Hofstra Odyssey

Exploring Vienna

We had the opportunity to spend two days in Vienna, Austria. Preparing with the Sound of Music in the van we drove through the country admiring the mustard plants that stretched along either side of the road.  We spent our full day walking around the city.  It was a beautiful day and there was so much to see.  We spent time in the museum district where there are a multitude of museums including music, modern art and chimney sweeping.  We walked by the opera house, city hall, and the former imperial palace along with many other landmarks.  The city was absolutely gorgeous with the ornate old buildings with their gold and greened copper detailing. We visited Café Central that was made famous by being a place regularly visited by Freud, Hitler, and Lenin along with other historical figures. 

After this a few of us went and had a picnic in the palace lawns surrounded by the sweet scent of lilacs.   We soaked in the atmosphere as we lay out in the sun.  We later visited the Freud museum and got to see the apartment where he lived with his family and practiced.  It was very interesting to see how one person could influence a discipline as much as he did.  In his office there were artifacts from all over the world from patients and degrees from various universities.  Walking into the room that was restored as the entry way and waiting room gave the chilling feeling of going back in time to attend a session.  Vienna was lovely and it allowed us to not only learn more about the past, but to try foods such as Wiener schnitzel and meet other travelers staying at our hostel.