Though I have always wanted to visit Vienna and the thought briefly passed my mind as I booked my May trip to Budapest, it didn't occur to me that I'd actually make the trip this time around. Yet the night before hopping on that Hungarian train to Austria, I made the decision, only after twenty-four hours of being in Budapest, to go to Vienna early the next morning. And what a sound decision I made! I loved every step of the city with so much classical music history and beauty. It's filled with such old world Austrian charm, and despite going through WWII, the city has managed to preserve its rich musical treasures, Habsburg traditions and palace, Stephansdom cathedral, and well-organized, quaint streets filled with bakeries and cafés on every corner. At every block there is another opportunity to take another photo, and with the black/white setting on my digital Canon, I hope I somehow managed to capture the unique charm of Eastern Austria before heading back to the train station for my three hour return trip to Budapest.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Going Somewhere: Hungary and Austria
"Yeah, but it's exciting to know that you're going somewhere, isn't it? You don't know where that somewhere is yet, but it's going to be great."
- Tawanna, co-worker and friend from Georgia
[taken from travel journal, May 15th, 2009]
What a beautiful day to be in Vienna. Am now on a three hour train ride to Vienna, Austria, the "big apple" of Europe, to the music capital of Mozart, Strauss, Chopin, and Beethoven. I am so glad that I'm on my way! Despite a stressful morning at Keleti Pályaudvar train station, trying my best to figure out my daytrip from Budapest, sans amigas, totally and completely on my own, I'd say I have managed quite well. How exciting and exhilarating at the same time to do this, to figure all of this out on my own, only on my second day in Hungary. 8,000 forints less on my credit card and in a land where I don't understand a single world of this language, I am itching to see the city that awaits me when I step off this train in two hours and fifty-two minutes.
And how wonderful a place I'm leaving for the day - BUDAPEST. A true fusion of East and West, a city divided by the Danube River making one side Buda, and the other side Pest. It's a city of different languages and cultures, great food consisting of goulash and rich pastries (always my favorite), but also of complicated history and political structures. What initially struck me about the city was that there are countless blocks of buildings literally divided into two different architectural styles and eras - one from the Soviet era (very linear, straight, and dull colors) and the other from a time long ago, before the Great World Wars, decorated beautifully with adornments and arches, painted in bright hues of yellow and green.
Yesterday I truly got a glimpse into the city's shockingly recent past when we toured the Dohány Street Synagogue, the second largest in the world (right behind New York's) and the largest in Europe. There was a museum filled with pictures of Budapest during the time of the Holocaust. I couldn't help but weep for all of these sad eyes of the Hungarian Jewish people. Children in work camps, frail mothers with sick babies, and the elderly - all in work camps, all being persecuting for their religion. And only sixty years ago did this happen. Nunca más.
- Tawanna, co-worker and friend from Georgia
[taken from travel journal, May 15th, 2009]
What a beautiful day to be in Vienna. Am now on a three hour train ride to Vienna, Austria, the "big apple" of Europe, to the music capital of Mozart, Strauss, Chopin, and Beethoven. I am so glad that I'm on my way! Despite a stressful morning at Keleti Pályaudvar train station, trying my best to figure out my daytrip from Budapest, sans amigas, totally and completely on my own, I'd say I have managed quite well. How exciting and exhilarating at the same time to do this, to figure all of this out on my own, only on my second day in Hungary. 8,000 forints less on my credit card and in a land where I don't understand a single world of this language, I am itching to see the city that awaits me when I step off this train in two hours and fifty-two minutes.
And how wonderful a place I'm leaving for the day - BUDAPEST. A true fusion of East and West, a city divided by the Danube River making one side Buda, and the other side Pest. It's a city of different languages and cultures, great food consisting of goulash and rich pastries (always my favorite), but also of complicated history and political structures. What initially struck me about the city was that there are countless blocks of buildings literally divided into two different architectural styles and eras - one from the Soviet era (very linear, straight, and dull colors) and the other from a time long ago, before the Great World Wars, decorated beautifully with adornments and arches, painted in bright hues of yellow and green.
Yesterday I truly got a glimpse into the city's shockingly recent past when we toured the Dohány Street Synagogue, the second largest in the world (right behind New York's) and the largest in Europe. There was a museum filled with pictures of Budapest during the time of the Holocaust. I couldn't help but weep for all of these sad eyes of the Hungarian Jewish people. Children in work camps, frail mothers with sick babies, and the elderly - all in work camps, all being persecuting for their religion. And only sixty years ago did this happen. Nunca más.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
happiest people in the universe
Where in the world do people feel most content with their lives?
Perhaps I won't move back to the States anytime soon :)
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-27761674;_ylc=X3oDMTFzODRwOWZjBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA2hhcHB5cGxhY2VzLTUtOS0wOQ--
Perhaps I won't move back to the States anytime soon :)
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-
Friday, May 8, 2009
Djemaa el Fna
2 young women, who don't look the slightest bit of Moroccan, traveled to Marrakech, Morocco last weekend. They had no plan, no hostel reservations, yet managed to have a great trip, despite many people's advice telling them otherwise. Yo no iría they told us. But we did go and here I am, back in Madrid, living to tell about it.
It was a travel experience like no other. My first time in Northern Africa, a Muslim, male-dominating society where the harsh sounding sounds of Arabic and various Berber languages fill the streets. Though it was only a brief two day stay, I felt that this was enough to satisfy my previous curiosity of Morocco. We were able to experience the amazing tastes and flavors of Moroccan cuisine - the tajine, couscous, and kebabs. It was a vegetarian's dream with such a selection of tasty dishes all containing fresh vegetables, chickpeas, and legumes. My favorite gastronomical experience yet with the sweet curry flavors and saffron spiked stews.
What suprised me the most about our stay was the locked away French knowledge that seemed to easily escape me when bargaining for teteras (teapots) to make that wonderful Moroccan mint tea with the most freshly picked mint or negotiating our hostel down to 150 dirhams a night (less than 15 euros for the room ... about 7 euros per person).
I still wake up each morning craving their freshly squeezed orange juice that truly is the best OJ in the world. Be prepared to only pay .12 USD for a big, refreshing cup.
The only real regret I have about the trip, however, was witnessing the tragic end of a small companion that sneakily accompanied us until our last night. Our dear lizard friend that slept in the corner of our 150 dirham a night room saw its end to a Moroccan flip-flop. Poor thing. And we caused all of this to happen, fetching the owner to come to our room, simply to dispose of it by putting it out the window. Yet our little friend had to be difficult and scurried underneath our bed, in pure fright and confusion. After tearing the room apart searching for him, his curly tail was finally spotted by my eagle eyes under the bed frame. Our last instructions were to SORTEZ! the room and the last thing we heard was a heavy flip-flop hitting the floor, as this little guy (or girl) met his/her end.
Thankfully, after a few moments of sadness for the brutality against our poor lizard, we slept soundly that night, only to safely make it to the airport the next morning and return unharmed to Madrid. We can now tell the tales of the enchanting camel rides, desert legends, the Atlas mountain range, the Ourika valley and its waterfalls, and mysterious Marrakech.
It was a travel experience like no other. My first time in Northern Africa, a Muslim, male-dominating society where the harsh sounding sounds of Arabic and various Berber languages fill the streets. Though it was only a brief two day stay, I felt that this was enough to satisfy my previous curiosity of Morocco. We were able to experience the amazing tastes and flavors of Moroccan cuisine - the tajine, couscous, and kebabs. It was a vegetarian's dream with such a selection of tasty dishes all containing fresh vegetables, chickpeas, and legumes. My favorite gastronomical experience yet with the sweet curry flavors and saffron spiked stews.
What suprised me the most about our stay was the locked away French knowledge that seemed to easily escape me when bargaining for teteras (teapots) to make that wonderful Moroccan mint tea with the most freshly picked mint or negotiating our hostel down to 150 dirhams a night (less than 15 euros for the room ... about 7 euros per person).
I still wake up each morning craving their freshly squeezed orange juice that truly is the best OJ in the world. Be prepared to only pay .12 USD for a big, refreshing cup.
The only real regret I have about the trip, however, was witnessing the tragic end of a small companion that sneakily accompanied us until our last night. Our dear lizard friend that slept in the corner of our 150 dirham a night room saw its end to a Moroccan flip-flop. Poor thing. And we caused all of this to happen, fetching the owner to come to our room, simply to dispose of it by putting it out the window. Yet our little friend had to be difficult and scurried underneath our bed, in pure fright and confusion. After tearing the room apart searching for him, his curly tail was finally spotted by my eagle eyes under the bed frame. Our last instructions were to SORTEZ! the room and the last thing we heard was a heavy flip-flop hitting the floor, as this little guy (or girl) met his/her end.
Thankfully, after a few moments of sadness for the brutality against our poor lizard, we slept soundly that night, only to safely make it to the airport the next morning and return unharmed to Madrid. We can now tell the tales of the enchanting camel rides, desert legends, the Atlas mountain range, the Ourika valley and its waterfalls, and mysterious Marrakech.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
SAFE and SOUND
hi familia -
just wanted to let you know that i'm back in madrid after a weekend in marrakech, morocco. we had a fabulous trip! ate some delicious food, drank some fabulous mint tea, and rode a camel. i cannot wait to tell you all about it. i'll try calling sometime later today.
check out pictures on my blog. i'll write a longer blog update about the trip sometime this week.
lots of love,
kate
just wanted to let you know that i'm back in madrid after a weekend in marrakech, morocco. we had a fabulous trip! ate some delicious food, drank some fabulous mint tea, and rode a camel. i cannot wait to tell you all about it. i'll try calling sometime later today.
check out pictures on my blog. i'll write a longer blog update about the trip sometime this week.
lots of love,
kate
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