Day 14, European New Years

Well I didn't get to go see the Nusscracker, because tickets were sold out, but we are going to try to see it again on the 2nd. Lisa makes really good spagetti sauce by the way. Lisa and I are going to have a Mozart day today, and then check out the festivities in the inner city. So happy new year guys. Just think, It will already be 6am Jan 1 here when it midnight there. Have a good one.

Day 13 not hungry in Hungary the day of Viennese greats

1pm. Wow, I have so much to write. So yesterday, after I wrote on here, I got an e-mail from Michi (because I don't have a phone) inviting me to go to Hungary with her, her hubby Guy and her Dad. We went to the border town of Sopron. It is like 1 hr away from Wien. Sopron is right near Helga, so we stopped in there. (By the way Burgenland, mean lands of many castles- or something to that effect). Helga was talking about how there was going to be a second indigenous decade, until 2014, and she said Canada was opposed to it, I asked her why and she told me it is because Canada is afraid to go against the states for economic. Which I told her flat out is B.S. But she kept on insisting. She has also told me to pronounce Guys name the french way even though he is not French and doesn't pronounce it that way.
Guy told me later that he was thinking shut up already lady. Michi and her family are SO nice. She is 20, Guy is older than my Dad! He has already been divorced twice, and has a 22 year old daughter, but they are good people. They are going to come visit me in Paris, and want to come visit me whereever I am in Canada. They better come in summer or they could freeze. We may go to the Czeck Republic before I go to France.
So entering Hungary I was a geek and asked to have my passport stamped. (Which on the way back I promptly forgot to grab back from everyone elses when we came back into Austria, but I have called Michi, although she is not home.) The passport stamps have the intial of the country you are going into, the date and time, as well as the method of entry (the one for sopron has a car!, and the one from Frankfurt has a plane).
Hungary was really neat. I saw medievil walls, another statue about the plague, one about the iron curtain. I took several pictures. Although it was kind of freaky too though because kids were throwing fire crackers, and they sound like gun shots. Michi's dad is a good guy to travel with because he knows alot of the history. Plus they are all understand my needs to take lots of pictures. Aparently Guy and Michi have 700-800 pics from their honeymoon in Spain.
We went to a mall, boy did I feel at home, not having been to one over here yet. Stuff is cheaper there- the don't use the € though. They use the Forint. It is 250ft to 1 €.
I have learned the hungarian names for the zodiac:bak: capricorn, vizonto: aquarius, halak: pisces, kos: aries, bika: taurus, ikrek: gemini, rak: cancer, orozlan: leo, szuz: virgo, merleg: libra, skorpio: scorpio, nylias: sagitarius. Over here they are more likely to refer to the animal, like the german word for pisces means fish, and gemini twins, etc.
We went for dinner at the Rosegarten Restaurant. Michi's dad treated me it was really good. I had turkey, shocking I know! It was breaded turkey schnitzel stuffed with a maroni (chestnut) filling. I still want a traditional Christmas feast when I get home though. They had tons of places selling maroni heisse here in Vienna (roasted chestnuts). They are not bad. THis restaurant had an english menu, although I am doing okay at reading from German menus, I practice well I wait for my food, and figure out what's what. After that we came back to Austria.
Going over the border is so different from going to the states, they don't ask you anyquestions, about destinations, stay, purpose, etc.
So today, I got a really early start, after carefully writing out the address of places I wanted to go to , and several ways to get there, trams etc. I am finding it is really helpful to do that. People some times do not what they are talking about, like my guide book, says I could take tram D, to a particular musuem, but the driver was wrong when he told me it doesn't go to where I want to go (as I found out later taking tram D, back, after walking I don't even know how far to where I was going. I have never walked this much in my life, but I don't mind it, maybe because there is so much to see. Another tip I don't think I have said, that I have found, if you need directions, the best places to go are hotels, and travel agencies, because they usually speak some English.
So the first place I went to was ...... BEETHOVEN'S APARTMENT! (Well one of his many). It was neat. It is a fouth floor spiral walk up with tons and tons of stairs, I was quite winded when I got there. It was neat, although I think would have enjoyed it more if I had a German speaker with me. It was still very omg! This is where he composed his 5th symphony among others. Even walking down his street, was like omg, I am walking in the footsteps of greatness! I love Fur Elise and Ode to Joy, as my ring tones on my cellphone will attest. And Cailean to as I have switched his ringtone to Fur Elise. Anyways. they had a life mask which was apparently done when he was alive. So it wasn't that different from images we see of him. The apartment was pretty, it belonged to a friend of his who let Beethoven stay there as long as he needed. Apparently this is the apartment building where the play Beethoven lives up stairs. I may have to check this out though, because I don't know if the guy entirely understood my question. What is amazing is that people are still living in this building, god, could you imagine? That would be SO cool! I wish I lived there.
So after unknowlingly taking pictures I shouldn't have (they didn't say anything, but I don't know if they knew) I left Beethoven's apartment, and walked to the Sigmund Freud museum.
That was ok, but not as exciting for me, although it is the place where modern psychology was born. I got to go into his old office, and study. There is a mirror hanging on the window, where his desk once stood. I saw some of the private home. His bedroom is now part of a library so I didn't go in.
One thing that sucked about both Beethoven's apt, and Freud's house and practice, is that it is not the same as when they lived there. There have been other tenants. Beethoven because he moved around, but they had his piano, which I touched, or I think it was, I can't it imagine it not being his. Freud being Jewish fled to England in 1938 with the whole Nazi occupation of
Austria. So that is why.
In Freud's place there are some artifacts, like his travelling trunk, photo copies of documents. There are pictures in the consulting room and study from when he lived there. The waiting room has been restored to what it looked like, which is neat. There is also a Freud museum in London, England which I will have to check out. I think the couch is there. The private home is also not like it was when they lived there, just being there was cool though. Interestingly enough, both Freud and Beethoven were not born in Vienna.
All this exploring and reading travel guides has got me thinking how cool it would be to write for Lonely Planet for a living, get paid to travel, and to do what I am doing now. Something to think about. Anyways I am heading out, Lisa and I are going to the Nutcracker tonight.
Quick note Abba is still popular here, I hear it like everyday, but some of the lesser known songs.
UPDATE: Heard back from Michi, she is also coming tonight to Nusscracker, and will be bringing me my passport. SIGH OF RELIEF.
Also I just read on IMDB.com Jerry Orbach from Law and Order, also the voice of the candlestick in Beauty and the Beast, and the dad in Dirty Dancing died last night. I thought he was cool. He also originated a role in Chicago.

Day 12

Homesickness, is really starting to set in. I am really starting to miss people more now that the honeymoon exploration phase is becoming routine. I will be okay though, so don't worry.
I guess I will tell you more about the Opera from yesterday. The first one had a bunch of sailors and girls in blue dresses, with an odd ball in each group, there were nuns trying to capture the off ball girl, or at least chase her. The second one was the post contemporary. It had dancers in white with accents of red. There were two giant walnuts on the stage.
In the third act it was set in a toy shop, and had various types of dolls dancing. At one point children had to stand like perfectly still for around 20 minutes. It was hard to tell if they were people or not for a while, until they walked off stage in the dark. Later on some of them had to stay still again, and it was funny to watch them start to sway, I was partially hoping one of them would fall and knock the others down. It would have been really funny. This must have been so hard to choreograph because of the large number of people on stage, there were at least 30, probably 50 at one point. I am really looking forward to the Nutcracker tommorow night. So that is where I am at right now.
I forgot to tell you what happened the other morning somebody rang the bell. and he was there to deliver a washing machine (I thought Helga ordered one and forgot to tell me, she is still in the country) I misunderstood him when he was pointing to a name, and so he went to get it, (remember I my apartment is a 3rd floor walkup), and then I looked at the bill, and saw that they were on the wrong street entirely!
One of the neat things here, I also forgot to mention, and need to get a picture of is the mercedes taxi's! It is so weird seeing that.

Day 11- Ballett

No I didn't spell ballet, wrong, that is the German spelling, and that is where I went tonight at the Staatsoper. I got the cheapest tickets possible, in the standing section.(It felt very Shakespearen, although those who had to stand back then, were right up front, not in the nosebleeds). It was only 2€. The ballet itself was actually three seperate ones. I am not quite sure that I liked it, it was very unconventional. The first one was Kadettenball, Duke's Nuts, and the Die Puppenfee. I am going to go see the Nutcracker at the Volksoper (People's opera) in 2 days. I think I will enjoy more, I will see if I can't get cheap seats, but if I have to stand I will. Some of the tickets there go for as little as 1€. I met some people from London there, and as well as a couple originally from South Africa-which is not on my list of places to go. Anyways I learned that Britian doesn't use the €, they still have the pound. As well as the major museums etc are free. YAY! Oh before I forget to mention this again, in the cinemas here have assigned seats, like a theatre. Lisa tells me it's the same in Ireland.
There was a washroom attendent in the Oper bathroom, and she cleaned the seat after each person. Ugh What a job. Another way to get money out of you because you are expected to tip. That is one thing I don't like about Europe is the pay toliets! I am not about to pay almost 1$ to pee, thank you very much, no matter how posh they are. If I walk in some where and find it is a pay toliet I will walk right out again. This one I went into had a male attendent. A man I ask you! As if! (And no I hadn't accidently walked into a mans WC as they have on the door here). I have found that if you are patient, you can usually find a free toliet somewhere. One thing I do like about the bathrooms here, is that the doors are like proper doors, and it is like a little room. No cubicles! The toliets are also different. The hole is at the front not the back, and there is no water until you flush, . It's kinda hard to explain.
I bought a camera (After searching in vain for two days to find the shop where I had originally seen it). It was 19.95€, but it came with two film, plus I have three films with me, so I figure it's cheaper than buying disposable ones from 7 -15€ each. I will have to wait till I come back to get the pictures developed, it is like 20€ at least for one roll. I took a picture of this guy who stands outside the Stephandom dressed like golden statue of Strauß the composer. There are several people in coustume, his was the coolest.
I also checked out this one cafe that was in my guide book, Kleines Cafe (which means small- and boy is it ever). Apparently it was in the movie Before Sunrise or something like that. I also want to check out Cafe Sperl, where Hitler used to frequent. I am not a fan or anything, I am just curious. Anyways, so I had a glass of wine at Kleines, I sat down beside this nice family from the south of France. The Perriers have lived in New Orleans, for the past 14 years, and just moved back to France 6 months ago. Their son Antoine, is cute, but too young, 17. Although it's not jailbait over here. They have invited me to come visit them, when I am in France. We exchanged contact info etc. Antoine says that they find Austria very strict compared to France, whereas to me I have never seen anywhere so lax. I can't imagine what I will think of France. When Antoine finishes high school he is thinking of coming to Canada for University. Another culture difference I have found is that when people bump into they don't say excuse me or sorry.
Lisa has also helped me find the equivilent of Shoppers Drugmart over here Bipa. It is every where, and it is very pink. I don't think I have mention that although there are no Tim Hortons over here, there are Starbucks, though I haven't ventured in. Oh yeah, I actually got the wood stove working yesterday, with a fire and everything!

Day 10 - Shutterbugging

So this aftenoon, I had it all planned out I was going to go to the Virgin Megastore- that's Virgin Records- to buy the Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack. I carefully mapped out potential routes with the subway, how to get there, only to find out when I got back I could have just taken a different bus, but hey, live and learn. So I arrive at the opera, and I get on the wrong subway, so I decided to get off at the next stop, and get turned around. Luckily it ends up being at the bottom of the street I need to go to. So I start walking, only get there, and find that it is closed down. So I start walking back to where I got the subway, but I when I arrive there, I see that is part of the Hofburg, so I decided to go there, instread.
The Hofburg, is bigger than you can imagine, it is as complicated as a university campus.So having had the forsight to actually bring my disposible camera, I was able to take pictures. My camera is broken and I haven't been able to get it fixed yet. I might just by a 19€ one I saw and wait till I am home.
Anyways, so here I am taking a bunch of pictures, at one point, I wanted to take a picture of the ceiling of a thoroughway, it must have been where the imperial carriages went. Anyways, I pulled a mom, and just laid down on the ground on my back, and in the process almost got smoked by a bus.. there is little traffic usually, I just had bad timing. So that was one of the most exciting parts. I wanted to take a picture of the large advent wreath, but they took it down all ready. Damn. Oh well. I went back up the Stephandom bell tower to take pictures.
Then I shopped, I am hunting for a hat to match my off white scarf and gloves (which are now lost- I can't seem to keep this stuff). Still no luck. I have also been hunting for the perfect piece of jewellery. I want to get something from here and Paris, as souvieners. Today, I found it. Genuine Swarovski crystal earrings! I got them at a decent price too, but I'll never tell how. I like them, because they can be dressy or worn for everyday, and they are classic, and Swarvoski (who I mentioned in my last post) is very Austrian. The store is amazing, some of the stuff is insanely priced though and oh pretty.
Also in my shopping on the Kärntner Strasse (it's typically pedestrian shopping street, it is now my favourite place, and that is where I went with Michi and Gawan et al, when we walked around the inner city) there are several stands selling pig figurines. I guess the pig is somehow connected to New Years, haven't quite figured that one out yet.
I found a proper record store, and I found my Phantom of the Opera soundtrack, but it was over 22€ almost 40 Canadian. So I didn't buy it. I just have just bought it before I saw the movie when I was home. Oh yeah, to my horror, I have discovered that I somehow forgot to burn my favourite Chad Kroeger7Carlos Santana song, Why don't you and I, if someone would be so kind to download it, burn it, and send it to me it would be SO much appreciated. Danke! Speaking of mail if you are hoping for post cards, please e-mail me your addy, so I can do so.

A slightly happier Kristin

6:42pm So despite common sense, although I am feeling under the weather, i have a cold or something coming on, I went out today. I went back to Stephandom, and when up to the belltower, it was pretty scary, but lovely. I wish I had brought my camera. I also when to the Michaelplatz, where the Hofburg, one of the residences of the Hapsburg is.
I got to see the imperial apartments, and the Emperess Elizabeth "Sisi" musuem, as well as loads and loads of imperial dishes (which is boring after the 50th set.) The imperial apartments, were pretty nice, they focused on Franz Joseph the first and his wife Sisi. It was a real eye opener iinto the decadence of royalty. The Sisi Musuem was neat. They had her death mask- Creepy. But that's not even the grossest thing. They have the weapon Sisi was assassinated with. It is so dumb how she died: she was stabbed with a file while boarding her yacht. Her son commited suicide at age 30, and killed his 17 year old mistress. Quite the scandle.
Anyways back to Sisi. For those of you who saw the film Phantom of the Opera, would recognize something. The way Christine wears her hair when she is singing Think of me on stage, is very similar to a famous painting of Sisi with her hair adorned with silver stars. I think they are both Swarovski designs. Swarovski, is a famous crystal maker, very big in Austria and I think Europe. Once again those of you who saw Phantom might remember the big plug for that store. Even the style of dresses of Sisi and Christine are similar. The stars in the museums are replicas, but they say made by Swarovski.
So that is how I spent boxing day. I am going to go for some Greek food for dinner, and that's that.

Day 8 and 9 no turkeys here

There was no turkey dinner for Kristin with all the fixing, when I called home yesterday, I told my family that I want one when I get back to Canada. It's not the European thing to do, Helga's family has fish.They also celebrate Christmas on the 24, there is no Father Christmas here, or stocking, which is my favourite part. I can tell you that I am never ever going to be away from my family on the holidays again, it sucks. I am now back in Vienna. I came yesterday, I just wanted to be alone, and Helga wouldn't let me, although I tried to explain to her that I wasn't up for going to visit her relatives-most of whom as expected don't speak english-, but she basically made me, so I had no other choice but to leave if I wanted to be alone.
I don't really like country living that's for sure. She lives in the province of Burgenland, in a tiny village called Draßburg. Helga's place is pretty rough. I had the worst shower of my life in the basement, it wasn't even a proper shower! The computer didn't want to load my e-mail, which didn't help my mood. She doesn't have MSN. Which is another sore point, the internet cafes close early here (10:30, so that's 4:30 back home), so because of the time difference I am like never getting to talk to you guys which really blows. Maybe it will be better in Paris, I will find some that are open later. So anyways, in the country there was practically nothing to do. The museums and malls she talked about were in the next village 8 miles away and were all closed. I didn't even get to Hungary, because everything was closed so there was no point, but I know how to go another day. I am just feeling bitchy right now, as you can tell from the tone of my post.
I am bitchy because this was the worst Christmas of my life, and I wish I was home for the holidays. I just wanted to forget that it was Christmas, but I wasn't able to. I left at almost 8 last night, and missed my connecting train to Vienna, luckilly there was another one. That train felt very Harry Potter like. When I got back into Vienna, I got on right tram to get home, but it was going in the wrong direction, luckilly I realized it right away and got off at the next stop and caught one going the right way. My Christmas dinner consisted of ham and eggs, with a glass of wine at a restaurant on the corner. One of the things I am learning about alcohol here, is that beer is expected to have foam. It means that it is fresh. They have seperate beer glasses for men and women. Women's are more like high ball glasses. Wine is cheaper than pop here. Coke tastes better than back home.
Although there were some positives, Helga's brother and mother are nice.The weather was nice, it was plus 10 on Christmas eve. There is no snow.Although the apartment is still cold. Still learning to work the wood stove. I haven't mentioned the propane cooking stove yet have I? Apparently that is the norm here in Vienna, and the gas is provided by the city. I burned myself a few times before I bought a barbeque lighter. I am trying to remind myself that this is not all of European, just Helga's way so I don't get a negative impression. I feel like I am camping it though, roughing it in the city. The doors here are different to, to lock them from the inside, you need to use a key.
I learned how to make schnitzel -which one of the first things I learned was that schnitzel refers to a cut of meat. I also had this really yummy desert which was apples fried in a pancake batter. The food was good, but it was no turkey dinner.
There are cats that roam the neighbourhood, and people leave out food for them, they go to house to house for the food. There was this one really cute orange cat that I would have loved to have taken home with me. I offered it cold cuts, but it kind of turned it's nose up at it, but it liked the little bites of schnitzel I gave it. So that's life for now. It will get better now that the non-holidays are over.

Day 6 and 7 the day of Opers-

1 pm Grrr, I was nearly all done typing a post on here, and then a window popped up and when i clicked it, the computer shut down. Okay this will have to be shorter and quicker.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will be released on July 16, 2005, and is shorter than book 5.
On Tuesday, I went to this Italian restaurant, that few people know about, you go in an unmarked door, and then you enter another door with a discreet sign on it. The food was really good. I had priscutto, and olive loaf, pumpkin lasgana and orange tiramisu. I also had a grappa (schnapps).
Helga and I went there because we were meeting her friend Nicola (this Italian actor, who I think isn't very nice), but we meet some nice people. At first though he offered me to try some of his food, but I refused, I don't take other people's food, not even from own family, but I did later to be polite. There are only few people I will do that with, so if I do feel honoured. I am feeling quite sick about it now that I think of it. Anyways, along this sharing food thing, I shared food with Helga, and I think I insulted her by cutting it down the middle. She told me that is not what we do in Europe. We ended up getting home just before three, and I called a couple of you, after fighting with the payphone for five minutes, trying to figure out how to call internationally, it doesn't help that it is all in German.
Yesterday, I toured the Wiener Staatsoper (The Viennese State Opera). It is one of the largest stages in Europe. I got to go back stage, which is neat. The Staatsoper, is home to the famous Operball, a bi-annual debutante ball. Tickets are insane, and already sold out. So this was another thing that had to be partially repaired after the war. The decor was gorgeous. There are amazing tapestries, and busts of Beethoven, Mozart, and Strauß (ß not B, is pronounced as double s sound.) I got to see the imperial intermission room, where the emperor would go so he wouldn't have to deal with the public. There is fabric on the wall that bears his monogram. Franz Joseph. Speaking on imperial one added note about the bones from the other day, walking into the imperial burial chamber, the urns of entrails are on either side of you, and the floors of the mass burial rooms have bone in them too. ICK!
As I was leaving the opera to go back home, one of the guys that walk around in out fashioned costumes recognized me from the day before when he told me about the tour, and he was all hey Canada how are you doing today? I am telling you it's my rainbow hat that makes me recognizeable, but alais I have lost it, and my gloves. I want to go to the opera while I am here, you can get standing tickets for 2€. On the roof of the operahouse, they have oper fur kinder, Opera for Children, which is neat. There were several tours going on at the same time in several different languages.
So after I got home, Helga wanted to leave for her country house in the Burgenland, but I wanted to stay in Vienna, so she left, and I am joining her today. When I am there I will be going to Hungary, because it is like 8 or 9 miles away. Cool huh? I probably won't post while I am there, because I don't want her to have this address, so I can write freely.
Part of the reason I wanted to stay home is because I wanted to go see the Phantom of the Opera. I got to go see it with Lisa at this international cinema that plays English movies. It was quite a hassle to get there! Mon dieu! First I got on the bus when it was going in the wrong direction so it took forever to get to the oper. then I asked for direction I was told to take the subway to Schwedenplatz, and so I did, but no one really knew where I was going. I need to talk about the bathrooms for a minute though. What a hassle too!
At the Oper subway station - I have never seen escalators as long as the ones here- anyways there is a mozart toliet, where you pay .50 € to listen to mozart while you use the toliet. At Schwedenplatz, there were two doors marked damen (women), and one of them was locked and the other was open, but the one was open didn't have a seat on the toliet, I tried to sxplain this to a security guard, but he just kept on telling me the bathroom was open, so I was frustrated, and ended up going outside, and using the bathroom at McD's where I was curious and tried a Big Chicken, which is essentially a big mac with chicken instead. A filet o'fish over here is called a fishmac. And the breakfast menu is different not that I had it.
Anyways no one knew where the theatre or street I was talking about, because when I had talked to Micaela I thought she said Schulter gasse, but she said Schulter Gaffe, and I was saying Artis Kino (cinema), instead of Artis International. I ended up talking a cab there. It wasn't too bad. Phantom was fanastic, you mark my words it will win Best Picture. Plus tons of artistic oscars. I can't what to the see Paris opera house on which it's based. It was so surprising to see Minnie Driver in the movie. After I went to Lisa's place which is right near the Artis Kino for hot chocolate. Her place is SO nice, she lives in the first district, but is paying through the nose. Then she took me back to the Oper by subway, and I went home. So that is that. I am going to the Burgenland, after stopping of to by the Phantom soundtrack, and I will be going to Hungary. I will probably come back to Vienna on Christmas day. It is sad, when I get back there will be no Chriskindlmarkt (Christmas Markets). Oh well. If I don't post before then, have a merry christmas.

adventures in the city alone

4:45 I didn't do too bad on my first venture out alone. I went to the Jewish Museum, it was ok. I went back to Stephandom and saw it in the day, it's even nicer than I thought. I got to down into the catacombs where they have the crypts of cardinals and priests. It was creepy, because the caskets are just sitting there along the walls, but that is nothing. The preist not so much because they are in the walls, with a stone covering them. In these crypts is also where the imperial family the Hapsburgs are buried well some of them. The is a room of caskets, but going into the room is a hallway with urns with entrails from other family members. Gross, then even further there is a general burial room where the caskets have disintigrated and mostly bones. There is another room where there are bones from the black plague (I forgot to mention that yesterday I saw a statue in honour of the plague.) In another room the bones are lined up like bricks, it's pretty weird, but not in a bad way. I got to see where Mozart received his last rights. I also saw the National Library and Spanish Riding School ( I didn't see the horses though.) I have also seen the Opera House. I should aslo mention that the design on the back of euros can be different, depending on what country it is from. That's pretty cool. There are lights hanging in the middle of the street, which I like. The transit system is cool because there is the bus, subway and street car and you only need one ticket for all of them, but you can basically ride for free because they don't check. So that was my afternoon. Kind of embarassed when my pop spilled when I was at McDonalds. The McChicken tastes different here, but it is good. Oh yeah when I got on the bus, this guy tried to sit beside me on a wide one seat, and this other guy started yelling at him on my behalf. A little freaky but ok.

Day 5- let the sight seeing begin

IMPORTANT NEWS: The release date for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (book 6) will be announced tomorrow. WHOO HOO!
10:30 am So before the Christmas party for a native support group, Michi (Michaela - Michi is pronounced Mickey) and her husband and I walked around the inner city. I had a pleasant surprise when Michi called me to arrange a meeting time, that Gawan wanted to come with us, so that was really cool. He and Michi are excellent tour guides. We also met up with the other intern Lisa, who is nice. In the inner city, which is like the opposite of a north american innercity, this is all ritzy, and has Vienna's most famous shopping street with Gucci and Chanel- Kristin was drooling.So the buildings are just beautiful, and it all looks expecially nice because it is decorated for the holidays. I saw Europes largest advent wreath it was massive. As for other stuff I saw. Stephandom which is this huge, no beyond huge, massive 700 year old cathedral (St. Stephens). I have never seen anything like it in my life. It was stunning, but a little odd too, because there is this chevron pattern on the ceiling, which does't match with the gothic arcitecture. That is because of the war. This is the first time I have ever seen the ravages of war up close. The side of the building is still kind of blackened. Before the main enterance there are a couple of metal bars, and a indent of a circle with a hole in the middle. Michi says that used to be to measure fabric, and to make sure bread was the proper size. One of the sad things about the catherdral is that they are renovating this massive tower, you can#t see it on the picture, but there are ads on it, I guess they are doing that to make money. Michi told me originally there was supposed to be another tower, but they didn't have enough money. She told me there is a legend, that the builder had made a pack with the devil, to get the money for the other tower in exchange for his soul, alls he had to do was to not say a saint's name for two weeks. One day he was high up and he was waving to his friend, but she didn't see him so he called out to her Mary, and then he dropped dead, and they didn't get the money. Inside you can light candles, but you have to buy them, and there are touch screen information kiosk things. There are two big bird bath type things full of holy water. It was really impressive. Even some of the smaller cathedrals here are bifgger than I have ever seen back home. Also outside Stephendom, there is an outline of the church that was there before. I also saw another imperial palace, but outside this one, was 2000 year old runes of the roman wall. I guess Austria used to be part of Italia many years ago. It was incredible looking at them, we have nothing that old in North America. I am in historian's heaven over here. After I am done this, I am taking the bus by myself for the first time, and am going to go see the jewish museum. One of the things I am learning, and have been told is that the Austrians like to bring Beetoveen to Austria, and put Hitler in Germany. Michi has apparently seen Hitler's artwork- it was in Vienna, where he was rejected from art school- and she says he wasn't very good. Speaking of art I still haven't found the Klint the Kiss painting yet, but Helga knows where it is. When I was out at the Christmas Market's I saw glass ornaments with it on it though. There is also Klimt inspired jewellery. I did how ever see one of Klint' designs on the succession building. It is this giant golden ball made of leaves, but the Viennese were mean and called it kraut (cabbage). God I am typing alot. So that is what I have seen so far. The Christmas party was alright, Lisa and I were put on the hotseat and people were asking us questions. They spoke in English for our benefit, when they were addressing the group. They were quite surprised that I said "my name is", and "I am from" in German. The party was at a Chilean restaurant, two of the members of this group brought their dogs, not something, I can abide by, dogs in restaurants, but of course I don't say anything. I am going to try and do an article or two on this group for Anishinabek news. One other thing I am noticing about public washrooms is that the water is always cold. Helga says it is to save money on energy, and on the cost of installing the pipes etc. I am still working on finding accomodations in Paris, I am writing Helga's contacts. Yesterday her contact Matthieu replied and mentioned the possibility of me giving a lecture when I am in Paris. I am quite honoured. Anyways, this post has cost me a fortune, so I should get going, off to da musuem.

Day 4

11:03 am.
Ok so yes I am not the most creative person with titles of the posts, so sue me. Helga is really sweet, but the mom routine is getting old fast. I am 23 years old, I don't need a mother. Yesterday, Michaela and her hubby came and got me and we went to a Christmas market outside the old Imperial Palace, this is the big thing here markets, as opposed to malls, it's neat, but I digress, so before I go, Helga makes me put on an undershirt because she is worried about my kidneys. She is always telling me how to do things, like putting her friends e-mails who I am contacting about a place in Paris in my address book, rather than just having them on a piece of paper, honestly, when will I use it other than that? I have to send e-mails to all these people now too about a place. I do it, just to avoid arugments, but I am an independent person, and I don't like to be told how to live my life, there has to be boundaries, I am willing to do work the way I am expected to, but my personal life is something I will live the way I want. It will be nice when she is back in the country side instead of staying here in Vienna with me. She is expecting me to do everything the way she does, but I am not her. Like she wants me to make ice tea as opposed to buying it, but I don't like cold tea. Don't get me wrong, I like her, but she needs to back off a bit. Anyways back to the Christmas markets the big thing here is the punsch, it's nice and hot and full of alcohol. The markets have a lot of craft stuff in it. Michaela is really nice, we are going to go to the ringstrasse today and see some of the sites. There is a Christmas Party for this aboriginal support group (more of a lobbying group as opposed to a support group like AA). I made the mistake of telling Helga I did newscasts, and now I have to give a 3 -4 minute speech tonight, as if. Who am I to give a speech? Just Kristin here. Anyways enough of a rant for now. Helga has invited me and Lisa (another intern from the U. of Sask here in Wien) to come to the countryside for Christmas, but we are hoping to travel. I haven't actually met Lisa yet, but we have e-mailed and talked on the phone last night. We are thinking Italy. I hope it works out. I will meet Lisa tonight at the Christmas party, and we will talk more. When I called Lisa last night we talked for 10 minutes and it was over 3€ which is almost like 5 dollars canadian if not more. Insane tells ya! I guess over here it's expensive for a land phone to talk to a cell phone. I don't really now why, but yeah. It was cheaper to call home to Canada! On the way here, I saw this incredibley cute bunny (Well bunnies, one was just a baby!) I wonder what Hermione would think if I brought home a rabbit? You left me with a young kid to torture me for almost five months, and then you bring home another pet? Her nose would definately be out of joint!Oh yeah for to mention I am finding it easier, just to use the German keyboard, rather than switch the setting to english, because I don't have to guess what the buttons do. I will soon get to learn a french keyboard as well.

Day 3

12:44 pm. I met up with Helga at her friends restaurant after posting on here and the first thing I saw when I walked in was a dog (hunde) sleeping on the floor! I was like omg that would never be allowed in Canada, it goes against so many health regulations! The hunde was really friendly though. I have learned that Hummer in German means lobster, and that beer in German is berry. For all you Buffy fans zander means a giant catfish. It's quite fun learning a new language. The electricity over here is a different wattage, and they have different plugs too, the outlets look like a circle with another circle in the middle with three round holes in a row, kinda like Orion's belt (which I saw last night as I was walking home). So with the change in currency, my old reliable alarm clock given to me by my Grandma Joan many moons ago isn't liking to keep proper time. I haven't quite figured it out, maybe I set it wrong, I dunno. I am just trying to think of other differences I have noticed that's about it so far. I think I am going to go to the movies or a musuem today, but helga was to go to the country to visit her mother, I really don't feel like travelling right yet. I am going to try and arange to go somewhere for christmas, an airline is offering a million free tickets so I will have to check that out. So that's the lastest. The apartment isn't bad, the wood stove isn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. There is a propane cooking stove, which I am a little iffy about, but hey, I will learning. Helga will be staying at the apartment sometimes, but I will have it mostly to myself. It's not too bad coldwise. The room I am staying in has a loft bed which is neat. The entrance to the apartment is cold enough that we can keep milk (milch) and stuff to save money on hydro so we don't need to plug in the fridge. It seems to work okay. Hydro is apparently really expensive here. I forgot to mention the scandel when I got here, the girl who came to meet me at the airport Micheala is like my age maybe younger she is from here, I don't know how this happened or how they met, but she is married to like a 50+ american man named Guy from Alabama! They just got married recently! They wear their wedding rings on the right hand. (Gawan is around my age maybe younger). Oh yeah yesterday when I was coming home on the tram this american couple from S. Carolina thought I was Austrian at first, and were surprised to hear me and Helga speaking english.

exploring Vienna

It is 9:30pm Vienna time, in case I don't remember to change it. I spent the afternoon exploring a market, and I got to see this huge Christmas market outside the Parliament it was neat. This guy at the market gave me a discount on candies made from honey. Helga and I went to dinner at this place across the street, and it was expensive My share was like 15 euros- almost 30 Canadian! A one time occurance, because I want to go to travel, and can't afford that! Kinda annoyed that I spent that much. But it was oh so good. She says they gave me more food than they should have, they overloaded us on tiramisu as well. I am sorry, but the food in Canada just doesn't compare to over here. Everything is so yummy and full of flavour. Helga was kind and helped me go through the menu, she made me translate what I could, which isn't much. Still working on the drink issue, Helga doesn't really want me drinking north american stuff, which I can see, but I am not used to drinking beer. tea or wine, I usually have milk or sprite or something like that. I had beer with dinner it was ok. I guess travelling is about experiencing new things. Thank god the ice tea is like one back home and not the american cold tea. I have heard alot of north american music, right now in the internet cafe I am hearing Madonna's Like a Virgin. I saw this globe at a market that was gorgeous, it was shiny and new (madonna influence there) the countries were all done in different stones, and the ocean was like this shiny from sea shells, but he wanted 180 euros, which is a little out of my price range, even if he had gone down to 80 euros. It would have been almost 150 cdn! One thing I found out that is surprising, I am dying to see the new Phantom of the Opera movie that is coming out over there in on Wednesday, it's already out here in English and well as German, so I will get to see it before you guys. Suckers! I am sure that is not the normal course of things though, but I am happy none the less. What's really great is that Helga speaks french so she is helping me practice before I go to France, when we were at the market she was also teaching me the french names for certain stuff. I am trying to throw my self into this as much as I can. The city is really pretty, well the archetecture is awesome, the buildings are just beautiful in the first district, in what is known as the Ringstrasse (a giant ring that forms the centre of Vienna.) I am living in the 5th district, there are 24 districts. It's not too bad, not that nice looking though, but it feels safe. We took both the trams and the subway today. You only need to get a ticket punched once a day, and you can use it all day on everything, the buses, the subway and the street cars. They don't even really check if you have one. There is a machine that you much yourself. One of the things to deal with is that things aren't open as much as back home. I forgot to mention, that the North American cereals have different names here, like Frosted Flakes are Frosties, etc. I actually found Smarties here, which is unexpected since they apparently don't even have them in the states. One other thing I have noticed already is how freely people can smoke here, especially after coming from cities that are smoke free. Plus although the streets there are cigarette machines!

Day two

There is progress, I have figured out how to change the computer keyboard settings so they are the same as back home, but the drop down menus and MSN are all in German, but as I said there is progress, which is the important thing. So I went to the grocery store with Helga last night, it was neat. Mayonaise looks like toothpaste in comes in tubes. Helga was very helpfully in pointing what stuff is cheap. She is such a mom, making me take a multivitamin so I won't get a cold, making me eat fruit too. She says it's a damp cold here as opposed to our dry cold in Canada. Forgot to mention one of the guys that came to the airport yesterday Gawan (pronounced Gavin) is pretty damn cute, great smile. - Helga says he's built. Hard to tell in a sweater. Pity I didn't get to go to Switerzland with him. Oh well. I might be attending a class at the university with him next week. The apartment is above terrainian- yeah, no more basements for Kristin! It's above a fish mongers, so that is how I know where my door is. Anyways I should go or Helga might worry about me if I take too long... I ventured out on my own to the cafe. It's so nice not having to add tax! Remember the times on my blog are now in Austrian time, (6 hours ahead)

Greetings from Austria

Oh my god, I am in Europe. It's feeling pretty surreal. Helga seems really nice. We went for Chinese food. It's different that the stuff back home, but oh so good. The flight(s), were alright. The travel agent and me near all the emergency exits, so I didn't the best view all the time, but it felt safe. The trip got off to rocky start when I was in Sudbury, the ticket agent, told me my ticket from Sudbury to TO was not valid. Can you say near heart failure? I had to call my travel agent collect in Sask. to get it all straightened out. So that was that. Grandparents dropped me off at the airport. My parents and little sis met me in TO. It was so pretty departing TO was like a sea of lights, with the cars acting like a ribbon. (I had to take a bus from the main terminal to another one to get the flight, weird. Frankfurt was different, it was more patches of lights (it was early morning). My connecting flight was delayed an hour (oh yeah, btw one of the best things, was that I checked my luggage in Suds, and didn't have to handle it until Wein (Vienna), When I departed to Wien, frankfurt looked more like a see of white houses with red roofs. I finally have a foreign stamp in my passport. YAY. So a trio of a welcoming committee. Nice people. Two guys to carry the bags, we took to trams to get to my place, and I live on the third floor no elevator. Huge apartment, nice big windows, just what I wanted! So that is my arrival in Europe. ( Btw in true shopaholic style, I looked smart by reading the Financial times_ I think it was the only english language paper, but yeah. Totally surprised that the keyboards are different here, things aren't in the same places, it will take some getting used to.

Leaving on a jet plane

Oh my bags are mostly packed, I am ready to go. (Just have to throw in a few last minute things I picked up today. This is most likely the last post from this side of the Atlantic! In less than 24 hrs I will have been on three different planes, and will have arrived in Europe. I am so tired right now, I was on the go all day, I had errands and the school, I christmas shopped. Banking was fun, I had to go to two different branches, because my branch didn't have any Euros to sell me (they look at lot like Canadian currency). I had to sign 40 travellers checks, boy was that fun. Before I could do that, I was in the line, and the teller asked me if I wanted them in Canadian or American funds, so I went to the travel agency and asked them what they would suggest. I am carrying more cash on me than I ever have. Mostly right now, I am just feeling tired, but happy to be getting out of this hick town. Jet lag is going to be fun. When I get to Austria, I will be met I guess by three of Helga's students, I am not to sure, but I am being met by three people, and then we are talking the tram to the apartment, where Helga will be. This is going to be an adventure. I better pack my dictionary in my carry on. She says she is making me breakfast. Cool! I will be arriving there at 9:30am their time, 3:30am Ontario time, so there is a 6 hr difference. This all equates to a tired Kristin. So I will post as soon as I can, I don't know how regular my internet access will be, but I will scope out the cafes, so keep checking-AND POSTING- . Please be patient, if I don't reply quickly to all the e-mails you will be sending me so I don't feel lonely. So this is it, Bon Voyage, if I don't get a chance to do this before holidays, merry Christmas.

3 and a half days and counting

I cannot wait to go! As much as I love my family, I don't do well living with lots of people. It's quite a change from living on my own in my apartment, being able to do what I want, when I want, and having the run of the place, to sharing with four other people (well three people, and the spawn of satan, aka my 8 year old cousin). Thankfully, I will have my own place in Austria. In Paris, I have to share at first, with a guy no less, unless I find a place of my own, which I will have to do eventually. But I guess it won't be that different from residence. I just hope there is a door on the bathroom or there could be issues, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. So I went and bought a book about Vienna. They have a little paragraph telling you where to go if you want to go to Adolf Hilter's old haunts. That's pretty controversial to put that in there I think. I am kinda curious to check it out. The book also stated the obvious saying not to joke about Hitler (he was born in Austria). Vienna has some really weird things to see, like a death museum, which has a reusable coffin- the coffin has a false bottom. Thank goodness it didn't catch on. It will be interesting to see all this stuff though. The book also says to look out for dog doo, because about 8% of Viennese households have dogs, but they don't like to clean up after them. I guess they don't have laws like we have here about that. But the pictures in the book look real pretty, but they are all taken in summer. I bought a roots backpack as for a carry on. Space is an issue, but I am doing my best. Some of my book jackets got smooshed. C'est la vie, I guess. I bought a German lingo card with essential phrases, after my mother got me a french one. I now know how to say that I don't know how to speak German, I wanted an Italian one too, for when I go to Italy, but some one stole the card out of the package. So yeah that's where things are. As far as I know my parents are coming to Toronto to see me off, since I am flying from Skids to Toronto, Toronto to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Vienna. I only have an hour in Frankfurt, so I hope the German customs aren't too rigid.

Deccember 16th

this is the date, I will be leaving for Vienna. They are mailing me the tickets, this is the real deal. Personally, I don't think it's soon enough, I have had enough of Sudbury, although on the positive side, I can spend more time with my friends, so YAY!I blame the French consulate for taking to damn long to reply, other wise I may have been able to be out of here yesterday, when I was booked on a flight, but it was doutful, because they need to have the tickets sent to them, and then they have to send it to me, that's probably why I am leaving next thursday. I will have an hour layover in Frankfurt, Germany. I am so glad, I didn't give this blog addy, to any of my supervisors, because I have to put on a more flexible face for them. I am flexible, but I can't really let my frustration show, so this is a good outlet. But I am going, yay.

I am actually leaving the country.

Wanda called me, and told me that I am going on the next flight they can get me on. Yay! I will just have to apply for my French visa in Austria, at the French consulate. I hope it goes smoothly, if not they will just send me without one, because I only be there two weeks longer than I should be without needing one. Or at least that is my understanding. Wanda is going to call me with the itinery, etc tommorow.

going to cry now...

I am slowly going crazy.. this is the charming e-mail I recieved from the French consulate: Please also note that you can not get your visa for France before you go to Austria. You will have to leave Austria and go back to Canada to apply for your visa.
-They are trying to get me to apply for a different visa than the one I am supposed to. And what the hell? Why in gods name can't I go to Austria before I go to France? AHHHHHH! I have called Wanda, and told her, she has to get her superior involved now. So once again I have to play the waiting game. I don't know if the plan is going to change now.

oh why I am I waiting?

Not much is new the stupid french consulate hasn't e-mailed or phoned me back yet. Grrr.... in the mean time, I am in Skids, the most boringist place on earth. So unless by some miracle I get an appointment for tommorow, it doesn't look like I will be leaving on Wednesday. Grrr..

The waiting game..

So yesterday I found out that I couldn't simply call the French Consulate and ask them my questions and get some answers, whats a fire, and why does it what's the word burn? -opps Little Mermaid flash back there, anyways, I was told that I have to e-mail them, so I did, and now I am waiting for a reply, either by phone or e-mail, although I asked to be phoned. Wanda said I could call them today to see if they got it, and she gave me the number of her contact there, although I am not supposed to call him until Monday. So that's where everything stands. Everyone keeps asking me when am I going, it's so annoying to say I don't know when. People also have me married of to a European man. My Dad, my neighbour, and Mel's husband, all have said that! Guess I am getting to that age, where because I am a woman I am expected to settle down, but for godsakes I am only 23! Anyways off to harass the consulate once again. Ciao.

UPDATE: Called to see if they recieved my e-mail from yesterday the women said she couldn't tell me, she recommended that I fax them calls me back and tells me to fax them, and tell them that I am booked on a flight for next wednesday, and explain how I was supposed to be in Vienna two days ago.So I had to go to the library and fax it, I faxed it to the main number, and the visa department, just in case. The kicker as we journalists say, I spelt my own name wrong in the opening line. Yeah I am a smart one. The library lady saw how stressed I was because the consulate closes at 12:30, and it was like 11:30, she didn't charge me for anything! It made my day.

As the visa turns

So here's the latest in applying for this french visa... apparently a new thing has come in where you have to apply in person in Toronto, or at the very least at some point they need to meet you. So I have to call early in the morning, and figure out the plan. There are basically three options 1)I have to go to Toronto and apply for the visa, and then come back to Suds, and wait then leave, 2) can mail it in, and then pick it up and option 3) go and have it all done in a day, and then catch my flight to Vienna. If I do have to make a special trip to TO, Wanda says she will pay for it, and hotel, so that's what's going on. But it shouldn't take long I hope. At least I found an English translation of the form, although it didn't work properly on my grandparents computer so I had to go to the library and print it off.