Happy Holidays

            I’ve definitely been doing a lot since I last blogged. This past weekend Elizabeth and I started out by going to the opening of the Rathaus Christmas market. All over Vienna, Christmas markets have been popping up. Lights are being strung, trees are being put out in front of stores and the atmosphere is definitely lightening up. Christmas is definitely the best time of the year. The Rathaus market was absolutely beautiful and we made it there at just the right time to see the tree lighting ceremony. There were hundreds of people! That same night we had planned on going to see Mozart’s Requiem mass performed in Karlskirche. It was beautiful. It was actually the first time I had been inside the church. They are renovating the ceiling frescoes, so there was some scaffolding inside, but that didn’t take away from the performance. My professor actually sang in the choir that night, so it was cool to see him doing what he does best, next to teaching us all about classical music in class.

The red ornament stand at the Christmas market

Christkindl Markt at the Rathaus!

            This past Sunday I decided to take a day trip to Hallstatt to meet up with Molly and Nick who had been there for the weekend and to simply see the town. You might be surprised (or you might not) that I took a four hour train ride there, spent only four hours in Hallstatt and then took the four hour train ride back to Vienna, all in the same day. It was so worth it though. Everything was pretty much shut down for the winter, so I actually had the perfect amount of time to just walk around and take it all in. I don’t even know where to start describing Hallstatt. When I got off of the train I needed to take a boat to get across the lake to the town. I could see two distinct areas across the lake. One side of houses was completely covered in frost, the other was lit by the sun. Quaint little houses sit nestled into the side of the mountain. Swans float by the shore. I’m telling you, this has got to be one of the most picturesque places in the world. Supposedly a Chinese architect loved it so much that he created a replica of Hallstatt in China! I can believe it.

Check out this link: China's Replica of Hallstatt

Hallstatt

            Time is definitely caving in on me as I approach my last three weeks in Austria. There were a few rough patches, but I really have had the time of my life here. I’ve been able to do so many amazing things and I appreciate this time so much. This week is already Thanksgiving, a holiday that is obviously not celebrated by Europe, but it has allowed us to start listening to Christmas music at the beginning of November instead of the end. IES is putting on a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner for us in Baden bei Wien. I’m sure it will be a good time. And thanks to my name being bumped up on the waiting list for the ski trip, I now have something to do this weekend. I thought I was going to be leaving Austria without having skied, so I am so thankful for this opportunity. Next weekend I leave for Norway to visit a friend and the weekend after that I will be in Spain visiting my friend, Angelica, who is also studying abroad. Finals follow and then I am off to America! And before you let me know that all of these trips might not be the best idea as I’m trying to finish papers and presentations and study for finals, don’t worry – I’ve already been telling myself that for quite some time. I’ll get it done. I have to. J

I’m sure you’ll hear from me again in the next few weeks, but until then I wish everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!