Adventure-A-Day April – Excerpt Eighteen

*The Adventure Continues*

June 25th 2012
DAY EIGHTEEN!!

Today was an exploration day around Vienna. FREE TIME!

In the morning we had a city tour, held by Cindy, our tour manager. The day was so miserable to start with. I had to buy an umbrella just to cover my DSLR so it didn’t get wet. Even then, it was too difficult to shoot with a DSLR and hold an umbrella, that I swapped to my point and shoot camera, because I could do that one handed. Even though it was raining, I still got some nice shots of the architecture.

After the group split, I went off and explored the beautiful gardens of Vienna. Look who I found!

Might have also done a spot of shopping while on the phone to the parents! I also bought some clothes, shoes and bright coloured items for our tight, white and bright party in a few nights time! (Apologies for the photos, I just took them to show you! 🙂 Italian Leather in Vienna, Austria. 😛 Whoops)

I almost missed the bus back to the hostel but made it just in time. Everyone watched me jump on the bus and was like “wow, so much shopping!”. After throwing everything in my room, we re-boarded the coach and made way to a schnapps factory! This was going to be awesome! Everyone was pretty sick by that stage and what was suggested was a shot of “rocket fuel”. It’s a chilli based schnapps, which burns and clears your sinuses. Worked a treat! Once we travelled through the small factory, it was time to taste test. 3 small samples were allowed but I think everyone just kept going back for more. They were pretty cheap, I paid 45 euros for 2 crème liqueurs (Choc Banana and Strawberries & Cream) and a bottle of “rocket fuel”.

Fast forward after many shots and we were on our way to Schönbrunn Palace. Just wow! Hectares and hectares of gardens and mazes and they even have a zoo! It has over 1440 rooms! That’s one room a night for 3.9 years! 😉 I walked around the gardens for about an hour and just took in the sights. The gardens directly behind the palace are symmetrical; so totally awesome! I snapped and snapped away but I have cut it down for you, so you’re not stuck here for 3.9 years. 😉

From the palace we drove into the country side and Matt (our coach driver) stopped and told the bus that we were lost. I didn’t want to believe him; of course he would know where he was going. We ate average schnitzels, drank beer and wine steins, yelled PROST (cheers in German) and watched some corny entertainment with a priest and girls drinking shots from boys laps. 😉 The night ended in us taking over the dance floor and busting out some moves in front of another group. Even though the dinner itself wasn’t great; the company was so pleasurable.

It was another early night for me as I was already feeling icky from the drinking. Tomorrow, we were off to Praha! 😉

C. x