Today was incredible.
First of all, the weather was perfect. A complete change from yesterday. (I actually added a blanket to my bed when I went to sleep...) but we woke up this morning with no hot water. Which was okay, it just meant super short showers!
Anyway, I wanted to sit down and really try to talk to Frau Schauer because we didn't have class until noon, but she was running around and making phone calls so we left because we didn't want her to feel obligated to us while she was trying to fix her house.
So, Bre and I went to the plaza at Karlskirche, listened to an old man playing the accordion and walked around a bit before class. I can imagine going home and saying, "Before class on most days, we had about an hour or so, so we would go look at St. Stevens cathedral, or we went to Schönbrunn Palace..." What a luxury!
For history class (Geschichte) today, we went on another tour of the city. We learned about some of the history of Vienna as we saw old Roman ruins, the riding school, a few places dedicated to emperors, and a church built in 740 (which sounds more like a time than a year)!
After class, we stopped at our teachers favorite ice cream shop, and left to our own devices.
Josh, Chris, Steven, Shelly and I went to the oldest part of Vienna: GriechenStraße and JudenStraße. GriechenStraße is absolutely gorgeous! It's definitely what you think of when you think of old European streets.
GriechenStraße is in the very center of the picture. Basically the crack in between the buildings.
Me. I'm actually IN Vienna! I'm just usually behind the camera :)
The other side of GriechenStraße.
The building with all of the gold on the window frames is actually a church, and my favorite I've seen so far. It's absolutely phenomenal. (I would put up pictures, but I'm not sure you're allowed to take them inside. I don't mind having to go back to check!) You walk into a foyer area that is completely dark except for the pictures that are illuminated on the wall by really dim lights. It kind of reminds me of a creepy vampire movie. Like Van Helsing or something... Anyway, you follow the corridor to the back and look through a window into an enormous cathedral that is probably the most ornate piece of art I have ever seen in my life. All of the figurines, knobs, decorations and Knicks knacks are gold plated and the organ in the middle is covered with gold plated sculptures and carvings. The pews are gold and red with carvings on the backs and sides. (I am having a hard time explaining this church!! It's absolutely phenomenal...)
Another church that was really cool is the oldest church in Vienna. Ruprechtskirche was built in 740 and STILL standing. Still beautiful, too!
Ruperts church. Oldest church in Vienna. After that, I need a translation, too...
This is St. Rupert. I'm not quite sure of his story, because when I asked who Rupert was, I was told "a saint". Very helpful, thanks.
Obviously, I couldn't figure it out from the 20 foot carving...
This is one of my favorites. you can see all the vines up the wall.
It turns out that this church still holds mass and performs concerts every week. So, the church built in 740 is still standing and still in use. I feel like anything in the U.S. Over 200 years old is immediately roped off with a giant sign that tells you to stay away because it's antique, and about a dozen security guards making sure you do. This church, you can go right up and touch it. I definitely touched the 8th century today.
The rest of the day was spent wandering around the city and riding the Prater Turm! It turned out to be absolutely stunning at night because you can see all of the lights on St. Stevens spire and the surrounding churches. I'm so glad I waited!
Those of us that are staying in Vienna this weekend have some fun things planned for tomorrow and Saturday!
Location:Vienna, Austria
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