"Time never rests..."

Happy Friday, everyone!

I can't believe I've been here for less than a week!  We have been amazingly busy - it feels like we're always going.  (For example, we've been to five concerts in six days!)  But I have truly loved every minute of it.  Vienna is such an incredible city.  We keep discovering new museums, concert halls, cafes, shops, and restaurants; everywhere you turn there is something new to learn!  

The day-to-day culture here is interesting and often very different from that of US cities.  For example, Vienna has quiet hours from 10 pm to 7 am, so it is really easy to sleep because there are no sounds on the streets or loud music playing outside (and we also have to make sure we are quiet walking back from concerts!)  To pay at a restaurant, the waitress sits down at the table with a big wallet, and each customer at the table pays individually.  At restaurants, it is custom to toast wine glasses (saying "Prost!") before each meal.  On the U-Bahn, you don't have to pay for each ride individually, but if you are caught without your monthly ticket, you can be seriously fined.  I am looking forward to learning more of these local customs.  

I am also slowly acquiring more experience speaking German.  This morning, as I was walking down the street and up to my flat, I said "Guten Morgen!" to two locals!  A man also said "Entschuldigen" ("Pardon me") on the U-Bahn to me this morning.  I am actually beginning to feel like I fit in here and am able to communicate with those around me.  

The food here is also interesting.  At first I was a little intimidated by the heavy foods and abundance of whole milk in everything (including all coffee!), but I am beginning to discover what foods I enjoy and do not enjoy.  Below are some pictures of the wonderful foods we've enjoyed thus far!

The famous Wienerschnitzel - fried and breaded pork 

Me and Shivani eating Käsekrainer sandwiches (bratwurst wrapped in a baguette) from a stand in the city.

A hazelnut and chocolate torte at a restaurant in Dürnstein, Austria (in the Wachau Valley outside Vienna).

One of the highlights of the past few days was touring the Theater an der Wien, where Beethoven lived for a time and where his Fifth and Sixth symphonies were premiered.  We got to go backstage and see the costume and makeup room as well as the 150-ton mechanism that rotates the stage.  

This is the view from the stage of the Theater an der Wien.  

On Tuesday night, we got to see a largely clarinet concert at the Musikverein.  Although the soloist was supposed to be Martin Fröst, one of my favorite artists, he cancelled at the last minute, and a French clarinetist named Paul Meyer played instead.  He was incredible - his lyrical passages were breathtaking, and his technical skills were awe inspiring.  He played the Copland Clarinet Concerto and the Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto - two very different stylistic pieces.  Hearing the clear sounds of the clarinet echoing through the beautiful hall made me the most excited I've been yet to be in this city!

Me and Matt in front of the concert poster at the Musikverein. 

One of my favorite parts of the trip thus far was our excursion yesterday to the Wachau Valley of Austria outside Vienna.  We first went to Melk, where there is a Benedictine monastery.  We toured the elegant Baroque halls (including a drool-worthy library - pictures below!) and ended up in the church, which was the most ornate room I have ever seen.  We then traveled to Dürnstein, a town in the Wachau Valley famous for apricots (several of my friends had apricot nectar juice for lunch - I, of course, had coffee).  In Dürnstein, we had a wonderful lunch and then hiked up to the ruins of a site where Richard the Lionheart was held captive.  From the top of this mountain, we enjoyed sweeping views of the Wachau Valley.  It was a gorgeous 70-degree sunny day, and the slightly rigorous hike brought back DOC memories.  This reminded me of how lucky I am to be in this beautiful country!  Afterwards, we traveled to the Huber vineyard and winery, where we experienced a wine tasting and tour and learned how wine is made.  We then indulged in a meal of fresh meats, cheeses, breads, vegetables, wine, and grape juice.  I really enjoyed this trip because it gave me a sense of the local culture in the countryside and the gorgeous natural setting that surrounds Vienna.

The Melk monastery.

The library in the Melk abbey (I really didn't want to leave!)

View of the town of Melk from the monastery.

The site in Dürnstein to which we climbed.

Me and Amy jumping off the mountain (just kidding)!

Upon returning from the Wachau Valley, we saw a percussion concert at the Musikverein.  It was amazing for the most part, except for one kind of strange piece in which a soprano sang along with two marimbas, repeating the phrase "Time never rests" over and over again.  Although we were all giggling afterwards about the repetitiveness and melodramatic nature of this piece, we also commented that it did in fact reflect the first week of our trip here - we haven't rested and have thus gotten to encounter so many experiences!  

This morning, I was able to practice for the first time since being in Austria (I'm looking forward to getting my embouchure back into shape...oops!), and I have my first lesson this afternoon!  I am really excited to dive back into my clarinet playing.  

Thanks for reading!  (And to my friends in Hanover - I am so sorry about your snowstorm!  Although notice I didn't fail to mention my 70-degree hike yesterday :))