Crevices

Living in an actual city has been interesting. I could almost get used to not driving. The public transportation is most excellent here. The U-bahn (underground) is very speedy and can take you from one end of the city to the next in twenty minutes, probably less. The strasse-bahn (trolley) can take you everywhere in between. Takes a little more time, but it can show you the city in no time at all.

Every time I walk out of my house, I find something new, or should I say old. New to me, but old to the world. I am surrounded in history. There hang signs on every street. A plaque here and there, commemorating the death of a someone important or recognizing where a synagogue stood. You just need to know where to look: down at the sidewalk or on the side of buildings.

My group took an excursion to the Beethoven Frieze. It consists of a three panel mural of a certain degree. We sat looking at it for at least thirty minutes, maybe because it was literally the only thing to look at in the Vienna Succession building or because Gustaf Klimt was a genius. Definitely a thing to see.

I also took a trip to the 1st annual ( at least I hope so) Wien Oktoberfest. It was a lot of fun. Drank many a beer and rattler (beer mixed with lemonade... YUM!). It was interesting to see all the men in lederhosen and the women in dirndls. I enjoyed myself a lot.

We also went to Arsenal, the military fortress that was turned into a museum that houses many things including WWI and WWII artifacts. I learned all about Franz Ferdinand and his assassination. Even got to see the car that he was shot in, and the couch he dies on. A little morbid.

The UN was the next thing that was seen. It was interesting hearing about what the UN actually does and what councils they have. A lot are for nuclear power and even for the claims to outer space. I was over 190 places at once, gotta love that international soil.

We were supposed to go to the Leopold museum today, but... it is now closed on Tuesday's because the tourists are all gone. Instead we walked around the 7th district and strolled down many alleys, finding crevices that I would have never seen otherwise. I think I will go on a long, long walk sometime and find some crevices of my own.

Life here seems to go on and on. Seems almost fast, but also slow at times too. It will be interesting where I end up. Wish for the best as I jump into this life in the city.

<3