Welcome to September

            Another weekend has quickly arrived for me. It’s hard to believe how fast this semester is going to fly by. I think last night was an evening that really clinched the whole idea of being at “home” here. Molly will attest to this. We’ve been talking about how long it took us to call college home. For me I couldn’t say it for a good two years. Now, here I am after two weeks comfortably calling my little Viennese apartment “home.” Last night, Carol cooked up some wurst and potatoes with peppers and onions. The four of us roomies, plus our other friend Molly, all sat down together to enjoy the fabulous meal and some wine. It really was the perfect evening. After dinner Molly, Maggie and I got dressed up to go out on the town for the “Vienna Nightride.” We printed out a ticket that let us get in for free to over 45 different clubs in Vienna. Vienna has devoted this whole weekend as a goodbye to summer. Unfortunately I think summer ended a little too soon because it was very rainy and cold! We had fun, nevertheless. We ended up going to one club (out of 45!) called the Volksgarten. It was a really nice place and I must say it had pretty good techno music. We danced inside a bit and we danced outside in the rain too. You only live once, right? (Thankfully, I didn’t wake up with a cold.) After almost making it to the next club, we all stopped to agree that we were ready to leave. I guess we wore ourselves out pretty darn good!

Me, Maggie, and Molly ready to hit the town

            Today Molly and I went to the Belvedere Palace to look at the art exhibits. It was wonderful! This year would be Gustav Klimt’s 150^th year if he were alive, so the Upper Belvedere has been hosting the Klimt exhibition, exclusively including the famous “Lovers (The Kiss).” I had never really known about Klimt and his work but started noticing him in various media before I left for Vienna. I think I fell in love with his work today. Some Viennese, however, would think differently. On the tour I went on to the Art History museum, the professor went on about it, “Klimt! Klimt! Klimt! We don’t get what’s it all about. Yes he’s a good painter, but there are so many other great painters too.” To each his own, I’d say. He’s very inspiring, in my opinion.

"The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt, taken from Google images

There was such a great moment in the museum today! I was looking at one of Klimt’s paintings when a tour guide came into the room with a small group of students. I’d say they were around 6 years old. The fact that I could understand what they were saying tells you that I have about the level of knowledge of an Austrian kindergartener. Anyway, the guide was asking them what they could see in the painting. Once they all pointed out the book in the woman’s hands, the guide then asked if they could find it somewhere in the room. One little girl found the display and they all gasped. They were so excited! It was a neat moment for me to watch the little kids become so interested in the painting and to know that language doesn’t have to be a barrier to our similar human emotions.

            Molly and I then headed to the Lower Belvedere where they were showing an “Orient and Occident” exhibit. I really loved this idea. The exhibit was all about Austrians who had travelled across the world to explore different cultures and landscapes to inspire their painting technique. I felt at home amongst all of the works by those who also had the love for travelling.

            Tomorrow I think I will be going to the Augustinerkirche (St. Augustine Church) for mass. The church once hosted Franz Schubert and Anton Bruckner’s compositions for the masses. People still come from all over for its weekly Sunday High mass with a full orchestra and choir. Hopefully the rest of tomorrow will be another relaxing day. Elizabeth and I have been having some difficulties in trying to plan for the 10-day break coming up, so we better do that tomorrow. We still don’t know where we might go.