So I have been negligent with these updates in the past week or so and I apologize, but there was really not much on which to update. I spent the majority of the last week writing and editing my final paper for the course. When that wasn’t the case, I was in lectures, eating lunch, or sleeping. Luckily, the paper was turned in on Thursday and I was able to enjoy my last few days in Vienna.
On Thursday we took our last trip “into the field” when we went to the UN headquarters in Vienna. As we stepped onto international territory, the air was already HOT as Thursday was also the hottest day of the year (the temperature was close to 38 degrees Celsius, close to 100 farenheit). We learned a lot about the structure of the UN bodies based in Vienna and also heard from a representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The information was fascinating, but unrelated to the main focus of our trip in a few ways, which was frustrating since we all had papers to write.
Friday morning started with a quick map quiz of the Former Yugoslavia, and within the hour of finishing I was off on my first adventure of the day. We took tram 1, which goes around the main ring of the city’s buildings, to the Hundertwasser haus, a beautiful building that reminded me very much of Gaudi’s work in Barcelona. We couldn’t go inside because the buildings house private residences, but the exterior alone was worth the journey. After returning to the DA for our last four-course lunch, we hoped on the U-ban train to Schonbrun palace, a former summer home for the emperors of Austria. The audio-guided tour, progression of rooms, and organization in general was extremely impressive. Everything ran smoothly (like things do in Vienna) and I definitely feel as though I got my money’s worth. After viewing 40 of the 1441 rooms in the palace (all that are open for display) we were able to walk around the gardens before the weekend rains set in. The gardens were beautiful and full of fake-roman ruins, fountains and gardens in the French style (geometric and ordered, the French think they can control everything).
Friday evening was the last group-event and we had a delicious meal in Schwedensplatz, down by the Danube canal (I didn’t spend much time by the water this trip, so that remains to be an adventure for next time). After dancing for most of the night, and a walk back to the DA in the pouring rain, we said good-bye to five members of our group and called it a day.
Saturday morning I went to the Nachsmarket, which is a farmers market full of vegetables, fruits and prepared goods as well as a flea market on Saturdays. It was one of the most fun times I had in Vienna for the combination of people-watching, food-tasting, and the ambiance in general. I had a lunch of tomatoes, peppers and artichokes, which were all stuffed with cheese; it was delicious! I spent the afternoon in bookshops and jewelry stores in the hopes that I could fit more things in my already stuffed-to-the-brim suitcase (no really, it’s a feat of greatness that the bag zipped closed). In avoiding a rainstorm I caved and sat in a Starbucks (a third place even on vacations) and read. Saturday night was filled with another gallivant in Schwedensplatz and a late night packing game.
And now I am in the Vienna airport, sitting and waiting for my flight, hungry because I forgot to grab food before I went through security and tired due to the lack of sleep over the last six weeks. I have come no where near close to understanding all that I have learned the past six weeks, especially since I have not had the chance to debrief since the three confusing weeks in the Balkans. Luckily, I will have lots of travel time over the next ten days as I plan shift from friend to friend every few days.
I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and I look forward to hearing from you all!
Love,
Lauren
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