Masses and Mother's Day

Another rushed morning – we meant to get up and catch the 8:01am bus to get to see the Vienna Choir boys, but we took too long getting ready. We missed the first bus and ran all the way down the hill before catching the same bus several stops later! From there we ran to the tram, ran to the U4, ran through Karlsplatz (the District 1 station), ran past the StaatOper (State's Opera), past the AAIE, past the Albertina (museum established in the names of members of Aristocracy), and past the square where the Spanish Riding school performs, all the way to the church where the boys sing Mass. We came in to the church huffing and puffing, and stood in the back to watch those lovely young boys sing the mass. Joined by Hannah and Nathan, we ducked out early to rest at a coffee shop, then came back to take pictures with the boys.

At 11am, we walked across the street to St. Augustine's, where we heard the Schubert D-major mass. It was absolutely beautiful – as I sat listening to the music of Schubert fill up that gorgeous, old, Gothic church, I was very moved. This is the way that music was intended to be heard: filling up the nooks and crannies of wonderful large churches, full of people that are there to worship the Lord. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning.

Audrey and I left to explore the city for a while before our meeting time. We found a souvenir store where we bought post cards for family and friends, a chocolate store where I bought Mozart chocolate, and free bathrooms (woohoo!). About half the group was there when we joined up at the AAIE, and we set off towards District 19 on the U6. We were joined by the rest of the students and the professors at Rudolfshof, where we had our official opening dinner. Although I had been feeling sick all day, the meal was delicious, and it was nice to sit down for a while after running all over Vienna the night before and this morning.

Many students, after finishing our dinner, journeyed up to Kahlenberg by bus, which is the highest point in Vienna. It was from this point that the Viennese strategized their defense against the Turks, and from this point that Audrey and I marveled at the expanse and beauty of Wien. We had good conversation about family and travels on the way back down towards the U6 (one of many good conversations, with undoubtably many more to come), and headed back to District 1. Audrey and I spent some time in a Viennese Starbucks (shameful, I know, but tasty, and with cruddy wifi!) before making our way back home to District 13.

Rachel, Annika and Audrey pretty promptly went to sleep while I worked on homework with the excellent company of Lilo. We shared a tasty snack – whole grain-y bread with butter, salt, and cold asparagus slices – and talked about our days. It was a lovely evening (with far to little work getting done). Looking forward to many more similar nights while I am here, hopefully with many of the great people who have taken this trip.

I've been frantically trying to contact my parents, who are in Vienna at the same time – if we manage to spend some time together in this wonderful city, I will be incredibly excited!

Happy Mother's Day to Kathryn Grace, with whom I share good talks, humorous adventures, great advice, and many more important and wonderful things. I'm blessed to have such an incredible and intelligent woman in my life, and I am so excited to share this journey through Austria with her too!