Day 3: A-Roving

Our third day in Vienna was a bit less structured than the two that preceded it, and as a result, the Glee Club had the chance to discover various gems both in and out of the city! We divided into smaller groups to take on this excursion-filled day, some clubbers waking up early to go on a bike tour through the city, and others sleeping in to explore the city by foot. While there was a forecast of rain in the late afternoon, the Glee Club was determined to make the most of this day.

Zach Costa (E '15) catches up on some light
reading in the antique book store. 

One biking group, comprised of recent graduates Teddy Guenin (W,E '15) , Paul Marett (C '15), Zach Costa (E '15), and Max Scheiber (W,E '15) left early in the morning to rent their bikes and explore the city. Among the many sites they visited, some of their favorite stops were the market (nasch markt), the Albertina Museum, city hall, and an antique book store. They even passed by a wine festival in the streets of Vienna, at which point they took a break and played with a marching band for a bit! 

The marching band that a few clubbers
spontaneously played with!

Other members of Club found themselves staying more local and walking around the city. For example, one group traveled to the Belvedere, a building complex consisting of two baroque palaces and the Belvedere museum. Another group found a café called "Phil" that doubles as a bookstore at which you can buy DVDs, books, and records; they spent over an hour sitting on the sofas, lounging, and reading. A third group went to the "Haus der Musik" or "Sound Museum," an interactive sound museum that explores the history famous composers and musicians. Finally, another group walked around the city, ate at a local café, and explored the street art along the Danube canal made possible by a deal between the Austrian government and street artists.

A beautiful view of the Belvedere! 

One of the many detailed pieces of street art throughout
the streets of Vienna.

Another group of Clubbers poses in front of a parliament
building while biking through Vienna!

In addition to the groups that explored the city, some members of the Glee Club used this free day to travel outside of Vienna on their own! Ian McCurry (N '17) took a train to Melk, an Austrian city in the hills, and wandered around the village. While there, he explored the massive baroque Benedictine monastery, Melk Abbey. Erol Danon (C,W '16) traveled in the opposite direction to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia and about an hour away from Vienna. Upon arriving, one of his first observations was that vodka was cheaper than water! Interested in learning more about the city, he went to the national gallery, saw an art exhibit (ironically about alcohol in Slovakian culture), and played jazz standards in one of the old squares with a Slovakian man who did not even speak English. Despite the inevitable rain later in the day, we were able to experience a great amount of varying cultures! 

An old street in Bratislava.

Ian's view of Melk from the Abbey!