Hello All,
In this entry I write on behalf of myself as well as my parents, because they are here!!! We’re making sure to update you periodically because if I waited until after they left, none of you would read this post because it would be so long. We are currently sitting on the train to Salzburg for our four-day excursion and digesting the last few days together.
On Friday, after my rehearsal I made my way to the Westbahnhof train station where my parents were being dropped off from their bus from the airport. We were of course thrilled to see each other and there were lots of hugs and, surprisingly, no tears. From there we found my parents hotel for them to drop off their bags and wash up a bit., before going out to get dinner. We ended up finding a really cute traditional Austrian restaurant where I introduced my mom to Wienersnitzel, which she loved. My dad had scalloped veal, which he was also very fond of. After dinner, we got Gelato and walked around the Stadtpark, which is kind of like Vienna’s central park and was right across the street from my parent’s hotel.
After that, I took my parents to my apt. where they met my roommates and dropped off a couple of their bags. They didn’t stay long because everyone was pretty tired, so they headed back to their hotel and everyone promptly fell asleep.
On Saturday, I met my mom and dad at their hotel (they were staying there for one night because my roommates had not left for their trips yet) From there we walked downtown and I introduced my parents to the Naschmarkt and Flomarkt. They loved all of the fresh produce and Viennese junk (the Fleemarket is basically a giant garage sale). Then we walked to the Burggarten outside of the Hofburg Palace and had a picnic lunch on the grass. The weather has been so beautiful. I’ll let my parents follow me around anywhere as long as they bring this kind of warmth and sunshine along… but then they always do because they are my parents. Yak yak yak yak yak.
Because I owed them so big for bringing the good weather to Vienna and, you know, raising me and stuff… I then had an opportunity to prove my love to them, especially my mother. Allow me to explain. After our picnic we went back to my parent’s hotel to pick up their bags and move into my apt. for the week. After getting on the Strassenbahn (street car) to go to my apt. my mom realized that she did not have her purse! Upon this realization, I remembered seeing her purse sitting next to her on the bench of the buss stop. Upon reaching our next stop, I proceeded to jump off of the bus, and do the 500 yard dash in record time back one stop, all the while huffing “please still be there, please still be there, please still be there.” My mother was puffing the same words while running behind me, and my dad was bringing up the rear, both with suitcases rolling behind them. And much to my asthmatic lungs delight, I found the purse still sitting on the bench. (Keep in mind, Vienna is known for its gypsies… our angels were certainly watching over us) So that was our major adventure and my major work out for the entirety of my stay in Vienna. We were all a bit worn out after that, so after we ate dinner (that I proudly cooked) we went to bed.
Sunday was really exciting. We went to Mass at St. Stephens Cathedral in the inner city for Palm Sunday and it was with the Cardinal! After a procession around the church, we gathered inside the tremendous landmark of Vienna. One of the most moving aspects of the service was the music. I know that my family and I are biased, but I know I will remember this for years to come. The entire passion was sung acapella, primarily with three voices as the narrator, voice and Christ with the 30-person choir singing the responses of the crowd. The combination brought each of us to tears at different times.
That afternoon, I took my parents to the café across the street from my apt to show them where I regularly skype (video chat) with them and Aaron. I stayed for about an hour and talked to Aaron, while they walked across the street to the Easter market that is hosted by the church near my apt. during the Lenten season. They have vendors with handmade crafts, toys, baked goods, scarves and bags.
Then that night, I got to take my parents to the Opera and it was nothing short of incredible. What I thought would be another night at the Vienna Staatsoper proved to be my most memorable concert going experience. We went to see Donzetti’s L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love). What we didn’t realize was that Juan Diego Florez- a pretty big name in opera- was singing the role of the lead Tenor. At the end of his act two aria, the audience applauded for so long that they demanded an in-performance encore of the piece. But it wasn’t just his performance that was wonderful; the entire cast was stunning. I suspect that it was a young production, because the cast chemistry was just awesome. It is a comedic opera and it was so clear that they were all having so much fun together. I told my parents that they got to see something that doesn’t happen everyday at the Vienna Staatsoper and I’m so glad that their visit allowed me to witness it as well.
So now we are on our way to Salzburg, where we will stay for 4 days, 3 nights, with a visit to Innsbruck for one day. I’ll be sure to write again once we get back. We all send our love.
Love,
Caitlin (Mom and Dad)
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