shopping, starbucks, shopping again, chinese food, starbucks again, drinks and finally a movie

On Tuesday I had an eventful day out with my sister. We left the house at around 12:45 and spent the entire day on Mariahilferstrasse (the largest shopping street in Vienna). Basically we were trying to kill time before 8:00 P.M. when a thing called "Sneak Preview" - where you go and watch a movie without previously knowing which movie you are watching - was scheduled to start. So after entering and buying something from the third H&M on the street my sister and I decided to take a break and visit the Starbucks located towards the bottom of the seemingly never-ending street. After ordering a caramel macchiato and something unbelievably chocolaty we went over to sit in the window and waste as much time as we possibly could. Of course when two girls are faced with a window, Starbucks coffee and a constant supply of hot and not so hot guys walking past, the first thing that pops into our head to do is to rate those who just happen to walk by.

So half an hour past quite seamlessly and we had seen several 10's as well as quite a few 1's so we decided to proceed with rating outfits instead of looks. Let me tell you, there were many unbelievable fashion atrocities but of course there were many exceedingly exceptional outfits. Once we had finished we went out again for a little more shopping before dinner. After some more carefully planned time wasting, we decided to go out for dinner and we settled on a much loved fast-food Japanese place called Akakiko. We ate until our bellies were full and then scuttled out and onwards towards the cinema. On the way we stopped one last time at another Starbucks for another round of caramel macchiatos and then we finally made it to the cinema.

We were early of course so we decided to have a drink at a bar around the corner before actually entering the cinema. Then finally we finished our drinks and sat ourselves down in a large cinema anticipating what the movie we were about to watch was doing to be. Then as the African music started and we heard people playing rugby, we squealed with excitement as we knew that we were about to watch Invictus which I must say is one of the best movies I have ever seen in my entire life. The day ended with a bang and was truly worth it.

Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face.

Dave Barry once said "skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face" which is exactly how I spent my day on Monday (the knocking down trees with your face part). Although I spent the day falling on my ass because I was snowboarding, I had a lot of fun. I have always felt that part of the entire alpine experience is the awful "Schihütte Music" you hear at lunch and even passing by the huts on the slopes. It's just so bad that it becomes good and you actually end up liking it, at least I do. Then you have the food and beverages that are typical of Austrian ski huts. From Bernerwürstel to Schiwasser to a huge plate of fries to Glüwein (basically warm wine with some cinnamon added), everything you find is both tasty and filling - the perfect combination for some energy before you go out on the slopes again.
So anyway, back to the beginning. We started the day at 6:45 A.M. (god that's early) driving to the train station. Then after a two hour train ride we finally arrived in a tiny little train station in the middle of nowhere, covered with snow. Now I suppose even though we shouldn't have, we lied at the ticket office and said that I was 16 because the ski passes were so much cheaper that way. Then after a few hours of skiing and snowboarding, we stopped for lunch and dinned off of a typical menu - as I have already outlined above- and then set out for another couple of runs down the slopes. Then after a second break - during which I had a Glüwein and there was a mixture of coffees and hot chocolate also present on the table- and a few more runs we went back down to the bottom of the mountain and got on the train to go home. Of course the day then ended with a beer on the train and us recounting the funniest falls of the day.

coffee, chicken nuggets and a pile of work

When you have a bucket load of work to do the smartest thing is to find a place you can work without interruption where there is an ample supply of coffee and maybe some yummy pastries. Now this sounds like a typical coffee house in Vienna somewhere so the last place you would ever expect to find me is McDonalds. However, that is where I happened to find myself today on a Sunday afternoon although this one did in fact have a McCafe which has the aforementioned amenities (Coffee and Pastries).
So there I was, sitting in McDonalds with my little sister: books, pens, a laptop and coffee cups strewn across the table and later on a box of chicken nuggets. Of course, sitting there with my sister, I didn't do any work and instead we spent about two hours chatting and gossiping (as usual).

Now the reason we happened to find ourselves in McDonalds is because my father is part of a group of people who lay out trails at different places in and around Vienna for everyone to follow at a run. So while my father was out running, my sister and I found the only place that was open where we could "work" and instead I decided to people watch.

We chose a table by the window and so I had a perfect view of people coming and going at around 3 in the afternoon on a Sunday. As I sat there I saw a whole host of different people eating, getting coffee, driving by etc. From the couple who entered and got a couple of coffee's and two little chocolate covered chocolate pieces of cake to go, to the - shall I say - large woman and her son who entered and then left with a bag of food; from the two guys seemingly trying to get over a very strong hangover with some food, to the tiny blonde with her yappy little dog who left with a happy meal, I saw them all come and go. All in all I would say I had a pretty interesting day that was well worth it and I hope to repeat it - perhaps in a different situation next time - as I like to see people walk by. Of course I should have been working but I think most would agree with me that my complete waste of time was far more fruitful. Anyway, tomorrow I am off to the slopes and I haven't been snowboarding in two years so it should be fun for people to watch me fall a lot.

From the start it has been the theatre's business to entertain people ... it needs no other passport than fun.

Bertold Brecht, one of the greatest theatre practitioners of all time, once said "From the start it has been the theatre's business to entertain people ... it needs no other passport than fun." I have been involved in theatre for as far back as I can remember and the reason is because I have so much passion for it because it is the most fun I have ever had.

One of the aspects of theatre - without which a performance would not be possible - is lighting. The downside of being obsessed with theatre is of course that I am the only student in my school who is able to understand how to work the new lighting board. In the past few weeks I have lit three different performances and although it is very hard work, I LOVE it!

You see in my school, all the students in Theatre Arts have to do a final performance which they write and direct so I was asked to do the lighting for three different performances. Anyway, I just wanted to say a little something about lighting and show a few pictures from my journeys. Enjoy.

Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.

Steven Wright once said that "Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time." If you ask me that is one of the best quotes I've ever heard in my entire life. It is simple yet true and beautiful in its own right. The sad thing is that with modern inventions of cars, airplanes, bicycles and public transport no-one ever walks anywhere anymore. Now I suppose that isn't entirely true because there is the odd person who rejects the conventions of modern society and instead enjoys walking for no particular reason at all other than to simply walk.

I suppose that is what brought me to walk up and down the entire length of the longest shopping street in Vienna (also known as Mariahilferstrasse), an occurrence I am embarrassed to say I have never experienced before. I suppose like many others I have never really had the chance to do so but I must say it is well worth it.

So there I was, Friday the 5th of February 8:56am looking for a ball gown for the following day, and I just happened to take a wrong turn when leaving the subway station. I ended up walking up towards the top of the street when I meant to walk towards the bottom. I hadn't realized that in Vienna, even on the biggest shopping street, most shops don't open until at least 9:30 and so I decided to continue on my journey partially in order to waste time but also just to see what was actually at the top. What I found was a typical scene of cars rushing past and buildings all around but in the distance I spotted a pretty little church called the "Maria vom Siege" Church, tucked in between two typically Austrian buildings with its own little courtyard. For some reason it made me smile and I felt that my journey had been worthwhile.

Then as I began my decent back down the street towards the famous "Peek and Cloppenburg" in order to find a dress (last minute of course), I happened upon a dress shop called "Joppich" which look perfectly well stocked and definitely less expensive than Peek and Cloppenburg where I would expect to pay over 200 Euros for a decent dress. Imagine my luck when I look over and right there on the rack is the most amazing dress I have ever seen staring me right in the face. It was the last one left and it was my size, the only question now was would it actually fit me because you never know. Clearly someone in charge likes me because the dress fit and it only cost 99 Euros which is much less than I expected to pay.

So my work was done. I had found a dress, I already had shoes, a bag, a necklace and earrings to match and so I decided to walk all the way down the street to Museums Quatier. On the way I saw a charming bicycle which I half intended to steal (although not really, it was just a fleeting thought) of which there is a picture below.

If I hadn't walked all the way to the top of Mariahilferstrasse, then I never would have found that amazing dress and I wouldn't have finally seen the top of the street and I also wouldn't have seen that awesome pink bicycle. Basically, I just wanted to say that good things can come from walking and people should definitely do it more often.