Giant Trampoline?!

8:30 a.m. We get up early, we have a breakfast date with Ryan!

10:00 a.m. We finally find him, at the entrance to the Museum’s Quartier. We were both so tired on the way that we made some sleepy mistakes: like, missing our stop completely on the U-Bahn and having to back track, Kim accidentally going up the wrong escalator with her iPod playing, and only noticing half-way up that I was down below calling her name. It was classic Kim and Emma.

We had the best breakfast EVER. We were in a little cafe inside the museum’s quartier building, near a book store (I forget the name of the place.) Ryan and I both had the Bacon and Eggs. It is basically a plate-sized layer of bacon that is fried, then three eggs are fried sunny-side-up right on top, then scallions, salt and pepper on top. It was very American, and good in every way. 

It was wonderful to see Ryan again! Of course we had a great time, and seeing an old friend from the states feels so natural and easy. We have been meeting so many new friends, but there is always the knowledge that we are leaving so soon, and new friendships take so much work to maintain, so sometimes it gets tiring.

After breakfast we head to school, and Ryan comes with us to see what Webster Vienna looks like!

12:30 p.m. Of course, we bump into Mr. Dunn on the bus! He and Ryan meet and get along right away. We all go to class together, and start preparing for our mid term exam. We have a listening section on Mahler Symphonies 1, 2, and 3; Brahms Piano Concerto No 2, and Bruckner’s adagio movement from his 8th. (Although Bruckner never actually showed up on the test.) After that, a short writing section.

3:30 p.m. Class ends, and Kim and I decide to  take a walk along the Danube and see some of the sights. 

We decide to sit on the edge of the river and hang our feet over the edge. We are there only a few minutes before a boy approaches us about a light, and then is shocked when we don’t smoke, and is then further disappointed when we do not want him to stick around and talk to us. Really, Austrian boys? Really? Seriously, give it a break. It was flattering the first two hundred times, after that it gets creepy and annoying. :( 

So when he decides to sit just a few yards down from us, we decide maybe its time to go. We head further down the river, toward Donauinsel. We want to check out the giant bridge that looks like a battle zone from Yu-Gi-Oh. On our way to the bridge, we pass what seems to be a giant floating trampoline, on the river. We both glance at it casually, and say “Oh, maybe we can go there sometime.” 

We go check out the bridge, and the second time we pass the trampoline thingy, almost at the same time, we both look at each other and say “Want to go on the trampoline?!” We both had been thinking it, but were nervous that the other wouldn’t want to go.

What happened next was magical. We paid two Euro for eight minutes of super-fun on the bounciest trampoline right on the water. It was so fun. So. Fun. When you first step onto it, you start laughing, and you can’t stop until way after you are done. I fell down so many times, and am now covered in bruises, but it was more than worth it. 

4:45 p.m. So we still had time to kill before our concert that evening, so we decide to go to the first district and find some dinner. 

After walking around looking for this one sandwich restaurant that Prentis told us about, we realize that it is almost time to be at the Musikverein, so we ditch that idea, and get some Chinese food about a block down. Then off to the concert!

6:15 p.m. We meet Mr. Dunn and some classmates at the Musikverein! We see Brahms’  piano concerto no. 2, and The Firebird.

I think my ears and musical tastes are really starting to develop in a new way. I did not like the Brahms...it remains one of my favorite pieces, but it didn't speak to me this time around. The Firebird, on the other hand, I enjoyed immensely. The end of that piece gets me every time.

10:30 p.m. Celia, Kim and I head home, completely wiped out.

11:30 p.m. Early bedtime, Skype with Lucy and my Dad! So glad to see them. :)

12:00 a.m. Sleep.

1:15 a.m. Matt calls on Skype! :D 

And back to sleep!

Goodnight!

E