Pain

Ok this is becoming ridiculous. My muscles are aching way too much, i must have torn every single one. So Lydia's bf is over visiting and being the US marine that he is, he gave us girls a workout. We went down to the Schonbrunn Palace gardens in the BEAUTIFUL Vienna sunshine and did our running, lunges, sit ups, push ups and I was pretty impressed that I survived just fine. Next morning though... not so fine at all. Ouch. Morning after that, ouch x2. So now I'm sitting here wondering when I'll be able to walk like a normal person again - ok I'm not wondering, I'm concerned.

A Day in the Life of Me....

So this is a fairly typical weekday when i have no class and a whole lot of catching up to do...

Woke up around 10, quickly got ready for the gym and pulled together all my dirty clothes. I then went up to the 9th floor and to my joy and surprise, all the washing machines were free! Got 2 loads going and hit the elliptical while I waited. Then shower, a big brunch and a knock at the door - today's first visitor. Once she left, I went and took care of the grocery shopping - I desperately needed Milka (I've now discovered caramel and there is no going back)! Dinner with Nikki, Heather and Matt. Being St Pats we hit an Irish pub after. We took someone's table and were enjoying our green beer until these Germans began moving in our table trying to be obnoxious to kick us off. A huge screaming match ensued but by the evening's close we had become friends.

Somehow being here makes even the most mundane of days a terrific joy...

It's All About Knowing What Matters Most

"How blessed are those who dwell in Your house,
Who’s lives become roads that You travel
They wind through the valley’s
To the light of the sun
One day in this beautiful place, to worship
Your house is our home, where our faces
Will shine in the light of the son

Our God reigns"

I have this song on repeat. It resounds something remarkable, a truly beautiful thought.

I Heart La Roux

So Monday night, Matt and I went to see the La Roux concert at Gasometer. Second row baby. Such a great performer, loved it. I pretty much coughed the entire way through but it still didn’t taint my time. The opener was so memorable – Blockwerk – what they wore and how they danced is etched into my mind forever. Here's some of the photos...

The Shoes on the Danube Promenade

This memorial lies on the bank of the Danube in Budapest. It is a memorial to the men, women and children who fell victim to the Arrow Cross Militiamen in Budapest and depicts their shoes, left behind as they were cast into the river after been shot during WWII.

During WWII between 250 and 400 workers worked around the clock to prevent its Jewish population from being sent to the many concentrations camps. They were housed at the Swedish Embassy and other buildings in the area. On January 8, 1945 all of the inhabitants were rounded up and taken away to the banks of the river by the Arrow Cross Execution Brigade. Still wanting to prevent a massacre, 20 policemen armed with bayonets rescued them all, and helped them to flee the country. The survivors remember how they were lucky to escape the fate that their loved ones endured the Christmas the year before, being shot and thrown into the cold Danube River.

These little pairs of shoes broke my heart. Lives literally thrown away and shoes first removed as these were seen to be far more valuable than the people themselves. I couldn’t stay long. These replicas stand today as memory of the shocking and devastating loss.

A Weekend in Budapes(shhhhh)t

Wow, what a weekend. Budapest exceeded all expectations –I absolutely loved it! Thursday eve I raced from class to make the bus. The next few hours or so could be summed up by saying Lydia packed the most, crossing the bridge from Pest to Buda was enough to give you frostbite, I had a big whinge about not packing my super warm pillow jacket but the hostel was great. We had the whole wing to ourselves; it was just like being on school camp. After shotgunning bunk beds and suffering a mild case of starvation, we trekked kms to the 24 hr Subway (very uncultured I know) but along the way enjoyed window shopping along the UNESCO World Heritage Listed street which housed names from Chanel to Armani. Then came Friday morning came. Once the Brazilians were finally dragged out the door, we took in the sights of the city (while shivering) on the city walking tour. This included Vaci Street, Parliament, the Chain Bridge and the Castle District. Being snap happy as I am, I took a lot of photos – everything had to be captured. We ate lunch in a traditional Hungarian restaurant so we could thaw ourselves out – it was such a joy to eat red meat – it had been way too long. The afternoon was spent bike riding around an island in the middle of the Danube on 3 person bikes – amazing fun! We ended our island adventure with delicious gluhwein in the park. We went back to the hostel, nanna napped, ordered in pizza and got all dressed up to hit Club Play. After walking for half an hour and being only moments from our destination, we get a call saying it is closed!! By this point my stockings were not keeping me warm and my heels were giving my feet heart attacks. We decided to turn our defeat to triumph and had a massive party at the hostel – seriously best fun. Saturday consisted of the city park, corn on a cob, Heroes Square, lots of eating, another nanna nap and last but certainly not least – the spa! We went to the Szechenyi Bath, where you run from the heating of the indoors to the many different temperature pools and sauna – one of which even had a whirlpool. We were occupied for hours! Unfortunately Saturday night this terrible sickness set in and had me in poor form for the remainder of the trip. However, we still made fun on Sunday – going to the “market” (turned out being a supermarket – devastating) and climbing Gellért Hill. Upon the top stands Lady Liberty and the view is incredible. The rest of the trip was uneventful and a little sad as we said goodbye to Budapest after a very memorable weekend. Hopefully my photos will speak for the rest of the story....

Just to Catch You Up

So last time I broadcast an update it was a Wednesday so if you have the time or maybe patience is a more appropriate word, here is an abbreviated update on the last week and a bit...

Wednesday 24/2 – Celebrations for Miss Nikki Halliwell – great times at Kactus (happy hour was a good find by Matt) and Flex (unfortunately the worst nightclub on earth)....

Thursday 25/2 – Haus der Musik – The Sound Museum – was crazy interesting. Lydia and I got a little lost in another world for the afternoon playing with the interactive displays like children. The evening was the Boat Party for all Erasmus (exchange) students. It was great fun – music was a little sketch and jumbled with hits ranging from pop to Grease mega mix to techno. After struggling with the night buses, I arrived home at 5am, EXHAUSTED.

Friday 26/2 – Last day of orientation! A somewhat bitter sweet day. We went to the English cinemas and saw an old school movie set in Vienna. It was nice but I don’t think that my falling asleep in the middle saw me missing anything at all. In the pm we all packed into Charlie P’s (an Irish pub) for dinner and the presentation for the winners of the Schnitzeljagd. 1^st place went to us!

The Weekend – Not particularly eventful – so much to catch up on. We went to the Naschmarkt on Saturday – tasting were amazing and the falafel was WOW. On Sunday I found a fantastic little church which made me feel like I was at home. Then Sunday night was family dinner with the girls. A perfect weekend to prepare myself for first week of uni.

Monday 1/3 – First of March, first day of class. I don’t enjoy gender class but I do enjoy Ride Club – that pretty much sums up my day.

Tuesday 2/3 – I LOVE my non-profit management class, even though I got soooo lost trying to find the classroom! In the pm I caught up with the kids from church – real nice and chill...

Wednesday 3/3 – Washing day and disaster in the laundry. The girls and I made a fantastic dinner – absolutely delicious.

Thursday 4/3 – Skype with the rentals, a quick pack for Budapest and off to a Finance class. A fun weekend awaits!!

I am a Domestic Goddess

.... or at least that's what I keep trying to tell myself but the facade is fading and I'm going to come clean. I'm failing at looking after myself - i didn't realise how much mum actually does. All I have to do is clean my little room, grocery shop, wash up, cook for myself and wash my clothes but it's really much harder than expected. I don't have a full pantry or fridge of ingredients that I didn't have to pay for, I don't have many appliances (even our toaster was stolen this week), the kitchen is at the other end of the hallway which is annoying, groceries are expensive and the washing machines are temperamental (I've only washed twice and first time I turned my towel blue, second time the whole laundry blacked out - took me all day!)

Anyway, other than just whinging and overexaggerating, I did want to show you my digs. This is my new home and it's waiting for you to come visit me! (The last photo was the first day I opened my window and saw blue skies, not just an ugly brown building)