Day 87.

So maybe there were only 87 days instead of 88. Something to do with the whole losing a whole day traveling here thing.

I leave today and while it fells like I have been here forever it just hasn't been long enough.

I want to blog about it, but if I don't then it is like it's not real.

Which is what I want. Just to stay.

Silly how that works huh?

love,
Krystle

Day 85.

Two words: SHOPPING BONANZA!

After de-registering :[ from the Austrian government Breanna and I decided that we would finish all of our souvenir/present shopping in one afternoon. Boy oh boy did we succeed. I have never spent so much money in such a short amount of time. My family better be please with their presents :]

Monumental occasion: LAST GERMAN CLASS EVER! (I am in love with the Caps as of late. Please forgive me) So nuts. I have been taking German for two hours a day as long as I can remember. I can finally form sentences and not have people laugh at me. Match Mir Spass! Gosh... I miss English. One thing about America most people speak English and I am sure excited to return to it. Our teacher this semester Sebastien is a real charmer. Is a thirty something bald Austrian man that really likes to laugh at us. He was awesome. I have a final tomorrow and then it is all over. Weird.

At the Plummers house tonight we had our final party with the Study Abroad group. We were all presented awards. I was given the INDIE/GANGSTER award. Surprising no?

I think I am getting all nostalgic. I mean I have spent the whole summer thinking that this study abroad would never end. Three months seems like an eternity at the beginning and then it is over... like it never even happened. Tomorrow is the last day. Whoa. This whole thing has changed me. I feel like a better person. The people that I have been surrounded with this whole summer have helped me to become more of who I want to be. I am so lucky to have them in my life. I can't imagine what it is going to be like not seeing all of them all day everyday.

Well. Here goes nothing. 36 hours left.

love, Krystle

Day 84.

Today we started off at Schonbrunn. I have been there lots before, but today was the decided day that we would tour in the inside of the palace. I wish that I could say that I enjoyed it but as a matter of fact I HATED IT. Why you may ask. Well I will tell you... TOO MANY PEOPLE. I am using the CAPS for emphasis because it really was terrible. I hate feeling like a tourist. I live here for goodness sake and the palace was packed like sardines. William, Chip, and Kayla all had to listen to my rantings after we exited.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE... TODAY I GRAFFITIED A WALL IN VIENNA!

Yes yours truely was involved in an act of defacing public property. Cross that one off of my bucket list. There are tons of pictures on Facebook if you feel like stalking me.

I think I missed my calling in life. 

School was intense. German will be over in a mere 2 days. How stoked am I? For dinner we headed over to the Rathhaus. It has turned into a routine of sorts. There are so many places to choose from that everyone gets to eat exactly what they want and we can all still sit together.

Have I mentioned that I love Vienna? I love it here. I am excited to return to the U.S.A. but I am mighty sad that I have to leave.

Day 83.

My last Sunday in Vienna.

I went to Church.

Ate my last meal with Frau.

Maybe I cried a little bit.

Pocket Full of Sunshine.

So Kayla and I have a lot of fun together doing random things. One of which is watching Youtube videos. Maybe you won't find this nearly as funny as we did... but that doesn't mean that we didn't watch it about 12 times in a row. Enjoy. :]

Day 82.

One Word: JONSI.

Today I went to the Jonsi concert and it changed my life.



Here is just a taste of what it was like. I was there. In Vienna. Seeing it Live. And I am pretty sure that Life really can't get any better.

Sleeping Beauty

I.

Year after year unto her feet,
She lying on her couch alone,
Across the purple coverlet,
The maiden’s jet-black hair has grown,
On either side her tranced form
Forth streaming from a braid of pearl:
The slumbrous light is rich and warm,
And moves not on the rounded curl.

II.

The silk star-broider’d coverlid
Unto her limbs itself doth mould
Languidly ever; and, amid
Her full black ringlets downward roll’d,
Glows forth each softly-shadow’d arm
With bracelets of the diamond bright:
Her constant beauty doth inform
Stillness with love, and day with light.

III.

She sleeps: her breathings are not heard
In palace chambers far apart.
The fragrant tresses are not stirr’d
That lie upon her charmed heart.
She sleeps: on either hand upswells
The gold-fringed pillow lightly prest:
She sleeps, nor dreams, but ever dwells
A perfect form in perfect rest.

Lord Alfred Tennyson 

Day 81.

I went to Mauthausen today.

No words I write can do the experience justice.

For more information go here.

Day 80.

Oh gosh guys. This time next week I will be on a plane to America. Holy heck.

Went to the Kuntshaus Historics Museum today where I had the privilege of seeing some Caravaggio. Also. Went to the Vienna Film Festival. Gay version of swan lake anyone? 

I love Vienna. 


Love,
Krystle.

Day 79.

Well in case  you were wondering... the heat is back. Oh joyous occasion.


Lets see today was spent dong things to prevent heat stroke. For example-


*Milkshakes at Einsteins*
*Reading under a tree in the park*
*Gelato at Zanoni*
*Bench Camping on Mariahilfastrasse*


Ya know. Just your average avoid the heat things except oh wait- I am in VIENNA.


Maybe my life is cool. Maybe.

Day 78.

One word- CREPES.

Thank you Jenny Pate for making my life. 

Day 77.

This is the last full week that I have in Vienna. Gosh. Time flies. 

Today I visited the old Hoffburg Palace and learned a lot about Elisabeth of Bavaria. I think I want to read her biography. 

Right now I am reading Anna Karenin by Leo Tolstoy. It is hard to stay motivated in German when all I want to do is read. 

I am itching to play the guitar. That is one thing I am looking forward too back in the states. 

Such is my life. 

{A poem for you}

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

-Robert Frost.

Love,
Krystle

Day 76.

Today was cold. HALLELUJAH. I have never been so happy to see the rain in my life. Thank you Vienna for answering my prayers.

Day 75.

Sometimes I do exciting things.

I went to the Flea market. It is located right in the middle of downtown Vienna in the 8th district. Even though we went early It was blazing hot and there were a million people there. I have always thought of a flea market as an over priced garage sale, but I bartered with some people and got some cool things for cheap.

Starbucks proved to be an integral part off our day. It offered us shelter from the heat. I snuck in a sandwich and muffin from Anker the bakery. Stealth. All stealth.

I made my first visit to the Belvedere. It was the most amazing Museum I have been in thus far. I am not a museum girl. I have never had the opportunity to take an art history class so a majority of the time I feel lost and confused, but not this time. I paid 3 euros for my audio guide and walked through hours of Impressionist art. On this journey I discovered something. I LOVE IMPRESSIONISM. The way that it correlates with the progression of theater is something that I have never put together before. This type of art spoke to me in a way that nothing has. Yes. That sounds cheesy, but it's true. Never before have I had the desire to merely sit and gaze upon a painting. In this museum I did. I am becoming cultural guys. Watch out.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces-

Flaming Jane- By: Frederic Leighton

This photo does not even begin to do this painting justice. 

The Kiss- By: Gustav Klimt 

It is huge is person. The detail is amazing.  

Four Trees- By: Egon Schiele

This tree second from the left symbolizes Sciele as a painter. 

Basically I may have just become a huge art nerd. I love it. Then that night we went out for dinner to a cute little Italian restaurant tucked away in the 6th district. Everyone was getting ready for the life ball that Vienna hosts annually. We were watching woman in floor length ball gowns and men in tuxes walk past along with tons of people that were dressed up in "Earth" attire. Each year the life ball has a different theme and some people go pretty nuts. After dinner we headed over to the red carpet to check out that action. It was CRAZY. There were so many people standing outside the Rathaus.  

Lucky for us Whoopi Goldberg and Bill Clinton decided to grace us with their presence. There was also a opening ceremony based off of a Midsummer Night's Dream. Boys in speedos throwing fairy dust. What a night. Google it if you are interested. I can't be held responsible for posting things that could potentially scar you for life. 

Over all it was another epic win of a day. Less than 2 weeks left now. I may be freaking out a touch. 

Love, 

Krystle 

Day 74.

Today was full of old things. 

I visited the oldest Zoo in the world today-
Tiergarten at Schonbrunn. 

Lions. Tigers. Pandas. Giraffes. Penguins. Seals. Monkeys.
Oh my. 

I love going to the Zoo. It makes me feel like a kid again. 

Then I played a old guitar for hours. I couldn't stop. The whole time I have been here I have been having withdrawals. Three months is too long to be without Betsey.

Then we were off to Prater. I rode the oldest ferris wheel in the world. It was just like all the other Ferris Wheels I have been on. Except it was in Vienna. So that made it cooler.  Much cooler. 

We decided to go on one more ride. 4 of us were feeling adventurous. Post ride our brains were so rattled that we started acting like gangsters. Its been known to happen. 

Day 73.

I had German class in a park by the Parliament building.

After that I may or may not have seen Eclipse.

Then we got Thai food. I paid for Chips meal. Technically that means we were on a date.

I love Thai food.

Today was a great day.

Day 72.

Today was hot. Very Hot. There is nothing like a 95 degree day with 80% humidity. Good thing we didn't have class. We went to the public swimming pool instead. I did some water aerobics. It was awesome.

Thanks for skyping with me today Rach :] Even though it was a pain in the but it was super nice to see your face.

Tonight Chip, Mika, and I did some night shooting. Here is one of my favorites of the Opera House. I walk passed this building everyday on the way to school.

We are down to two weeks folks! 

Day 71.

Dear German Language-

Sometimes I get really frustrated with you. You don't make much sense to me and even when I think that I am beginning to understand you decide to add in something new that makes no sense. When I return to the USA I think that you and I are going to be very distant acquaintances. Don't be offended. I would say that whole it's not you it's me line... but I hate to break it to ya... this is definitely your fault. In 9 days I am going to say goodbye forever, but until then we will have to put up with each other. I hope you understand. 

Sincerely, 

Krystle 

Day 70.

Today I decided to be cultural. I attended a catholic mass in St. Stephan's cathedral. I climbed the top of Stephansdome. I ate at the Imperial Bakery Damels. Pretty good for a days work. Then I decided to get lost. I got on my City Bike and fought the busy traffic of Vienna for my own spot on the road. I ended up at a park where I proceeded to LIE on the grass with the locals doing absolutely nothing. Glorious.

A word of advice. If you are ever feeling the pressure to be cultural... you don't have to be. You are not required to attend three famous museums in the same day and enjoy it. Sometimes just riding your bike or sitting on the couch is enough and that's okay.

Watch a movie in English for me okay?
Love,
Krystle

Day 69.

Today I experienced the world cup in Europe. We cheered for Spain and then in the second over time... they won. The crowd went crazy. People were running through the streets yelling, "España!" I may or may not have been one of them. I say it makes for an epic win of a night. 

Day 67 and 68. Hallstatt

This weekend we took a trek out to Hallstatt, Austria. A small village on a lake up in the Alps of Austria. After three different means of transportation, 3 trains, 1 bus and 1 ferry, and we had made it. We spent the weekend...

Paddle Boating 

Exploring the Oldest Salt Mine in the World

Acting like Gangsters 

Hanging out with Human Skulls 

Attempting Canoeing 
Participated in a Helicopter landing

Playing Wizard Egyptian Rat Screw [Please ask Whitney and Maria for Details]

and Journaling 

Yeah we have a lot of fun together. 

Theme Song.

This has been my theme song all summer.

This isn't the end,
We're just getting started.
The road stretches on, and on, and on,
We're moving again.
Sun on our skin, and cracks in the pavement.
We'll aim for a place we've never been,
It's all what we make it, whoa.

All I am is just a traveler,
With dirt on my hands.
All I have is dust in my pockets,
And you in the end,
In the end.

Summer to fall,
We're wrapped up in blankets.
We're wrapped up in everything we fear,
It's all what we make it, whoa.

All I am is just a traveler,
With dirt on my hands.
All I have is dust in my pockets,
And you in the end.

Sometimes it feels like we're never gonna make it out alive.
When nightmares close us in.
Heartbeart, take me, away from all the troubles that I see,
Oh, it's all what we make it, it's all what we make it, oh.

All I am is just a traveler,
With dirt on my hands.
All I have is dust in my pockets,
And you in the end.
Oh, all I am is just a traveler,
With dirt on my hands.
All I have is dust in my pockets,
And you in the end,
Dust in my pockets,
And you in the end,
In the end.

Day 66.

Today my dear friend Kayla and I did a photo shoot. 

On this photo shoot we met monks from Thailand. 

He told me that his name meant the sun and that mine meant glass. 

We talked. We laughed. We decided that I have to go to Thailand.

 He said, "Thailand is the land of smiles."

 I believe it. :] 

Crying.

I cried today. Not because I was sad but because I was so ridiculously happy. I guess it's true what they say. You can cry from pure joy. Today I talked with Monks at Parliament, photographed a model, made my way out into the countryside, exchanged thoughtful words with intelligent people and best of all I got to walk home in the dark with my iPod blaring.

I love Vienna.

You can catch up with me here at attempting adventure.
Until then. Caio!

Vienna.

This is my Vienna. 

Day 65.

I rode a bike today. More specifically I rode this bike pictured below. Vienna has an awesome program where you can ride a bike for free around the city. Jenny, Breanna, Whitney, and I all signed up and were excited to participate in out first City Biking experience. Biking around Vienna involves competing with pedestrians, dogs, streetcars, cars, other bikers, and trees. Terrifying yet exhilarating. 

I am happy to report that we are all still alive. I felt like I was seeing the city of Vienna for the first time and I have been living here for 2 months! There is nothing better than the exertion of pent up energy after a long day in the classroom. Biking through one of the most beautiful cities in the world is just what the doctor called for. 

Personally I loved the basket on the front. Best invention ever. I was so happy that I had somewhere to stick my giant backpack :] and my bike was purple. Love.  

After biking around the city for an hour Chip and I were off to take some pictures. Our professor has been giving us assignments that get us out of our comfort zone. One of which is talking to people we don't know. I fail at this challenge epically. It is really hard for me to randomly strike up a conversation with someone and then go, "Oh hey, can I take your picture?" I don't like it. I have been able to do it once so far. She spoke very little English so I really don't know anything about her except that she had friendly eyes. 

Other than that Chip and I took some neat shots. Exploring the city at dusk is a wonderful thing. We stumbled upon a park that has hammocks hanging between just about every tree in the vicinity. Now I know where to sleep if I ever get locked out. 

Gotta Love Vienna.  


I don't want to discuss the soccer game. 

Day 64.

Go Netherlands! Did you watch the game tonight? I did. Nothing like being in Europe for the World Cup. Yes I know that the World Cup is located in South Africa this year...  but it is just so much more exciting being around Europeans because they are actually invested.

Tomorrow Germany vs. Spain. You know I'll be watching. GO DEUTSCHLAND!

Only 24 days left... this is getting crazy.

Love ya. :]

Day 63.

MODAYS ARE MY FAVORITE. really. 


Today I wore my chacos, my tie dye shirt, my cargo shorts, and my BYU study abroad backpack. I looked like the ultimate tourist. Especially when I was photo stalking people for my photography class. I'm just that cool. Get used to it.

So want to know the best thing that happened to me today? Because I was sick last week I don't have to take the make up the quiz I missed in German class. Super score. I guess being sick does pay off sometimes.

Have an excellent day. Eat some chocolate. I know I did.

love,
Krystle

J Crew.

Just in case you have't had the chance to check out J Crews new Fall collection here is a little preview. Dressing in Fall is my favorite.

Day 62.

Today is the 4th of July and even though I am not in America I'll be celebrating.

America is where the party is at! [I can say this. I have been living in Europe for 2 months]

Get out there and enjoy those fireworks and BBQ's for me. :]

My Brother.

This is from when we were in Mexico last month. He really loves his smoothies. 

I have the cutest brother ever. The end. 

Day 61.

7 Reasons I Hate Being Sick In Vienna

1. Loss of appetite 

2. Being stuck at home

3. Feeling gross [even after you shower]

4. The only things I can do are read, blog, or watch movies on my laptop

5. The heat here is RIDICULOUS. I may have mentioned my skylight before

6. Lack of cold drinks 

7. No communication with the outside world 

Hopefully I will be better tomorrow. 

Hey Guess What?

I am not a robot.



But I wish I was because then I wouldn't be sick.

Hope you're feeling well.

love,
Krystle

Day 60.

Today I ventured off of my sick bed to go see the play A Capital Affair at the English Speaking Theater in Vienna. Kayla and I walked into the theater and were the youngest people there by a long shot. Never having read the play before I wasn't sure exactly what we were in for. Lucky for us it was excellent. The theater was charming. A very small venue with less than 100 seats. The cast was sassy. The leading lady was gorgeous and the Senator's accent have a very distinct "Bush" sound to it [That is what you get when you see a bunch of Europeans act out an American comedy]. I don't really think there is ever a piece of professional theater that I can hate. Their was one actor in this production that I couldn't stand. Maybe that kind of terrible acting is socially acceptable in Vienna? Hmmm...

I love theater. I am excited to go back to school in the Fall and work on some projects. :]

World Traveler.

I am a world Traveler. These are the countries that I have visited- a majority of which have been in the last 3 months. :]

1. USA

2. Canada

3. Mexico

4. Austria

5. Czech Republic 

6. Slovakia 

7. Vatican City 

8. Italy 

Day 59.

SICKNESS.

Today I am sick.

I have a Fever.

I can't eat.

I can barely function.

I am going to go back to sleep now.

29 days left.