We landed in Amsterdam at about 10.30 to catch an 11.40 flight. Well, it's a little different going through business on an international flight. It takes at least twenty minutes to get off the plane, then we had to go through customs - which took about thirty minutes because the ladies at customs security decided to check every. single. thing. in four or five of the bags in our group. Anyway, by that time, we were hearing a lady kindly informing the entire airport, "BYU students: you are delaying the flight to Vienna at gate G20. I'f you are not here in four minutes, we are leaving without you." we sprinted. The Amsterdam airport is a monster. It's probably at least a mile long. Not kidding. Okay, maybe a little exaggeration but that's definitely what it felt like...
it was a tad embarrassing when we boarded the plane all sweaty and out of breath from running and everyone was staring a us...
Vienna is GORGEOUS! I think I was a little tired to appreciate the full beauty because I had approximately six hours of sleep in thirty six hours... I'm pretty sure I fell asleep at least three or four times standing up... Either way, awake or asleep, the city is stunning.
I can only imagine what the passers by thought of this group of Americans that looked like the walking dead...
After our tour, we went to an Italian pizza/pasta restaurant. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. That is all.
Kidding! It was so amazing. You know what they say, the closer to the country it originated, the better the food gets, and boy are they RIGHT! Whoever "they" are. I ate half of a pizza by myself. It's a good thing we walked back to the hotel.
FINALLY we got to go to sleep.
September 10, 2011
I know I posted pictures, but I need to describe how the Pension Baronesse looks like because the pictures don't do near enough as words, and words definitely don't do near enough as the experience, but I will try my best to be super descriptive. Te room we stayed in was very Victorian styled with a glass chandelier hanging from a rose pink ceiling with translucent pink and cream drapes that hung from the ceiling to the floor. The window frames were all wooden and painted an off white color, and hinged open to a little alleyway lined with cobblestones. The carpet and the wallpaper behind the bed was a darker rose color with a maroonish floral pattern. I have never stayed in any place so...... European! Haha
Frühstück (breakfast) was delicious. We had a sweet Austrian lady named Sabina, who brought us dark hot chocolate and guided us to an array of breads, meets, cheeses, pastries and yogurt. If heaven has food, I'm pretty sure this will be it! I'll probably eat my words later when I find something I like better, but so far this was the best. I was a little disappointed that I got really full, really fast and was forced to stop eating...
Directly after breakfast, we went to the Amerika-Institut and had orientation. First thing I've learned about austrians: they LOVE to talk. They would seriously talk to you from the time the sun came up to the sun coming up the next morning. For the most part, they are extremely kind and it is definitely helping me with my conversation skills (along with hand gestures). My Hausfrau said that I will be fluent by the third week... Haha at least she has hope for me and my terrible pronunciation!
Speaking of Hausfraus! We met yesterday!! Breanne Fanning and I are rooming together, so we were a little disappointed that Frau Schauer couldn't pick us up, so we were left on our own to find her house, which was definitely an adventure- neither of us using the city transports on our own before. Anyway, we found our hotel, got our luggage and hailed a taxi. I don't want to brag.... Okay maybe I do. Bre and I have the best housing arrangement by far! Frau Schauer is ADORABLE! Mom, she reminds me of Maggie a little bit, but with less English. She is elderly, but extremely sweet and wants to talk all the time :) she speaks pretty fluent sentences, but has a hard time understanding us when we talk to her. This will get better because Bre and I are very motivated to learn German.
I will post pictures of the house as soon as I can because it is definitely one of a kind and our living arrangements are pretty radical... You'll see.
We went to dinner at a very cute cafe called Bunt. You walk down an alleyway that opens into a bigger alleyway with tables, chairs, wicker gazebos, and flowers everywhere! The best way to describe it is The Secret Garden meets a Pink Hat Society tea party. It was absolutely adorable. I ATE WIENER SCHNITZEL!!! And it was good... I have more for lunch on Monday...
And this was the car we rode in! Haha radical, huh???
Church is tomorrow! It will be interesting... I wonder if I will understand some of it!
Location:Vienna, Austria and Amsterdam
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