Vienna

Our Peace Corps group ran into a little snag in Vienna. We were told we would have day rooms in a nearby hotel in order to shower and rest and store our bags during our 14 hour layover there. But there was no one there to greet us, and none of us had any explicit instructions on where the hotel was, or how we were to get to it.

As us group leaders tried figuring it out, everyone else camped out in the hallway, doing what they could to pass the time without getting too frustrated or impatient.

Peace Corps Trainees waiting at Vienna Airport

Unfortunately we never figured out the problem. The best we came up with was, we were supposed to be at the “Hotel Vienna.” Unfortunately every hotel has “Hotel Vienna” in its name. Gradually, people got tired of waiting and took matters into their own hands. Some people paid for their own motel rooms and left. Others checked their carry-ons at the airport and made their way to downtown Vienna.

The latter is what I ended up doing as well, after yet another phone call that resulted in no answers. A fellow volunteer and I wandered around Vienna together. Fun times! We walked a lot, wherever our fancy took us, glancing at our map occasionally to see where we were, but with no real agenda in mind.

Hunger caused us to stop at the Gutenburg Cafe for a quick bite. (Memories of home… my parents own a printing business.) I decided to just stave off the hunger for a little while, so we could stop somewhere else for more food later; all I ordered was French onion soup. It was good, but not the best I’ve ever had. Sorry, Vienna!

The French Onion Soup I had in Vienna

After our snack, we wandered into the extravagantly decorated St. Peter’s Cathedral and sat in awe, at the elaborate statues and paintings.

St. Peter's Cathedral in Vienna

Luckily enough we arrived just before a scheduled pipe organ concert, so we got to sit and listen to that, which was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t help thinking of my grandma, who adores pipe organs. I know she would have enjoyed getting her hands on this one!

Pipe Organ in St. Peter's Cathedral

I don’t know much about Vienna, and didn’t do any research before arriving, but I feel like I got a really good taste of what the city has to offer–humongous and beautiful really old buildings.

My new friend and I walked to the Hofburg palace, which was incredible. I can only imagine what it was like way back in the day when palace life was in full swing.

Later on, we stopped at another café.

Il Tempo Cafe

I got an avocado salad, which was exactly what I wanted for a hot muggy day. I also got a cold coffee. Not Iced! They don’t do Ice in Europe. That was actually pretty good, too. As we finished up it started sprinkling. There had been a chance of rain predicted, so we weren’t overly surprised, but it was still a little bit of a bummer.

We paid our bill and started walking back toward the CAT–the train that would take us back to the airport. As we walked through the park, it started pouring and there wasn’t much we could do. We proceeded to keep walking and take the “free shower.” Drenched by the time we got to the train station, we wrung out our clothes as best as possible in the entryway, and got on the train, laughing at our bedraggled appearance.

After we got caught in the rain...

At the airport we changed into dry clothes from our carry-on bags, and made ourselves presentable, then sat and waited for everyone else to arrive.

Next stop: Yerevan, Armenia!!!