First September Entry!

Hello!  It's harder to update these things than I thought!  Or maybe it's just because I didn't have internet for three days...

I've been having a lot of fun this week!  Still a lot of German, but it's been very helpful (obviously!)

This week I had a few excursions.  On Tuesday...I think, I went to the Prater!  It was a fun amusement park with a large Ferris wheel built in 1897.  So if you know me well, you know I don't like Ferris Wheels, and one that was this old certainly scared me a bit more.  We also found out that because it is old it takes about 20 minutes just to go around once.  But no worries, I went on.  It was actually the most enjoyable Ferris Wheel I've ever been on!  I guess when you're watching the sunset on the entirety of Vienna it can help a bit :-)  Some of my friends went on this massive swing ride...not your average swing ride, it was as tall or taller than the Ferris Wheel.  Laura and Lisa, I took a picture for you because I wondered if you would have gone...I thought probably.  HAHA.

There also were some interesting Austrian twists to your typical American ride.  To me, they seemed a lot more intense!  Plus, most American rides don't include club music, fog, and club lighting.  I have a video of it that is quite funny.  My friend Emily and I found a tamer (or so we thought) "club" ride similar to a Scramber/Tilt-a-Whirl....but it was crazy!  A lot of fun though.

This week I also got to see THE VIENNA PHIL!!! ...on the screen in front of the Rathaus.  But!  They were still awesome, and I found out it may be my only opportunity to see them, as it is near impossible to get seats :-(  But, I really really enjoyed it...so much that at one point I was sitting through the rain with no umbrella!

Yesterday morning I went on a bike tour of the Danube Island.  We biked a bit over 20 km and it was GORGEOUS!  I really enjoyed myself.

I also had a meeting for my first excursion out of Austria!  The school organized a 10 day, 3 city trip that I signed up to be on.  I am going to be seeing some AMAZING things for a very good price.  Our 3 cities our Prague, Krakow, and Budapest.  They have great tours and events planned for us.  In Prague I think we're touring a castle, and I know there will be a September 11th memorial while we're there.  In Krakow I will have the experience of seeing Auschwitz.  I know it's going to be really emotional, but there is no way I can pass up on this opportunity.  In Budapest...I forget what we're doing but I know the tour sounds too good to be true.  Did I mention I think we only pay for 5 meals ourselves out of the whole 10 days.  Good deal!

And on the schedule for today...I slept in till 11, I don't think I've done that since April or so...if that! I may be going on a guided tour at the Secession, but my priority tonight is to try and get Standing Room tickets and the OPENING NIGHT of the Staatsoper...yes please!