New Year in Vienna

It was 31st of December. The last day going to mark the ending of the year which was full of: adventures, too many ups and a few downs. In my entire life so far, this was the year which witnessed me travelling the most. I met amazing people and had precious additions in my world of international friends. In a nutshell, this was one of the best years I have ever lived.

Schönbrunn Palace

My initial plan that day was to visit Schönbrunn Palace for like an hour and then go to Prater. But Schonbrunn turned out to be a place where I could stay all day without having any feeling of boredom and any desire to leave.

So this centuries old Baroque Palace which serves as one of the most significant and known symbols of Austria; was at a small walking distance from my friend’s place. The fact that it along with its mesmerizing gardens is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites further depicts the magnitude of its significant existence.

When I reached the main gate, I could see like a small flood of people. I am not very fond of crowded places, but it was different. Regardless of the great number of people there, I felt like having plenty of space for myself. I felt like breathing in a vast sky. I am not sure if it was the place, or the bright sun there which filled me with life.

I took a tour around the Christmas and New Year Market.

After that, I entered the garden through one of the archways. It was beautiful. The archway led me to the other side of Palace and it was another world. It was wide with vast green lawns and gardens. And what attracted me the most was the Gloriette at the top of the garden which I couldn’t wait to visit. Talking about the gloriettes, this Schonbrunn Garden Gloreitte is the largest and the most famous in the world.

Climbing up till there would require some energy, so I would highly recommend taking some kind of snack with you. Finally I reached the top. A perfect place to have a bird’s eye view of the palace, and the charming city of Vienna in the background! There was also a small pond there with birds flying over it and some, well inside it! The scene created with the rays of sun passing through the arcade of gloreitte and, shining and reflecting into the water; cannot be described in words. It would fill you with serenity and gratitude.

So this tour, which I supposed would last maximum for an hour, actually lasted for like 3 hours. Or maybe even more!

Another beautiful Experience!

I then went back to my friend’s place to collect my bag. There was another amazing experience waiting for me. My first couch surfing experience as a solo surfer!

It was around 6 in the evening; I reached the apartment of my first host. She was wonderful girl- half Austrian, half Norwegian. Her name was Magdalena. She gave me a small tour of the house. It was full of paintings, books, maps and souvenirs from different parts of the world. People with such interests are often open-minded, they have an understanding of life, and so was she. We had some tea and sweets together. I learned that she had even volunteered in Nepal. We had somehow, same opinions of travelling, the world and the people in general.

She took me to the roof, from where you could see like the entire city. Getting up to the roof well was another tiny adventure for me. I had never climbed ladders like those before, and never had been in attics of that kind. The attic reminded me of some horror movies, but I did fine.

After that we prepared our dinner. Actually all the skill was hers; I just gave her a helping hand. It was one of the best spaghettis I ever had. She also made some salad with pumpkin oil. It was my first time to taste this oil and it is something I would recommend you to try.

It was not 12 yet but the fireworks had already started. She came out with me just to show me the tram I needed to take for reaching Rathaus where the main fireworks and celebration was going to take place. However, she ended up in joining me to see the fireworks. I felt very happy and thankful to her as she kept my company and didn't leave me alone for the new year eve. I also felt more safe and comfortable as I am not used to being out so late and that too in a new place.

Rathaus and its surroundings were full of people of all ages and I suppose different nationalities. Finally the countdown began! 3... 2... 1! And the fireworks! Everything was perfect! There was a flashback of all amazing memories I lived in 2017, the people I met, the places I visited, the successes, the happiness, the regrets, the tears, and the fears. One Word- Grateful! I was grateful to God for this rich year.

Coming back to me and Magdalena, we actually hanged out together like till 4 in the morning. We went to a bar, I think it was time for me to overcome my fear of drunken people. It was my first time in a bar of that kind. Like I have accompanied my friends before when they used to go drink but in comparatively sober places like a cafe or a restaurant or somewhere near the sea. Actually it was funny specially seeing the old drunken grannies. I noticed that when people are drunk, they don’t even bother about other people. Some of them may be didn’t even notice that I was sitting there. I felt scared at some moments but nobody even came closer to me for even once. Well of course, it was not the kind of place I would like to visit often, but once or twice a year maybe I would like to be in such a place with loud music. It somehow made me ponder over life and people. I cannot say that I really learned something but I suppose people there have different stories, they have different reasons of drinking. And I am curious being!

So we took a tram back near to 4 in the morning. I went straight to sleep; I was supposed to take a bus to Bratislava few hours later. When I woke up, I found her awake already. She had made me a nice ginger and lemon tea with honey. She explained me the best way to reach Erdberg Station Vienna and we exchanged some final goodbyes with a wish to meet again.

So that was my last day of 2017 and a part of my first day of 2018.

Vienna is undoubtedly one of the best places I have visited so far in Europe. It was a city where you can witness the old and the contemporary. If I have to rank it, probably after Lungern, Switzerland and Oslo, Norway; it would take the third spot.

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