Vielen Dank Wien!

Belvedere PalaceOne of the most interesting places, yet also the least predictable places that I thought I would visit is Vienna, Austria. This trip was different than the others for many reasons. For the past weeks, I have been traveling in a large group of about thirteen people, mixed girls and guys, known the country’s native language, stayed in a hotel, and traveled during the day. My three-day excursion to Vienna meant traveling with 4 male friends, attempting to speak and understand German, my first stay at a hostel, as well as my first trip on an overnight train. The weekend was an adventure to say the least. Upon arriving, we were welcomed with winter weather, drastically different from Florence. However, the cuisine was pleasing; meat was everywhere! Every menu included about four various meat choices either fried or broiled; my friend and I were in heaven. As we settled into our temporary home-away- from- home, we were unexpectedly greeted with a warm staff and above par amenities from our three star hostel. One of the most unique places located within Vienna were the “beer gardens”. They were located within a large amusement park situated outside of the city’s center, known as ‘The Ring’. Also during our trip, we visited the Belvedere Palace as well as the Emperor’s Summer Palace. While in Vienna, I noticed the large number of palaces and historical monuments surrounding the city’s modern culture. As we ventured the streets, the city’s, efficiency, cleanliness, and modernity mixed with historical charm won me over.