Monday, May 30

Today we begin our final week here in Vienna. It seems as if it has gone by so fast. This Friday is the end of the program and everyone will be leaving. Some of us will go home on Friday, while others plan to spend a few extra days in Europe. Several of us plan to spend the weekend in Salzburg, my family included, others plan to travel in Germany, and one student is flying to Paris to spend a week with a friend.

Today's class was held in one of the most impressive palaces in all of Europe, Schönbrunn. Meaning "beautiful fountain," Schönbrunn was a conscious attempt by the ruling Hapsburg family of Austria to duplicate Versaille, the summer home of the French kings outside of Paris. It is a massive structure with over 1000 rooms. It was also the summer home of the Austrian rulers, and when it was built it was several miles outside the city walls. But now the city has grown up around it. Still, the footprint of the palace and surrounding grounds is immense. Here is the UTB group in the front of the palace.

We had arrived a little early for our tour, so several students relaxed on a flight of stairs inside the entrance.

Unfortunately, the staff of the palace does not allow photographs of any kind inside. But of all the ornately decorated rooms the one that made the most impact on our students was the room in which the six-year-old Mozart performed his very first concert in Vienna (only his second concert ever) for the Empress Maria Theresa. This is the famous visit during which Maria Theresa's daughter Marie Antoinette helped Mozart after he slipped on the polished floors, and he promptly announced that he would marry her some day!

After the palace tour the students were free to explore the grounds, and although not quite as extensive as Versailles (the Hapsburgs ran out of money before they could duplicate the French model), they are still very impressive. This is the view of the "backyard" with a temporary stage, lights and sound equipment being readied for a free concert of the Vienna Philharmonic on the palace grounds Thursday evening (of course, we plan to attend!).

On the grounds of the palace are a public swimming pool, the best zoo in Europe (many students have been and have compared it favorably to the San Diego Zoo), several mazes, a playground, several large fountains and pools, many formal gardens, nature walks through wooded areas, and a massive structure on the hill behind the palace called the Gloriette.

Here is Drew lost in the maze.

And here is the view of the palace, and Vienna beyond, from the Gloriette.

After the walk through the palace grounds, many of us decided to go to a famous old "keller" (cellar) in the center of Vienna, the Twelve Apostles Keller. They serve classic Viennese dishes such as sausages, Wienerschnitzel and others. The atmosphere inside the keller is unbeatable.

The local musicians serenaded the students with "The Eyes of Texas!" I've got video to prove it!

An enjoyable evening to a tiring day!