Vienna, Austria

A rainy evening in Prague means it’s time to blog!  It’s been twenty days abroad and this is the first time we have had rain!  I am not complaining because there has been record-breaking heat here the last couple days (with no air conditioning to be found).  A little rain will do us some good!

This weekend I traveled with a large portion of our group to Vienna, Austria!  Although we were only there Thursday through Sunday, it was an amazing and fun filled weekend!  We arrived mid-day on Thursday and were guided on a walking tour by a physician who just loves Vienna.  We all thought she was a historian based on her wealth of knowledge but came to find that she just enjoys history as a hobby.  Nevertheless, she was funny, informative, and very excited to be showing us around the city.  I really enjoyed seeing the historical buildings that have so many stories behind them.  My favorite place was the Belvedere Palace.  It now houses a ton of beautiful artwork that features very reputable artists, including Manet, Renoir, and Klimt.  It was a lot to take in but definitely worth taking a couple of hours to see.

Our city tour guide!

In front of the Belvedere Palace.

One other feature that I really enjoyed in Vienna was the festivals!  While we were there, the city was hosting a Film Festival as well as a Pop Festival.  Some students ventured to the Film Festival while I accompanied others to the Pop Festival.  The Pop Festival featured multiple indoor and outdoor stages as well as variety of music genres.  It was a lot of fun and something different than what we have done so far in Prague.

My favorite stage at the Pop Festival.

Lastly, one of my favorite experiences in Vienna was attending a classical concert in St. Stephen’s Cathedral.  The concert included three violins, one cello, and sometimes a trumpet.  The audience sat in the pews and enjoyed the musicians that were playing in front of the alter.  The cathedral was more than beautiful and it was a relaxing way to appreciate the classics of Mozart and more!

Our group at the classical concert in St. Stephen's!

I am looking forward to a great week back in Prague!