New city, new adventure…

It is quite a cool feeling to wake up in the morning, and spend a few seconds to figure out which city you are in exactly. Feels like quite a luxury actually that I am thankful for. Being able to travel is a total privilege. So today I woke up in Vienna… Here the city is called Wien (pronounced Veen).

Yesterday, was able to get myself to Paris Orly airport and checked in without any troubles. The flight was an hour delayed though which meant I was to arrive in Vienna at 11:30pm and cutting it pretty close to the last City Airport Train (CAT) leaving for the city. To have to take a taxi in would have been really expensive. Although it was quite an adventure, I actually got from door to door relatively painlessly.  I definitely had luck on my side:

- After landing at the airport, my luggage came out right away!
- I barely made the last CAT train at 12:05am. Being in Berlin made me feel comfortable with the system of buying tickets and such which really helped save time.
- While on the CAT, a French man who lives in Vienna now then helped me figure out the next step of which direction to go on the UBahn (metro) using a map I found and together we ran down several escalators and down long hallways to get to the U3 line and caught the last train for the night
- In my Eastern Europe guidebook, they happen to include Vienna, calling it a gateway city to the East, and included a map. The place where I am staying is on a street that is apparently a main one and so was on the map.
- As soon as I got out of the metro station, I literally had to walk a few metres to find the right street
- I rang the buzzer of the building to wake up John who I am staying with… but no answer
- Even though it is near 1:00am now, the street is still lively with people talking and drinking. I ask to use the phone at a wine bar across John’s apartment and a woman offers her “handy” (cell/mobile phone).
- I wake up John and he buzzes me up and tells me which stairs to climb and which hallway to go down
- I get a bit mixed up as I can´t see anything – am afraid to turn the lights on as they are located close to the doorbell of people´s apartments and it is not obvious which is which. Don’t want to rudely awaken anyone at this hour
- I end up in the garbage room… But then finally find a light, and see the elevator I am looking for
- And voila… I am home in Vienna.

John lives in the 7th district near the Museum Quartier. On the main street near his house there are all the ammenities I would need: bank, grocery, pharmacy, bookstore, bakery…. and three H&M stores. I am not a big H&M fan anymore as on this trip, I have seen three people wearing the same dress I have and a couple with the same shirt. Doesn’t feel quite right somehow…

It is extremely hot here. I am off to find something to eat. Rumbling tummy!