When we got on the train in Prague, I was convinced there were people in our seats and before double checking, asked them to move - I was incorrect, our seats were right across from them, and I spent the first 30 minutes of the trip embarrassed, tense, and of course made Em tense. I was ultimately able to get over it and focus on the Czech countryside. By the time we started to approach Vienna, even though I was excited at yet another new city, another privilidge, I was tired, and didn't feel excited about having to navigate through another city, where language, directions, and gaging distance were a challenge. I wanted a nap, a good stretch, and a bath. These thoughts were arm wrestling with the ones that were telling me to just relax and be open to the new experiences, and the fantasticness of being able to stumble my way through a European city when our train approached a bridge, and then this beautiful city just opened up and my jaw dropped. I had no concept of Vienna, really - other than its history, had no idea how huge it is, and I had imagined it somehow being stuffy and gray. The closer we got to the train station, the more I relaxed. When I stepped off the train, there was just this sense of ease that came over both Em and I. Every experience, every place we went, and every step for the two days we were there, were tinged with magic. Below are some memories I hope to keep for as long as possible:
St. Stephan's Cathedral - It is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, and it rivals Westminster Abbey in its grandeur. We happened to go there on Easter Sunday. It was flaking out, and cold, but there was so much light and energy, it didn't feel cold. We could hear the singing from far outside, and we were actually able to go inside, in the middle of Easter service, and view. It was so moving the tears flowed freely from my eyes. We lit a candle for those we love.
Pastries in Vienna are considered an art form, as well as a delicacy, multilayered, colorful pastries with cremes, fruit, sponge, chocolate... I seriously considered a career change in service of becoming a pastry chef as I devoured each pastry I had the pleasure of eating.
The Hundertwasser Mueseum - No description of this artist would really do any justice to how awesome, colorful, and playful his work is... Look it up :) Let's just say some version of Alice in Wonderland exists on earth - at least the colors and the vibrance. Seriously the coolest museum I have ever been to!
Music - Vienna is the heart and soul of Classical music and it shows in the buildings, and in the many memorial statues along the city. Mozart, Strauss, etc.. - it's not hard to understand where the inspiration came from in many of the composers works. Due to the Easter Weekend, we couldn't see any live classical music at least not formally.. However, as we walked back towards our hotel near sunset, we came upon a cellist performing on the steps across from St. Stephan's Cathedral, and wept at the beauty of the sound as it echoed off the buildings surrounding us.
The Irish Pub - We are suckers for Irish pubs everywhere we go, so when we found one on our way back to the hotel, we went in, initially for a pint only, but ended up having dinner and a few more pints. Our waiter was awesome, funny, interesting, and filled with stories. Gil Scott Heron was played at many points throughout the evening.
We didn't want to leave... I would go back in a heartbeat!
