Tonsillitis and Austria
So I have been in my room for a week, apart from the day I went to the doctors. Tonsillitis, baby! And a cough, and a rash, and other awesome stuff. Wednesday found me crying in the waiting room at the doctor’s surgery missing my mum and wishing I were laying in the comfort of my fluffy queen bed in church street. Apparently a girl must rest and stop being so awesome all the time.
Last weekend we hit up Vienna (Austria) for 3 days. It was a 2-hour bus ride that cost approximately $12 AUD. Vienna itself is really expensive! I’m glad to be back in the cheap Czech, although it was SO GOOD to see sweet potatoes for sale and to be served some delicious food. We ate a lot of hummus and falafel, and I had lamb, fried eggplant with mushrooms and more veges then I could name! The national language is German (?) and as a result I had to remind myself, I am in Austria. Not Germany. It was very overcast and would be beautiful in the spring. We stayed at a hostel, played kings, painted the town red, saw some sights, but most amazingly…
went ice-skating in a park in front of this big castle thing. See pictures. It was AMAZING. I loved it, even though I was kinda hopeless until I figured out a good way for me to slow down and stop, with some coaching from my fellow Aussie Dan the man. There was lots of arm waving, grinning and hysterical giggling. There were little kids everywhere and they fell over a lot. Heh.
We trooped all over the city. I decided it should be called the land of the Splatz and Gas. At least, I think that was it… Because ‘street’ is gasse, and I’m not sure what splatz is but all the tram stops ended in it. ‘Stephensplatz’ we had to get off at a lot.
By the way, it turns out I am a pretty good navigator, and it could be even said I have an awesome sense of direction. Don’t want to jinx myself here, but we did alright 🙂
On the way there, there were wind farms! I was very impressed, and kinda surprised. ALSO, the tap water in Vienna comes directly from spring!! I didn’t realize how delicious it was until I got back to the Czech republic… eww. The river (Danube?) was very dirty and suspect looking though. It goes through so many countries, it’s not surprising.
We saw some break dancing busker’s and I decided, that’s on my list for things I want to do after uni I wanna move somewhere where the busking is lucrative and make money doing nothing but dancing in the street all day. Get all fit practicing, and dance. As so far this is my only idea for what I will do upon finishing uni, it has a good chance of happening. Please someone hold me to it cos I reckon it’d make me awesomely happy 🙂
I am finally remembering- LOOK LEFT FIRST when I cross the road. It took ages for me to get the hang of it and I’d be in the middle of intersections looking around helplessly because I had no idea where cars would come from. I had dreams where I nearly crashed cos I was driving on the wrong side of the road… and one real-life incident where I got on the tram to uni and it was going in the wrong direction, I had stood on the wrong side of the road. HOPELESS.
My Czech is coming along ridiculously slowly. I still only have basic phrases. Less travel and more study would probably help but I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon. With the language barrier, I am beginning to realize, travelling is kind of like a non-stop game of charades. I always like charades 🙂
Talking of travel, this weekend is Budapest (Hungary). 5 hours on the bus, I’m really looking forward to the hot springs! I was supposed to leave at 6am today with the rest of the group but decided to follow and catch up with them tomorrow and spend one final night resting tonight. Must let the body heal. Talking of healing, I need to eat.
Love you all very much, hope you are being brave and reaching for the sky 🙂
Ps Everyone was right, time really does fly. 6 months in Europe is nothing! Before you know it I will be back planning my next exchange 🙂 … so enjoy the peace and quiet until then, hugs!
PPS. The people here are alright! There is a constant stream of photos, everyone is camera happy so nothing is missed, not even me being pulled down the stairs in a doona cover… but I’m surrounded by a lot of awesome people and meeting more and more everyday. You guys are irreplaceable, but it’s nice to know, wherever you go, there are funny, open, warm people. Very nice 🙂
sunset yearning 