The Austrian Life

The Austrian way of Life:

1) They don't yodel...sad. I have yet to hear yodeling. I don't understand why people don't yodel in the city.

2) Men really wear liederhosen and it's completely acceptable! There is actually grand ball called the Hunter's Ball once a year where everyone wears traditional Austrian clothing, i.e. Liederhosen and Dirndls (the cute sheep herding dresses for girls). Yes I will be going dirndl shopping.

3) It seems that all Austrian men wear speedos, no matter their size. scarring.

4) The Kebap. So instead of hot dog stands, in Austria they have Kebap stands. Kebap is I guess the type of meat (lamb I believe?) cooked (on a giant spit, we're talking like 4ft here) and used to make falafels and sandwhiches. They're on almost every street and taaasty! I will be a regular at the Kebap stand next to school.

I don't really have any good pictures of the kebap yet because i've been to excited/busy when eating them

 5) Incredible Churches are Everywhere! 70% of Austria is Roman Catholic and hundreds of churches are scattered all throughout the city. There are often organ recitals that take place in the churches and on most sundays you can find a church with an orchestra and choir that performs a mass written by handel, bach, etc. during the actual service. Pretty cool!

St. Stephen's Cathedral. Located in the heart of Vienna. The entire city was built in a circle around this church and no building in Vienna is allowed to be taller than it. It's absolutely breath taking. 

 

The organ inside St. Stephen's 

Below is St. Peter's. Very close to the center of the city and has the most ornate alter I have ever seen. Even more gold than St. Stephen's inside.  

6) Just like Ithaca, Vienna is gorgeous! Instead of waterfalls there are fountains and parks everywhere! This is a park close to school that I like walk through when it's nice outside. 

 

7) There are often horse carriages in the middle of the street just about every day. And the drivers are always wearing top hats and traditional clothing. Mr. Collins would approve! 

8) The quality of food and water is in general way better than in the U.S. The whole city of Vienna has extremely clean water that comes straight from the Alps! You can drink it right out of the fountain or sink and it's very good for you. The food is just incredible. They use less preservatives so everything tastes better. Especially when you eat out. Which I have done a fair bit of :)

9) The air however is not so nice. Everyone young and old smokes so I am unfortunately a second hand smoker now :(

10)  Das Kaffeehaus. As I mentioned before, the coffee house is just a part of daily life. They are abundant and wonderful. It's where everyone goes to socialize. And of course any cafe you walk into has incredible looking dessert. I will have dedicate an entire blog to just food at some point. It's even a bigger part of my life here (if that is possible) than in the states. yikes?

One of the most well-known Cafe's in Vienna. Very touristy but just lovely. My apartment went out the first weekend for our first real Cafe experience. So classy.

       
                          

I got Apfel Strudel of course!

My Liebhartsgasse apartment-mates!

11) Beautiful people. Living in an expensive of course yields lots of nice looking people however, I have noticed that the true Austrians are naturally gorgeous. Lots of times blonde haired and blue eyed and are dress ever so fashionably. I have some work to do and dearly miss my sweat pants.

12) There are tons of streets/cafes/buildings/younameit named after famous composers!

13) PDA is acceptable to a disgusting degree. Dear fifteen year old couples, I don't want to see you making out anymore! Actually even older couples make out while waiting to cross the street too :p

14) There are either very tiny dogs or super super fat (I mean barely able to walk) dogs. I saw two golden retrievers the other day that probably weighed more than I do.

15) The public transportation is so efficient and so easy. I actually have confidence that I will not get lost!

16) Austrians love their shoes. Everyone has fantastic footwear and the heels well...I think these pictures speak for themselves...

 

To my high- heel wearing aunts, let's see you wear these!