Back from Vienna. It was a very interesting trip. I didn’t realize how economically advanced Austria is, but it turns out that it’s the fourth most prosperous country in the EU. That meant clean attractive buildings and well funded cultural institutions. It also meant high prices. I don’t think I’m up to a complete writeup, but here are some highlights:
Hostel Ruthensteiner
Clean, friendly, and well equipped. A wonderful homebase from which to explore the city.
The Metro
Every new European city I visit makes me wish that the U.S had better public transportation.*
The Vienna Opera
The opera house isn’t as ornate as the one in Budapest, but the sets and performance were outstanding. I saw The Flying Dutchman and was happy to have English subtitles on my own personal screen.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum
One of the most amazing museums I’ve ever been to. I left with a new appreciation for Rubens and Bruegel, and I got to try a cool new pda-based multimedia guide in the Classical and Egyption collections.
The Haus Der Musik
A really inovative new museum with exhibits on The Vienna Philharmonic, the science of sound, and a number of famous composers who lived and worked in Vienna. Classical music heaven.
The MuseumsQuarter
A new cultural complex containing three major modern art musuems and a number of other exhibition and retail spaces. From Monet to Madonna it was a pretty compelling look at creativity in the last century.
I’m going to try to get to Prague the weekend after next, and that should about do it for my European travels.
* with apologies to New York, which I hear has an excellent metro.
Ahem, actually, Boston has excellent public transportation as well.
Karen
See, by not having a full write up you’ve set youself up for even more questioning at some nonspecific later date. Only for this interview I won’t have notes to look at for more questions. Which may be a relief for you.
ha! I warned you, did I not? (mwhahaha). although, I suppose, you did not actually spend time just riding the trains. and whee, excitment over Prague. is the language issue going to be…issueous?
good luck traipsing through Europe and with finals and all
hey chicago has a great metro too! it goes fast and …ummm, engages all of your senses.
hey if you are going to be back in Omaha at all over winter break, I’m trying to arrange a meeting of the minds from Millard West ’03. I’ll keep you updated.
Sounds like you’re having a good time. Enjoy – America is so boring by comparison. I still haven’t recovered from England.
-Collin
Right, so I stand somewhat corrected about public transportation in the U.S. There are a few cities that have pretty good metros (DC and SF are pretty good too), but they are a lot more common in Europe. Vienna had six subway lines plus a commuter rail line and a big network of trams and buses. I don’t want to quibble numbers, but I was impressed.
Collin – I’ll be in Omaha from the 24th through the 1st. Not much time, but I’d love to hang out if people are around and not doing family type things.