Volkssommer.

09 April 2011

            The month of April is off to a great start!  Vienna comes alive in the springtime with such vibrancy characterized by a billion activities focused at those who live here, not just tourists (unlike other cities in which I have resided that shall remain nameless...and here in Vienna, I will call it Volkssommer, where summer is for the people).  Vienna does, however, throw in a few tourist-centric activities but they seem to keep those quarantined to the Rathausplatz. 

            I learned there is one whole department of the city government focused only on keeping the greenery and flowers beautiful and alternating the arrangements appropriately as the seasons progress.  This knowledge was acquired as I walked through the city this past Sunday with a new friend and neighbor.  She used to work as a tour guide and was able to offer me some interesting insights in a manner only a former tour guide could master.  I learned one of the huge structures near Stephansdom was to honor those who died or thank God for those who lived (or something like that) during the time of the plague. 

We set out that sunny Sunday afternoon in search of the 1^st district Easter markets.  Unfortunately, we discovered they did not open until the following weekend.  But this may have actually made things better because it gave us a chance to wander to the Rathausplatz and catch the bike expo that included a mountain bike jumping competition.  (The guy from the US was pretty awesome and took second place – go USA, go USA!).  I also had my first beer/lemonade concoction that is known as a “cyclist” and it was yummy.

            This week’s top highlight was going to Rock the Ballet in Halle E of the Museumsquartier.  It was thoroughly entertaining!  Here is the breakdown…the show opened with the Black Eyed Peas’ song “I Gotta Feeling” and out came the “amazing boys of dance” in brightly colored T-shirts and jeans.  They hyped the crowd and showed a preview of only about 1/8 of their dance potential.  This was followed by the introductory number for the one female in the show to Lenny Kravitz’s version of American Woman.  Then the rock and roll stopped and classical ballroom music started quickly followed by laughter as the guys entered stage-left dancing with pornshop blow-up dolls!  It was hilarious and amazingly choreographed.  Then there were several songs and a whole emotional love/hate relationship sequence between the one female dancer and the male lead (who happened to be the tallest dancer I have seen in a while! Hotness!).  The first half closed and when the second half opened, I finally saw what these “amazing boys of dance” could do!  The stage was dark except a screen in the back covered in one bright color after another and the dancers were shadowed.  It was stunning as they curved and moved their bodies so fluidly that you could feel the amazement ripple through the crowd.  The best part came next… The guys took their shirts off!!  That’s right, these amazing male specimens with their perfect pecs and abs bared their chests and made the women scream.  There was a nice Michael Jackson montage to round out the show and it ended in an encore of Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” and yes, they were!!

            Last night, I had my first date in Vienna.  A very nice guy took me out for a drink at Sky Bar.  I loved Sky Bar and he was...nice.  Another nice guy with whom I have absolutely no chemistry with bites the dust.  At least I have confirmed this unfortunate class of men exist in Austria, and not just America.  As my co-worker assured me last night after I got home, it is summer and a good man will come along.  Until then, I will soak up the sunshine and enjoy myself.

The Statue Remembering the Plague

 

Mountain bike jumping competition in front of the Rathaus



 The only picture I could take...such a great show!

About to walk out the door for my date!

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

01 April 2011

It is the first day of April and in the past month I have expanded my geographic familiarity while making myself exhausted!  My visit to Madrid to see Mr. Adam J. Martin, who is also from the great state of Michigan, rounded out the month of February.  Madrid is a city so alive, beautiful and fun, yet slightly soured by a lack of cleanliness.  The Prado museum’s Goya exhibit was exhaustingly fulfilling.  The tour of the Palacio de Real was more emotional than I imagined a walk through former living quarters could be…some of the rooms, like the throne room, had heaviness to it.  It was strange how all of a sudden when we entered the throne room, everyone started speaking in whispered tones and moving more slowly.  My time in Madrid was a whirlwind that ended with a drink at Why Not, where the YMCA is still alive and well!

After Madrid came Dubrovnik Croatia.  The Southern Dalmatian Coast was amazing!  Adriatic Sea views were framed by terracotta rooftops placed like steps up the mountain.  One of my best friends met me in Croatia where we walked, wandered, shopped, climbed and on the third day, we drove to Montenegro.  Montenegro was not nearly as much of a pleasure as Croatia.  Upon our return to Dubrovnik, we promptly sought out more Croatian red wine to erase the misery we viewed on our drive through a land still touched by war.  Speaking of Croatian wines, and changing the subject from war, wow!  Amazing taste and very well-priced.  I was sad I did not purchase any to bring home…well, until my bag was stolen at the Zagreb airport and I realized the wine never would have made it to Vienna to be enjoyed by me anyway.  Outside of the stolen luggage, my first trip to Eastern Europe was a great adventure!

The middle of March marked my first ski trip that involved real mountains.  My company took us to the Austrian Alps where I rekindled my love of skiing!  The views, the powder, the après-ski party!  It was all fantastic.  After our day on the slopes at Flachau, we met up to drink and sing songs.  Some were Austrian ski songs…but there were a few American songs thrown in like Sweet Caroline, Country Roads, and Highway to Hell followed by some electronic dance music strongly stating “Barbara Streisand” every 5 seconds!  It was hilarious and so much fun!

Shortly before the ski trip, I found out that upon my return from the ski trip, I had to head to the US for a week in the Gaithersburg, Maryland office.  I loved seeing my friends in the evenings (dinner at Ray’s the Steaks with Sarah and Jen was perfect and so necessary!) but it was really stressful to be at that office.  As of yesterday, everyone I loved working with there is gone due to layoffs and new jobs.  I am finally thankful there will be no job for me there when I leave the Vienna office to go back to the US.

Now, I am back in Vienna and springtime decided to meet me here!  The sun is shining and the rain is falling (yes, the weather is as confused as I was upon hearing my COO yell out “Barbara Streisand” on the post-ski dancefloor), the flowers are blooming and I need a new umbrella.  Hello April, so happy to spend 27 of your days in Vienna, Austria J 

 Adam and I leaving the Palace

 A View of Dubrovnik

The Austrian Alps