Mozart, Cesky and OKTOBERFEST!

Last week the girls and I had a ladies night out to the symphony! The building was beautiful and they played Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (the only one I recognized). The concert was interrupted by cellphones twice and the crowd and the flute player was pretty angry. Good to know even Europeans aren't perfect either! We finished the night with sacher torte and wine at the original home of the dessert. I love ladies night in Vienna :)

Megan, Me, Chrysty and Dena



I have a video as well but will have to add that later on..

This past weekend I finally got to travel! With all this schoolwork it has been extremely busy. But I can say that I did survive midterms last week, barely.

The school organized a trip for all of the globals to go on to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic on Saturday. We all headed out in the morning taking a train to Linz and then a bus up to Cesky. The ride up was so nice, the countryside reminded me of home. It followed a small river with campsites and canoers closer to Cesky.

We got there and took a short walking tour with our guide, Stan. He was adorable and hilarious. It was the best tour ever! The city was filled with people because it was the day of the patron saint of the Czech Republic this weekend. (the reason the pope was in Prague)


There were food and craft vendors everywhere! And a large stage with dancers in traditional outfits singing and dancing. It was the perfect weekend to visit.


That evening we went out to dinner at a traditional Medieval restaurant. They served us wine in goblets and the food was amazing. Duck, rabbit, ham and chicken! Definitely one of my favorite meals thus far!


We went out that evening to a traveler's bar and took absynthe shots. There were two birthdays that day so we HAD to celebrate! To take the shots you have a spoon of sugar that you light on fire and then stir in the bright green shot. The birthday girls had a memorable night!


The next morning we got up and had breakfast at the street vendors again and sampled almost everything. The fresh food was sooooo good. I believe I've had more sausages since being in Europe than ever before.


Two of my girlfriends and I then walked around the city and explored some of the shops. We made it up to the top of the castle to check out the view overlooking the city. The view was breathtaking. (Check out the video at the bottom!)


We left Cesky and headed towards MUNICH!
My girlfriends and I left the group and hopped on another train to meet the twins' friend Vince. He met us in Munich and showed us around Octoberfest! He was an awesome guide. We found a beer tent and drank liters of beer out of huge glass mugs. Vince was explaining all of the German songs to us and showing us the dances that everyone else there knew. There were people from all over the world there. We became friends with a group of Italians and Germans, even though they didn't speak much English. Language barriers seem to always fade with alcohol. :) I was able to cross that off my list of things to do before I die this! But I'm definitely going back someday as well!!

These are cookies that all girls wear around their neck, Vince says you will be in a lot of trouble if you don't buy your girlfriend one.

Dena, Megan, Vince and me

My friend Megan and I rode the train back in the morning and sat with two Australian boys and talked with them during our four hour ride back. They were fun and helped pass the time. Sharing traveling stories about Asia and showing us pictures. I love the interesting people you meet while traveling!

Just got back to Vienna and beginning to prepare for finals. Wish me luck!

xoxo,
Amy

Sturm!

Last week my friends and I ventured up to the North of Vienna to the wineries. It was very quaint and beautiful. We ate dinner from the small kitchen inside and listened to the accordion player throughout the night.


The deli style restaurant in the winery.



We tasted the house sturm, which is the freshest batch of wine that only comes out this time of year. (It's more fruity and a little thicker.)


My favorite part of the night was when a young Austrian boy was leaving with his family and stopped by our table and handed me a Buckeye! I wasn't sure what he said or why he handed it to just me, but it was so cute!

My roommate Marina and I.

xoxo,
Amy

Getting Lost in Vienna

The other morning I woke up with an itch to get out of my apartment and began looking at my guide book of Vienna and decided to explore on my own. I made a few notes before heading out and jumped on the UBon towards Schonbrunn. After two train changes and a few pages of my book, I made it to the correct stop and hopped off with the rest of the crowd. I turned the

corner and walked into the plaza of a gorgeous palace that was once the home of Maria Theresa and Napoleon. The color of the buildings was striking in its bright yellow, a favorite of Maria Theresa.

I wandered through the gardens and took pictures of the archways of foliage and ponds filled with water lilies. I walked through these gardens and found myself on the other side of the palace and looking down a huge garden that was perfectly manicured. They put SLU’s campus to shame…

This is also where the Michael Jackson tribute concert was supposed to take place, but I just found out yesterday it was canceled.

At the end of the gardens was the Neptune Fountain leading up to a BIG hill, which I climbed and ended up looking over the palace and a view of Vienna.

After walking through the gardens and finding my way out, I ended up in a small neighborhood. I had to ask for directions which is not easy given I don't speak German. But I found my way to the bus stop and then back to the UBon and finally back into the city. It's always a good feeling to navigate your way through being lost.

My next stop was Karlsplatz back in the center of the city. Here the Ubon station was designed by the architect Otto Wagner.

I sat for awhile under a big tree and read some more of my book on International Organizations before taking off again. I wandered down a street and came across the Greek Embassy and a beautiful neighborhood park. And right when I was feeling like I should figure out where I was, I ran into the Belvedere Palace. Another gorgeous castle in the middle of the city. I know now I need to go back because that is where Gustav Klimt's famous painting "The Kiss" is.

After all of my walking around I needed a break so I met my friend Dena for some tea at a coffee shop, where we ran into a very talkative professor from Webster. He suggestion some other good coffee shops and places to study.

I finished the night by walking through the city

and taking pictures all the monuments

at night with some new friends.

It was an amazing day.

xoxo,

Amy

I love Art and Vienna

Vienna is a gorgeous city. Since I've been here, I have taken some time away from studying to explore a little bit. Here are some pictures! (Per Barb's request...)







Last weekend I went to the Leopold Museum with my roommate and another classmate. The main attraction there is Egon Schiele and a few Klimt pieces. Klimt is probably better known as the famous Austrian artist, but Schiele's work is amazing. He was a student of Klimt's. The museum also had a great collection of German Abstract Expressionism. They aren't always the most light-hearted collection of works to see on a Saturday afternoon, but it was still interesting to see... The museum is located in the Museums Quarter so you are able to get views of the other museums from the top floor of the Leopold.


Vienna is also well known as the city of music and home to Mozart. On my list yet to do is to see and OPERA here! I'll let you know how it goes :)

A few nights ago my girlfriend, Dena, and I went out to explore together. We walked around and looked for a place to eat. We found a small outside cafe with the most amazing food. It was the best meal I've has so far in Europe! We finished with the Viennese desert, sacher torte. Sooo good!


Until next time...

xoxo,
Amy