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.
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.
posted by Kristin @ 5:08 am
1 Comments:
At 8:14 pm,
Heidi said…
Wow, it sounds like you've been having a lot of adventures in Vienna. Me, not so much. Although I get to meet some great people in my daily journalistic slog. I'm really envious! Anyway, I have a suggestion - put spaces between your paragraphs so that your posts are easier to follow! Your audience will appreciate it.
Talk to you later!
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