Lakes and Mountains

As I'm working on crossing a few more things off my Austrian to do list, spending more time exploring the lakes and mountains around here has continually been near the top.  Yes, I've driven through there on several occasions, returning to Vienna from skiing and things, and I've been on the Sound of Music tour enough times to have been around that area, but this has never been the sole purpose of a trip.  I was hoping to get in one more good day trip while this is still just a day trip away so last Saturday my friend Jon and I rented a car and headed off towards Hallstatt.  Despite being on all sorts of postcards and promotional bits about Austria, neither of us had ever actually been there.  

The drive to Hallstatt takes about 3 hours from Vienna, and just gets more and more breathtakingly gorgeous. 

Thankfully there are little turnout places on the side of the road where you can pull off and try your best to capture the scenery.  And try we did.

In Hallstatt the parking places are on the far edge of town and then you can walk back along the lake towards the center of the village.  On a gorgeous day like this it gives you ample opportunity to just enjoy the clear water and the mirrored effect of the mountains.  And of course take lots more photos.

The town of Hallstatt from this side, it somehow looks farther away than it really is.  I'm pretty sure it was only about a 10 minute walk to that church steeple.

We then climbed up the steps to another church on the side of the hill to be able to look down over the snow covered buildings.

While there were a few tourists milling around, it is definitely the off-season around here.  Even on a Saturday afternoon, most restaurants and things were closed, so after a couple hours of wandering around and enjoying the scenery we decided to get back in the car and change locations.

Next stop: Traunkirchen, which is about 40 minutes back towards Vienna from Hallstatt

The final bits of sunlight hitting the mountains.  At this point there were basically no other people around, which allows you to just stop and enjoy listening to the lake washing up against the rocky shore.

One final stop in Gmunden at the other end of the Traunsee.  This is a bigger town so there were quite a few more things open and people around, a nice stop for dinner before heading back to Vienna.

As I've said before, so much of Austria looks like you're living inside a beautiful painting.  The way these mountains all just seem to drop off into these gorgeous lakes, dotted by these picturesque villages is something I will never get tired of seeing.  This was definitely one of those trips I wish everyone I know could take.  Perhaps not all at the same time, so that we don't overrun the place, but if you're ever around here and have the opportunity to go exploring, absolutely do.  

Wrapping Things Up

Things have been pretty busy around here lately, starting things off with a wonderful long weekend in Amsterdam at the end of January to visit my dear friend Ema who is now living there.

It was a lovely weekend of exploring the city and getting in some quality time to catch up.  Amsterdam provided the perfect backdrop for both, even in the dead of winter.  Hopefully I'll get to go back and see the city in the summer as well, when everyone is making full use of all the canals and outdoor spaces.

Back in Vienna, not being in school anymore doesn't mean I don't still need my fix of this view from Kahlenberg.  Thankfully working on a research project means flexible hours to meet with friends at the coffee shop up there.

This is my attempt at a panorama at what is probably my favorite spot in the city.  There is this specific spot when you're walking through the Hofburg and it opens up on to Heldenplatz and you are suddenly surrounded by the palace, the two main museums in front of you, the Parliament building, and the Rathaus.  I am still somehow amazed at how beautiful I think it is every single time.

And then, it being February, it's ball season in Vienna!  Once again I was fortunate enough to attend the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Ball at the Hofburg.  As in years past, it was a magical evening of all sorts of dancing through the night.

Finally some real snow!  This was sort of a bizarre blizzard day, it snowed very fast for most of the day, and was super windy and unpleasant, but then the temperature was expected to rise and all of it turn to rain.  Since I've been so looking forward to the snow I figured I should brave the elements and go out while I could to see it. 

While the big ice rink is set up at the Rathaus, there is also this temporary "City Skyliner" observation tower.  Basically about 60 people can fit in this rotating glass compartment which then goes up and down this tower while slowly spinning.  A friend and I decided to try it last night, and it was one of the coolest things I've done in a long time.

Looking across the Ring at the Burgtheater, with Stephansdom in the distance behind it, and the Hofburg to the right.

Getting up close to the Rathaus from above

Oddly now my to-do list looks a lot like it did 3 years ago, but in reverse.  My research project ends the end of this month, so several weeks ago I bought a return ticket to NYC which I'd use if I didn't have any serious job prospects here by then.  I don't at the moment, so two weeks from tomorrow I'll be back on a plane to the States.  So now I'm trying to sort through my things and figure out how to get it all packed up and shipped, closing down accounts, and trying to wrap up life here.  It's all a bit overwhelming still, and I'm trying to get all I can out of these last couple weeks.  I know this won't be anywhere near the last time I'm in Vienna, as a visitor or perhaps something more permanent at another time, but for now I'm trying to properly close this chapter of the past three years the best I can.