We Danced in Vienna

Last weekend David and I went to Vienna, Austria with his school to attend the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual ball. We took an overnight bus on Friday with the other students- it felt like being back in high school going on a field trip!  We arrived in Vienna around 8 in the morning on Saturday, and after checking into the hotel, I was ready for a famous Viennese coffee.  We went to Cafe Central, located in the center of the city and famous for serving coffee to Lenin, Trotsky, Freud, and Hitler.

Vanilla Streudel

Fortified by coffee and sweets, we decided to wander around the inner city for a while.  We ended up at St. Stephen's cathedral and climbed up the bell tower for an amazing view of the city.

After our climb, David and I parted ways so I could get ready for the ball.  David went with some friends to the Prater amusement park and rode the giant ferris wheel.  (You can barely see it in the picture above on the far left).

The evening of the ball was like a dream.  After a cocktail reception at City Hall hosted by the mayor of Vienna, everyone headed to the Hofburg Palace in their gowns and tuxes to waltz the night away.

Cocktails at City Hall

 

I love this guy!

 

The next morning we awoke to a beautiful, warm sunny day (such a nice change from Bologna).  We had a few hours to explore more of the city, so we went to Schonbrunn Palace and gardens and had Wiener schnitzel for dinner (breaded fried pork served with fresh lemon juice). 

 It was a magical experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will never forget. 

Amsterdam

Amsterdam- the Venice of the north.  Having been to Venice recently, I must say that I prefer Amsterdam much more.  The people are friendly, the architecture is unique, and the canals are beautiful.  It was so calm and serene there.  This may have a lot to do with the fact that we were there in January.  I feel like we were able to experience the city as it truly is, without the hordes of tourists that will invade in the warmer months.  It's like nowhere I've ever been before.  Unlike Venice, Amsterdam is a truly liveable city.  I could easily see myself living there someday, on a little house along a canal, pedaling my bike to the outdoor market. 

Part of the reason we felt so welcome there was because we stayed with Martine and her family in a little neighborhood on the north part of the city.  She provided us with a map and guidebook of the city and gave us great tips on where to eat.  Our first night we ate at a little pub right around the corner from where we were staying, which was also recommended to us by a friendly Dutch man who helped us with directions.  Martine also gave us breakfast in bed, complete with homemade bread and butter, fresh fruit, coffee, and tea.  I can't say this enough- I highly recommend using Air BnB!  

For me, one of the big highlights of the city is the Van Gogh museum.  He's one of my favorite artists, and I really enjoyed the layout of the museum.   Seeing how Van Gogh's style evolved as he taught himself new techniques made me appreciate him all the more. 

Another highlight was the historical walking tour of the city.  We started in Dam Square, the site of the former dam for which the city is named. We were able to see amazing architecture, the flower market, and ended at the Museumplein, with a quick stop for Dutch pancakes along the way.  Here's an example of the architecture- these houses were built to curve along the canal:

Probably the most sobering experience we had on our trip was visiting Anne Frank's house.  We sat in her tiny dark room, which still has pictures of celebrities she taped to the walls, and read passages from her diary. 

On a happier note, I also liked exploring the different food options in Amsterdam!  Wandering through the Red Light District, we were almost overwhelmed by the options- Thai, Vietnamese, Turkish, Ethiopian, Argentinian.  We ate at a great little Thai place, and the spicy food was so good! 

All in all, I think Amsterdam is a great little city that has a lot to offer.  I would have liked to spend another day there exploring, but we were off to Paris!