sites, I attended my first opera, had lots of good food, and explored some more. 

Before visiting the grave sites in Vienna, I didn’t think that much of them but they were so interesting. These aren’t any ordinary grave markers, they are all fascinating, ornate, and beautiful. It was such a unique experience to walk around the cemetery and see names such as Beethoven and Mozart, written on the stones. I have never seen such elaborate graves in my life. At the end of the road there was a church and it had a simplistic beauty compared to many of the other churches we have seen. I really loved this experience and I’m glad we went. After visiting the grave sites, me and a couple other people went to the Belvedere Art Museum. Another interesting place. 

I’ve been to a couple of art museums around Europe and am always wondering what I’m going to find. This museum had art varying from the romantic period to medieval art to neoclassicism. There were a few Monet pieces that I loved, as well as some interesting portraits of areas we’ve visited in Vienna. The museum was having a exhibition of Klimt’s art and I had never known any of his pieces. I found his art strange but fascinating as it combined a couple of styles. It was also interesting to see that some of the paintings were noted as unfinished. Not only was the art impressive, but so was the building. It used to be a residence of the Austrian royalty and so the rooms were art just on their own. 

This same night we went to my first opera, I Puritani. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was most definitely impressed. There were people dressed in all sorts of varying fashion, and the building was really cool. We sat on the top level but I got a seat in the very front row. It was kinda crazy how I had to lean over the edge to see the stage. The performers musical abilities were amazing and it was interesting to hear from the music majors and professors on their thoughts of the performance. They often hear more then I do within these performances. 

You know you’ve had a good day when at the end you’re exhausted. My Fitbit says that we’ve already walked over 25 miles, usually between 5-9 miles a day. By the end of the very busy days I drop into bed and don’t wake up till my alarm the next morning. We are on the train right now to Prague and I can’t wait to explore more. 

When in Vienna... Get Lost!

Ever since we got here just four days ago I've learned one very important lesson: that it is often better to just get lost then have a plan for what you want to do. Vienna is a wonderful but huge city and as a result is ripe for adventure! I could have tried to stick with a bigger group as some of my classmates have done but instead I have decided to walk to the beat of my own drum, which I can say has worked out for me wonderfully! I want to share with the class as well as anyone else who stumbles upon this blog the fruit of my process so I can show you all just how much of a good idea it is to simply... Get Lost!
 I decided that while I was in Vienna I would fallow my motto: never walk the same way twice. So instead of going to the same restaurant or visiting the same part of town again and again I always tried to do something new. This led to some uniquely amazing experiences. On the second day of our time in Vienna Matt, Brett, Jeffery and I all walked the opposite way of the group and eventually happened upon a statue of Mozart! That wouldn't have encountered if didn't go of the beaten path.

Matt, Bret, me, and Jeffery at the Mozart Statue.

Then later that same night, we meet up again and walked quite far from the city center, and found our way to the Danube canal that runs through Vienna. We ended up walking along it until we stopped to take in the night air and the view at this riverside restaurant. Leading me to taking this amazing picture of a Vienna night on the canal.

A Vienna night on the canal.

However, the best experience I had was the result of me fallowing  Powell's advice of "trying ever door you can" because you will never know just whats behind it if you don't try it. As I walked downtown with Konner, Carl, and Rachel we walked by this church, which we would eventually find out was called St. Peter's Church, and decided to go inside just because. As we walked in we heard the church organ playing Bach, and as it echoed around the church it just magnified the magnificence of it. Everywhere you looked the was a new piece of divine beauty to get absorbed it. I eventually stopped taking pictures because I realized I could even attempt to capture the church's beauty much less the experience of it all. However, I before I reached this conclusion I took a picture of the magnificent instrument that created that awesome experience we all shared. Never was I so thankful of wandering into a random building.

The organ of St. Peter's Church.

  

Explore, Crash, and Explore some more! First Couple of Days

Vienna Let's Go!!

So the past 2 to 3 days we've been sight seeing around Vienna and it's been great. When we arrived in Vienna, it was about noon and I think I was running on about 30 hours of no sleep. We got to Wombat City Hostel and set our stuff down and went out to explore the local area. Needless to say, I was exhausted. However, that same night, Caroline, Matt, Jeffry and I went down into the hostel's lounge because it was jam night and we figured we'd go and listen. Turns out it was more of an open mic night and the people performing had just met that night. So Matt and Caroline went up and started singing and playing drums. At first, it was just them and the bass player and eventually the piano player and the singer went up and improved with them which was so cool! I got the opportunity to go up with them not long after and scatted and improved with them. As a music major, it was probably one of the best and coolest things I did and I'm glad i got the courage up to do it. Usually, I'm very chicken and hesitate on performing unless i have to even if its in front of people I'm comfortable with.

On day two, went on a walking tour around St. Stephen's Cathedral and learned about the history of  Bach and Mozart and what they did and where they lived in the in this city.The cathedral itself was massive and truly amazing. Something I thought was interesting was that the black coloration on the cathedral is because of the pollution in the area and when they clean one side, then the other and they start over again when they're finished which really proves just how large it is.  Later that afternoon we got to take a tour of the catacombs underneath the church. Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures but there were two different rooms that were filled with skeletons becausethey were made to be mass graves. 

Something I was fascinated with was that art is incorporated in almost everything, everywhere we went. One thing I saw that was cool is the graffiti/murals that was on the walls of the city. The sheer creativity that these artists have is amazing to me. One of them looked almost like someone drew a portrait of two people in chalk and another was more cartoon like but had some

really cool contrasting colors. both had such so much detail and thought put into into it. One other absolutely awe inspiring  place was the  St. Peter's Church. Carl, Alex and Konner and myself  were wandering around Stephensplatz  after the walking tour and we just saw the church and thought, "let's just walk in and check it out. Little did we know that we would be walking into the middle of someone performing Bach. The sound of the organ was so rich and the way it resonated in the church almost made me tear up. Not only that, we would be walking into a church where every inch of it were paintings and carvings and it was absolutely phenomenal. Honestly, I could've sat in there all day and listen to the organ and look at all of the artwork  in it. Overall, the exploring and seeing everything this city has to offer so far has been an amazing experience and I am looking forward to the rest of what this trip has to offer.

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

The first three days were full of exploration, delicious food, and language barrier. It's been truly incredible and I haven't even ventured outside of Vienna yet. Through these blog posts I will document and attempt to capture the essence of my travels.

Monday, Jan 8th
After about eleven hours of flying, the group and I landed in Vienna at noon, local time. This was, of course, far from the noon to which my body was accustomed. Nevertheless, I managed to stay awake until Austrian bedtime. This would probably not have been the case if not for the spectacular city waiting to be explored. Since we arrived at our hostel, The Wombat, an hour before check-in time, Alex, Matt, Konner, and I decided to take a stroll. We found a food stand which graced us with our first meal in the new city.

Hühner kebap, delicious street food.

Getting settled in was the next order of business, after which my roommates (Alex, Matt, and Jeffery) and I wandered our way into a pub. Fortunately the bartender understood enough English to ensure we got our beers and complimentary potato chips. We followed this excursion with a group dinner at Zwölf Apostlkeller, a restaurant that descends several floors underground! I may not have chosen the best entree to pair with my strawberry wine, but it was hard to resist the roast pork and dumplings.

Tuesday, Jan 9th
I started my first full day in Vienna with a couple of espressos and a hearty breakfast at The Wombat. The group and I then headed for St. Stephen's Cathedral in the city center for a guided tour. I learned about Vienna's history and got to see the house (now a shopping mall...) in which Mozart died. Our tour guide, Herbert, also showed us one of Beethoven's favorite cafes. It was very surreal spending time where my two favorite composers spent time, and this was just an appetizer for the next day's event.

“In this place until 1849 was the house in which Mozart died on December 5, 1791.”

Later that night we attended our first concert. The program revolved around love letters and songs by Robert and Clara Schumann. Though I couldn't understand the letters, the music was beautiful and I found myself entranced by the opening piano part. I also really enjoyed this take on the production as it was, well, more of a production than a recital, complete with acting and humor that prompted the German-speakers to laugh. After the concert, Megan, Matt, Jeffery, and I took to the streets in search of dinner. It was only after this outing that I realized I walked over 30,000 steps that day!

Wednesday, Jan 10th
The main course to Tuesday's appetizer was a visit to Zentralfriedhof, the site at which the greatest composers are buried. If standing where Beethoven once stood was surreal, standing above him was phantasmagorical (yes, I had to look that up). I got to see the gravestones for Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Brahms, and many others including the elusive Legeti, for which Aaron and I spent the better part of an hour searching. On our way back to The Wombat, Aaron, Caroline, and I got separated from the group and ended up lost in the city. Fortunately I had the two prerequisites to salvation: Google maps and an international data plan.

After some brief downtime, Caroline and I headed north for Kahlenberg, a hilltop that overlooks the city. We arrived only to find the thickest fog I've ever seen; our view of the city was a lost cause. It was an enticing change of scenery nonetheless, and I thoroughly enjoyed our trek through the foggy woods. Before we hopped back on the bus, we decided to stop at a little souvenir shop where we were greeted in German. In previous encounters, the phrase, "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" had saved the day, alerting the Austrians that they were dealing with American tourists and should switch to English. No such luck this time, as the owner replied, "Nein, nein," and continued to mutter at us in German. We tried to ignore his implacable presence while we browsed around. This continued for a few minutes until Caroline asked if he was closing, to which he replied, "Yes!" Finally aware of our transgression, we got out of his hair and made our way back for the next concert.

Thick fog!

Our second concert was the Bellini opera, I Puritani. The venue, the state opera house, was enormous. We were seated in the top row and there were probably six or seven rows below us. The seats could have been more comfortable, but I'm just glad we didn't have to stand in the very back as others did. The show featured large choral and instrumental ensembles, great soloists, and even subtitles in either German or English. I used this as an opportunity to work on my German; I would read the subtitles of the people in front of me before reading my own English subtitles. All in all, it was a great experience and I can't wait for what's in store in the next cities!

All That Jazz- Day 1 & 2

The last few days were filled with lots of travel and lots of excitement.

I left for the airport nervous- this is my first time traveling "alone" & I had barely met most of the people joining me on the trip, but the nerves were quickly calmed by the typical airport distractions and the great people I'd now all consider friends.

Our first plane ride, a nine hour & forty-five minute flight was long, for my classmates at least... I was asleep the whole time. Our second, an hour & a half long, was short and sweet... not that I would know, I was knocked for that one too.

Immediately after arriving at the hostel, a big group of us enjoyed coffee and food at a local coffee shop down the street, then went on the explore the area we would be settled in for the next four days. My roommates and I stumbled upon a BEAUTIFUL cathedral, along with a grown-up playground and a some gnarly graffiti art, then back to the hostel for a thirty minute power-nap before dinner.

Day two consisted of a tour of central Vienna and St Stephens Cathedral, the St Stephens Cathedral catacombs, and a performance of Light and Love: Letters and writings by Clara and Robert Schumann (which I did not understand a single word of... but still sounded absolutely astounding). I ended the day with a hot dog stuffed bread roll and an even bigger love for travel AND I STILL HAVE 24 DAYS LEFT!!! Woohoo!

All That Jazz- Day 1 & 2

The last few days were filled with lots of travel and lots of excitement.

I left for the airport nervous- this is my first time traveling "alone" & I had barely met most of the people joining me on the trip, but the nerves were quickly calmed by the typical airport distractions and the great people I'd now all consider friends.

Our first plane ride, a nine hour & forty-five minute flight was long, for my classmates at least... I was asleep the whole time. Our second, an hour & a half long, was short and sweet... not that I would know, I was knocked for that one too.

Immediately after arriving at the hostel, a big group of us enjoyed coffee and food at a local coffee shop down the street, then went on the explore the area we would be settled in for the next four days. My roommates and I stumbled upon a BEAUTIFUL cathedral, along with a grown-up playground and a some gnarly graffiti art, then back to the hostel for a thirty minute power-nap before dinner.

Day two consisted of a tour of central Vienna and St Stephens Cathedral, the St Stephens Cathedral catacombs, and a performance of Light and Love: Letters and writings by Clara and Robert Schumann (which I did not understand a single word of... but still sounded absolutely astounding). I ended the day with a hot dog stuffed bread roll and an even bigger love for travel AND I STILL HAVE 24 DAYS LEFT!!! Woohoo!

Opera is Terrifying, Buildings are Amazing, Pigeons are Lovely

Vienna is coming to a close and Prague is just around the corner, so an update may be necessary to close off the first time in Vienna.

To get the “important stuff” out first, the concerts here are absolutely lovely. So far our concerts have been a choral focus (oh don’t worry, the Vienna Phil and Dudamel will get a separate post on their own because I am shook), so while I may not understand the intricacies of their performance quite as well as our choral members, I do appreciate the music making that I have been able to witness and listen to a great deal. Particularly, when we went to the opera on Wednesday night, I realized just how powerful opera singers are. The hall was absolutely massive, I was in the “nosebleeds” and I could hear the main cast clear as day, as if they were right next to me, WITH NO MICS. I am now terrified of my peers back home whose main focus is opera because I am pretty sure they could kill me with their voice.

Outside of the music, my little group I have been spending time with have been exploring the backroads of Vienna, which is staggering at moments. One moment you have a regular cobblestone street, quiet as can be and then you turn the corner and St. Stephen’s Cathedral is just in your face along with the hustle and bustle of the main city center. I absolutely cannot believe that the locals are used to seeing the Cathedral everyday. This piece of history and intricately carved stone has so many little details that you could actually find something new each visit and never repeat sections.

Another part of my trip, and kind of a joke between my small group and I, is my obsession with the pigeons. I have taken more than enough photos of the pigeons just around the city, and Paige has taken photos of me being extra excited about the pigeons. I’ll let the following photos explain themselves.

Schönbrunn, Stairs and Skating... Oh My

*I actually wrote this post last night but didn't get a chance to post it until the morning*

Today was the last day in Vienna. Even though we will be back, I will miss it! Today was a
long and exhausting day. There was a lot of walking, climbing of stairs and standing.

We started off by touring the Schönbrunn Palace. Once we got there, it was time to take
as many photos as we could. Since we couldn't take photos inside, we made up for it on
the outside. Walking through the Palace and seeing all the love history was great. We got
to witness around 40 rooms, all of different styles!

After that, a few of us headed back to Stephansplatz to climb the south tower. All 343 stairs...
That was enough exercise for the day. Going around and around the spiral stairs of that tower was
not my idea of fun but the view at the end was worth it! Here are the photos from the top! The way
down was a more fun though!

Next we took a quick lunch stop before I dragged my group ice skating. I had heard about this
pathway of ice in front of the Rathaus from people who took this class before and it was worth it!
After we struggled to buy tickets, get skate rentals, and eventually find the right skate size, the whole
event was worth it!! It was great to just have some fun with my friends!

Lastly, we got to go to the concert I was looking forward to the most! The Vienna Philharmonic with
Gustav Dudamel! We had standing room only tickets which was better than I thought it would be.
I had pictured it similar to past rock concerts I have been to but this was way more civilized! I was very
sore and tired from my earlier activities but watching the Vienna Phil made all the pain worth it. The
music was AMAZING and something I hope to never forget!