We have arrived!

Arrived in Vienna at noon on Thursday, after a five hour delay at JFK and an eight hour plane ride.

Met up with the group and took a three hour bus ride to Mariazell, a little town in the alps that is famous for a tiny wooden statue of the virgin Mary. Millions of Europeans make a pilgrimage here each yeah to see the statue (which is in a BREATHTAKING church) and pray and whatever else one does on a pilgrimage. (Here you eat gingerbread and sing hymns). We're staying a cool hostel equipped with an endless pool and a sauna.

Our beds!

Honestly, it has felt a lot like summer camp here. We've been on a tight schedule each day, with specific mealtimes and evening activities. Our days are filled with information sessions and other orientation-esque things.
Yesterday we had a chance to go into the town of Mariazell and see the Basilica and boop around. It was really beautiful and the whole town smelled like gingerbread.

The view from our hostel of Mariazell


(This gingerbread cookie says "You are my prince charming, I love you." AW.)


At night we got to see some traditional German dancing and even got to do some ourselves! My thighs are sufficiently bruised from violently slapping them too much.

Dancing with saws?

This morning my friend Lexi and I hiked around the hostel and in the afternoon we visited the local lake where they just happened to be having a festival with music (all American classic rock songs) and free-paddle boating! We hiked around the lake and then me and Lexi took out a paddle boat and she gave me a crash-course German lesson. I can now tell all the Germans that I have NO idea what they're saying.

Lexi on the lake!

When we got back to the hostel we took a quick dip in the pool and hit the sauna. (HOT.)
Tonight we had waltzing lessons. THANK YOU FAUST OPERA CHORUS FOR HELPING ME NOT LOOK LIKE A FOOL. I gotta say, I was a waltzing champ. I taught my friend Sam how to look like he knew what he was doing, but it took everything in me not to keep trying to lead.
Tomorrow we continue with our information sessions and then after lunch we're FINALLY off to Vienna- summer camp will be will be left behind in favor of ADULTHOOD AND FREEDOM.
Excite.

Summary:
-lots of dancing
-lots of vinegary vegetables aka YUM
-lots of packets with lots of forms to sign
-lots of new friends
-lots of beautiful views

Bis spaeter!