Christkindllangos

Tonight is my last night in Vienna, and early tomorrow morning I head out to spend most of a day in transit, flying (and driving) home. My suitcases are packed, well-balanced to fit within the weight limits. I diligently spent parts of today downloading Falco music, preparing my carry-on luggage, showering and shaving, and wandering around the city. Striking out from the 18th district, I headed towards the Ringstraße, passing the Votivkirche, the world's most-perfect neo-Gothic cathedral, and making my way into the Rathausplatz. The Christkindlmarkt there was definitely overrun by people speaking all manner of languages, more foreign than German. After pushing my way through the crowd I bought a Langos, this being my second run-in with the deep fried item. It is a Hungarian food and tradition that leaked into Vienna; flat, potato-based bread fried and covered with garlic oil. I considered it a sort of goodbye present to Vienna by giving two-and-a-half euros for the carnival food before I headed back to my suitcases.

18. Bezirk ist Wien

This Sunday I visited my family in the 18th district for Jause, a meal occurring in between others, although for me it counted as lunch. Aaron came as well and as we left and made our way to the U-bahn Station (U6 Michelbeuern), he remarked to me that this district feels a lot more like Vienna to him. And it certainly does to me, as well. Besides the large amount of time I spent there last summer, it was the first place we stayed during this long, adventurous semester, as well as the first place we came when returning to Vienna after our time in Scotland. Something about the way the buildings are close together, but not so close as to feel suffocating; something about the one-way streets and small businesses on the corners; something about the proximity to the city's center: whatever the reason, the 18th district is, to me, the Vienna I know and the Vienna I love. Compared to the hour long journey to my current residence in the 23rd district, the distance between the 18th and the center of my academic and shopping lives in Austria is considerably less. I think after I return home from the program, even after the time I've spent in various other sectors of the capital city, even after seeing all the great and magnificent buildings that comprise the Ringstraße and the other areas, the 18th district will be how I remember Vienna.