(Below: a snap from Semmering - read on!)
Since the Graz trip a couple of weeks ago, the adventures have continued here in Vienna!
Somewhat surprisingly, given these 'strange and uncertain times', we made it to both the theatre and the opera last week (?!) The former trip was a production of Das Himmelszelt - think shouty, feminist vibes. Attempting to follow the German was interesting in itself and a friend told me the play was, in short, a reworking and re-gendering of the film 12 Angry Men.
The opera trip was much more spontaneous but certainly a highlight of my time here so far! While a couple of others had official tickets for Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail, booked long in advance, three of us decided to wing it and see if there were any cheap 'Stehplätze' (standing places) remaining. Luckily there were and even more luckily, the current corona situation means that all Stehplätze are in fact Sitzplätze - a couple of hours in comfy seats with an insane view, yes please!
Other recent highlights include two great day trips out into nature! First off, we took a train to Lake Neusiedl which straddles the Austrian-Hungarian border. At only 2m at its deepest point, it freezes over every year without fail so the plan (/dream) is to return this winter with skates!
Another watery day was spent at Amalienbad - one of Vienna's stunning public swimming pools. After getting briefly locked in a changing cabin, I spent a very serene afternoon there. Next up, Jörgerbad!
And finally, to perhaps my all time favourite day of this trip so far - a Wanderweg in Semmering.
After flying past this mountainous region on the way to Graz, we were determined to come back and make the most of the Autumn weather before winter sets in and the area becomes a ski resort. We got the 09:58 from Vienna main station and arrived in Semmering just over an hour later. We then walked/climbed/off-roaded in the direction of Breitenstein station, stopping for lunch at an epic view point, passing several stunning viaducts - major Hogwarts Express vibes - en route. It was all most peaceful indeed until we were spotted throwing fallen apples by a VERY angry Austrian woman..cue the feigned ignorance and "nous parlons seulement français". Safe to say, we made both a quick retreat and an epic apple crumble with the stolen fruit she'd overlooked in her wrath!
As the fog descended, we caught the train home.
It's school half term this week so there are more trips in the works - stay tuned!
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