Highlight Reel: Vienna

As I geared up for Vienna, I remembered it would be my last stop on the European leg of this adventure (for now). It is amazing how fast it’s all going!

I hopped on a three hour bus from Budapest to Vienna. Finding the bus stop was an adventure by itself. This particular company had a street pole as a pickup location (literally, no signage - but if you googled the address they gave you, it’s truly a pole in front of a broken fence). I tried to ask an attendant at the information if that was actually correct, and she replied, “What, you can’t read signs?” and pointed to the small printout on the window that said they’re not affiliated with that bus line. I experienced the rudest Hungarian on my way to Budapest, it only felt right to end it the same way! A line of passengers stood by the pole, held together by the common confusion and hope that this was the stop for Vienna (spoiler: it was!).

I arrived in Vienna and met my AirBnb host  at the train station. Nastonja walked me back to her apartment, the cutest most Pinterest-inspiring place which we’d be sharing, and was so helpful in explaining the area. She later sent me a list of places to tour and eat, and I’m proud to say I hit about 99% of those recommendations! 

My first night there, I took my first non-flip-flops-shower in a very long time. It really is the little things about this trip that are making me giggle. I had splurged and bought a ticket for that night to see Hollywood in Vienna performed by the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Wiener Konzerthaus. The orchestra played Oscar winning movie scores against the backdrop of the most beautiful concert hall I’ve ever seen! This was my ultimate fan girl moment combining two of my passions, travel and movie scores. I may have shed a tear or two during some of the performance... 

In the few days that followed, I visited a lot of the great sights - St. Stephen’s Church, the Opera House, Albertina Museum, Schoenbrunn, Naschmarket and more. I ate more wiener schnitzel than I should have, and tried other interesting dishes like zwiebelrostbrater, leberkase and powidltascherl. 

But one of my favorite days on this trip so far, was the day that Nastonja and I ventured to somewhere that wasn’t on my radar - Kahlenberg. 

The night before, after a fun night with too many drinks at an awesome dive bar, her friend recommended we go to the wineries at the top of the “mountain”. In a semi-sleep the following day, we took two local busses up a winding road to the top of the hill that overlooked Vienna. We wandered and it was like something from a postcard.  The sun was shining and the fall foliage was at its peak. We stopped for some delicious charcuterie and local wine, enjoyed the scenery and eventually made it down the hill, onto a tram, and back to the apartment. 

I think I enjoyed Vienna so much because it reminded me so much of the comforts of home. I was in a cute apartment in a beautiful city with a new friend who graciously played tour guide but was also game to binge Netflix on a night or two. I know it sounds silly in the scheme of things, but when I left on this trip, I was sad to know I would be missing a New England autumn - so I was overjoyed to see elements of it in Vienna!!

I think it was a perfect way to end my European adventure before the next, most anxiety-inducing leg of the journey: SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Stay tuned...