08/30 - 08/31
Friday (08/30) was my last full day in Vienna, thus I set out to make the most of my last few hours left in the city. I returned back to where everything started on my trip: Schönbrunn Palace. Strolling along the Palace Gardens, I stared at the various statues and the Neptunbrunnen fountain, noting how beautiful this former Habsburg summer residence is. With the hedges and grass artistically shaped, the Schönbrunn Gardens are a pinnacle example of man’s control over nature. Wanting to have traditional Austrian cuisine on my last full day in the country, I joined other students for lunch at the Wiener Grill Haus.
A fountain in the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens.
A statue in the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens.
The Neptunbrunnen fountain.
Returning back to the apartment building to change into our swimsuits, we then took the U3 and U1 to the Donauinsel train station. Walking along the scenic Danube River, we passed by various crowded swimming spots before settling on one in a shaded area. Despite the frigid water, it proved to be a fun experience swimming around this famed river while marveling both the nature and cityscape surrounding it. After spending little over an hour swimming along the river, we dried ourselves off and got back on the train in order to be on time for our group dinner
The Danube River.
Before taking the U6 to the restaurant, I quickly showered off the river water and changed clothes. Fortunately, the entire class managed to fit on one long table once we arrived at the Kent Turkish restaurant. We were then treated to some delicious hummus and falafel, ending the meal with mouth-watering baklava. After chatting with some friends and taking a few pictures as a class, everyone said their goodbyes and returned back to the apartment building in order to finish packing and have some rest before our early flights the next day.
Dinner with friends at the Kent Turkish Restaurant.
Waking up at the ungodly hour of 5:00 on Saturday (08/31), I ensured that I had everything with me when I left my apartment. As I took the VAL 1 bus line to the Vienna International Airport, I stared out at the city reminiscing on this unforgettable trip. From Stephansdom to the Austrian Alps, I was able to visit various beautiful locations while simultaneously learning about the rich history of the country. I was grateful for the experiences I had and the friends I made along the way. Most of all, I was thankful for the support and guidance of Prof. Stuart, especially due to the fact that this trip would probably not exist—or at the very least would not be as fun and interesting—without her. As my airplane took off from Austrian land, I knew that I would absolutely want to return to Austria again sometime during my lifetime.
The Westbahnhof subway station that the airport bus picked us up at.
German Words of the Day: Warten (To Wait) & Keks (Cookie)
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