Day 2: Viennese Adventures

After a very successful first day in Vienna, we continued our trip with a Big Bus tour around the city. Our double-decker bus allowed us to fully appreciate the wealth of architecture throughout the city while our tour guide, Charles, shared its rich history (with the assistance of a few puns). We passed opera houses, theaters, cathedrals, and . One of our favorite stops, however, was the Schönbrunn Palace. This massive 1,441-room Baroque palace is a former imperial summer residence with a history of over 300 years. The Club was overwhelmed by the grandeur of this palace as we walked through the grounds and gardens. We even broke out into "Parting Glass" while in one of the gardens! 

PGC members pose in front of the Schönbrunn Palace.

Several Glee Clubbers sing "Parting Glass" in one of the Palace's many gardens.

Following the Schönbrunn Palace, we completed a walking tour of some major destinations in Vienna, including the counterpart to the Schönbrunn Palace, the Winter Palace of Prince Eugene. We also passed the Monument Against War and Fascism, a commemoration of Austria's dark years under Nazi rule. 

Our day picked up as we went to Schweizerhaus, a rustic beer hall and garden. We enjoyed authentic Viennese cuisine (i.e. the beer garden's special dish, "Pork Knuckles"), sang songs in German and English, and celebrated our Director, C. Erik Nordgren's birthday! Conveniently, this beer garden was located in the middle of an amusement park. Naturally, the entirety of Glee Club spent a bit too much on rides, including roller coasters, Go-karts, and several fun houses. Fun fact: the carousels in Vienna have REAL HORSES! 

Clubbers had a blast at the Viennese amusement park!

We enjoyed "das gute Bier" at Schweizerhaus!

Our night was rather laid back, and we split into groups to explore different parts of the city. Some members went to the famous Eurovison Song Contest, one of the largest music competitions in the world. Other evening events included exploring Vienna's downtown scene, traveling to restaurants, and relaxing at our hostel. We are absolutely loving Vienna! 

[Special thanks to our very own Christian Hopkins for these awesome photos! Stay tuned on our Facebook page for HQ photos soon!] 

Aaron Weinstein (E '17) leads the way in our Go-kart race!

And another action shot at the amusement park! No hands!