After we got checked in at our hostel in Vienna we walked around the city a little bit. We walked past the Museum Quarter and the Emperor's Palace and the Spanish Riding School where they train the Lipizzaners. We ended up in St. Stephen's Square and looked around the market that was there a little. After that we headed back to out hostel to see if we got a response from Niko and agreed to meet him for a tour later.
We met up with him at St. Stephen's Square and he took us around the 'ring' to see all the important buildings. We saw the Opera House, the Emperor's Palace, the Art and Natural History Museums, Parliament, City Hall, and Wein University. Then we walked down by the canal where the city allows grafitti and saw some sweet art. Ended up at a biergarten/beach and drank some beer and filled each other in on what was going in life. When it started to get too cold to stay out we headed back towards the hostel. We stopped at a street vendor and got a Viennese hotdog. Amazing. Then Niko dropped us off at the street we knew and we headed back to sleep.
The next morning, we got up and met Jamie and Sarah at the Spanish Riding School to see the morning training session...with music! It was incredible. Talk about people who know how to ride and horses that know how some fancy footwork. I recommend everyone try to see a show if you are in Vienna or if they are touring near you. Just amazing. As an employee on a horse farm I was nerding out. Afterwards we all headed out for some food and then spent most of the afternoon window shopping.
That night we all met up with Niko again and he took us to a traditional Viennese restaurant. It was amazing, as the food has always been over here. And had dessert. Payton had apfelstrudel, Keith had some kind of sponge cake-like thing, and I had some mohr im hemd, chocolate cake. Yum! After dinner Niko took us to a bar that he frequents for der stiefel. The boot! We had 6 of them. They are 2 liters each. We were feeling a little goofy. The owner of the bar even came down and talked with us a little. It was pretty sweet. When it was time to leave we had to pry Payton away from some locals, talking about the Denver Broncos. Then we said our goodbyes to Niko, Jamie, and Sarah and headed to the hostel.
The next morning we woke up and went to the train station to make reservations for that night. Found out that the train was full and that we had to spend another night in Vienna. Went back to our hostel to see if we could get back in for the night. They had a private room that they gave us and Payton had to sleep on a mattress on the floor, but we had a place to stay. We layed around and slept for most of the day. Keith bought a pair of scissors and cut his hair. Woke up in the evening and went to this pub around the corner from the hostel called Centimeter. The portions there were HUGE! Keith and I did not finish our meals. But it was so delicious. We walked around a little afterwards and bought some ice cream and sat in a park. Walked around some more then headed back and slept.
The morning after we woke up and went to the Sacher Hotel to have the famous Sacher cake. It was very reasonably priced, but the latte was made from a machine and the cake was a cake. Meh. Walked around some more, window shopped, bought some shoes, walked to a giant garden that had this weird water tower thing in it, then headed to the train station.
Arrived a little bit early for the train since Payton cannot tell time in Europe, so we sat around some more. When the train arrived we got on and found the seats we would be sitting in for the next 13.5 hours. Bleh! Met the people we were traveling with, a couple from Kansas City and an Italian man who did not speak English. Random side note: unless you get a coachette or a bed on an overnight train, do not take one! It was the worst ride of my life. Incredibly uncomfortable. Planes are better than that! Decided to grab something to drink and met some guys from Oklahoma who were traveling Europe like we are. Although, they were using rather than finding hostels. Sounds like a really cool option. I might make a profile once I am out in Philly.
Talked with them for quite a bit, then started to feel a bit sleepy so headed back to our compartment and attempted to sleep. Needless to say it did not happen. Like I said, worst ride of my life. Got through the night and made it to Rome, found our hostel, checked in, grabbed our beds, and napped.
That is all for now. Stay tuned for Rome!
steinkraus.
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