Rainy Days in Vienna

Update: I can successfully use the bus AND the subway by myself... 

I apologize for not writing.... 

Most of my days last week went the same way. I went downtown and walked around until I found something interesting to do. I went to Museums Quartier, St. Stephan's Cathedral, Hofburg, Basically I hit the big tourist sites. 

The highlight of my week was most definitely visiting the famous Albertina Gallery and the National Museum of Art History. There is something so peaceful about spending hours in a museum, stopping when I wanted, contemplating the paintings that struck my eye. I saw paintings by Monet, Cezan, Henri Toulouse Lautrec, Degas, Rembrant all in one exhibit (my favorite of the day). It was amazing getting to see the painting I studied in Art and European History up close instead of on a slide. 

The mot impressive part of the museums here is surprisingly not the art collections but the interior of the museums themselves. They are beautiful inside with enormous marble staircases, ornate walls and ceilings and  beautifully crafted gold doors. They hardly need the art work... 

At first I found it thrilling, walking around and exploring by myself  but by the end of the week, I was tired of being alone. It wasn't as fun to see things by myself. Luckily, Alma, Braco, and Ian joined me on Sunday and we went to the Natural History Museum. Ian was so excited; it was so much fun to go through the museum accompanied by someone so enthusiastic. 

The rain FINALLY stopped so I spent the next week outside mostly, hanging out in the Museum Quarter, Resselpark, and shopping. It was mostly a calm week. I was waiting patiently to start German lessons so that I would have something other than Ian to occupy my time. 

Week 2

Monday, I signed up for German lessons which should hopefully make this whole situation easier for me. Not that I'm complaining now, but it would be nice to understand what the subway signs say or be able to order for myself in a restaurant. I  have never lived anywhere so confusing. Washington DC is a big city, but at least I can read a subway map there. I know a lot of people speak English but I feel so arrogant assuming that I will be understood when I speak in English. I can't wait to be able to speak with Ian, he is hilarious and I just wish we could say more to each other than "hello" "goodnight" and "thank you." 

 

I took the bus by myself for the first time today! I know, it sounds a little silly that I'm proud of myself for that, but its the little accomplishments, like the first time I was able to talk to Ian,that are getting me through these first few weeks. Maybe tomorrow I'll try for the bus and the subway... 

Alma and I met Braco and Ian for lunch at Natsmarkt again today. There is really nothing like Natsmarkt. I only saw half of it the first time I went, and was impressed then. I have a feeling I'll be there for lunch a lot while I'm here. After lunch, we walked around downtown. Vienna is such a beautiful city,  I wake up somedays and I can't believe I'm actually here.  I walk downtown and see the Opera or the beautiful Parliament building and I have to remind myself that I still get to spend 2 months here. This isn't a vacation... It's my life, for now anyways. I love sightseeing with Alma and Braco and Ian because it's almost like I'm a local. I don't have to awkwardly study a map or ask where anything is. I have my own personal tour guides. And I always get an ice cream cone at the end of the day :) Ian really loves his ice cream. 

Sunday, I'll finally get to meet someone my age. She is the daughter of Braco's boss/friend.  Alma and Braco are wonderful, but I'm excited for someone my age to talk to and do things with. So we'll see what the next week brings. Auf Wiedersehen!

Corfu!

 Let me introduce the family I'm staying with. First, there is Alma, who was my nanny. She is absolutely lovely. Fluent in 3 languages, she worked as an interpreter and now teaches English. We can talk for hours; both of us LOVE to talk. Then, there is her husband Braco. He is an architect and looks a little like a rock star with his long hair and signature silver sunglasses. He's a little quieter, probably because Alma and I talk much. He is helping me learn German and I am helping him improve his English. Then of course, there is Ian. He is 5 and full of energy. His favorite food is ice cream and he is currently obsessed with the movie BOLT.  Ian does not speak english, but I am learning the important Bosnian words like ice cream, which is sladoled. And he is slowly agreeing to say small phrases like "good morning" and "thank you." We will be friends by the end of the summer, I can tell. So that's the Memic family. 

Less than 36 hours after my arrival in Vienna, I was back on a plane to Corfu with Ian, Alma, and Braco. Corfu is a lovely Island in the Ionion Sea, near Albania.  Most days started out the same: A late breakfast, then a drive on a narrow road through charming Greek villages to the beach. We would spend hours on the beach relaxing, reading, playing in the sand, and swimming (when we could stand getting into the cold water). One day we were having so much fun that we stayed at the beach until 8 pm without realizing how late it was. Beach days were always followed by extravagant dinners at local restaurants. One night we went to a fish tavern and much to my surprise, I was served a whole fish, head and all. This was the first time I would consider eating such a meal--if you don't believe me, there's a video. Another night we went to a  cocktail bar and were serve drinks with sparklers in them... Ian loved that. This was such a relaxing vacation. We woke up when we wanted, went to the beach when we wanted and left when we were tired. There was no schedule. I'd say it was practically perfect. 

I think the best time spent was time in the Capital, Corfu City (Kerkyra in Greek). We spent several nights walking through the market place, looking at the jewelry or wood shops or sipping drinks at small cafes.  There is really no way of describing it. I felt a little bit like I was in Mexico, with a Greek flair. But that  hardly captures the spirit the city.  I have really never been anywhere like Corfu City, or Corfu for that matter. 

I can't wait to explore Vienna and get adjusted to life here. As I write this, I'm sipping expresso and watching the soccer game (or should I say football?) with Braco. Tomorrow the real fun begins with my very own bus pass and a trip downtown! 

Arrival!

So I am finally here. After an exhausting 9 hour flight with a screaming child sitting behind me, I made it! For so long it seemed as if this day wasn't real, like it would never come. But it has and I couldn't be happier!
After I got off the plane, there they were, the whole Memic-Avdic family holding a huge sign with my name on it. Driving back from the airport, I got a small taste of the city. It's absolutely beautiful. We ate breakfast on the terrace and I felt oh so European with my pastries and expresso.
But the real fun came when we (Alma and I) went to the Naschmarkt, which is the most famous open market in Vienna. It has everything. From clothes to food to wine to beer. Meat and cheeses. Everything. We then met Braco (Alma's husband) and Ian (their son) for a late lunch at a wonderful Turkish cafe. And to top off the day, I found out that we are going to Croatia in the morning for 7 days. Sounds wonderful to me.
I am overwhelmed by everything I learned today and everything I need to remember. It is proving to be a little difficult to communicate, even though both Alma and Braco speak English. Ian does not and gets a little jealous that he's not included in the conversation, but then again he is only 5. Watching him will be harder than I thought, or so it seems right now. Hopefully we can teach each other and I'll be speaking German and he'll be speaking English by the end of the summer.
I can't believe how lucky I am. It is wonderful to be here finally. Wonderful to see Alma again (it's been 12 years!) and wonderful to experience Vienna. I cannot wait for the next few months to unfold. There are so many experiences to be had and things to do. For now I am so jetlagged I can barely keep my eyes open. Good night...or I guess it's good morning.

The day before...

Finally! It's almost here. I'm running around packing, saying goodbye, getting everything in order. But it almost doesn't seem real. Even with the packed bags and the passport and the Euros. I don't feel like I'm leaving, it's so surreal. But I am so excited that I can barely sit still. 

There are so many exciting things to look forward to. I've been reading books and studying German all in preparation for this big day. And now it's almost here. This time tomorrow I'll be  on a plane. This time next week, I'll be settling into my new (yet temporary) life in Vienna.  I'm feeling seven hundred different emotions. I'm excited and scared and anxious and worried and confident and hopeful. See why I can't sleep? 

I know it will be amazing. I know it will be hard some days. But it's my big adventure and I can't wait to see how it unfolds. 

I'm sorry I have nothing to report yet, but I promise I'll write all about my first few days. Hopefully, I'll post some pictures on snapfish as well. So for now.... Auf Wiedersehen