Vienna take 2

When I tell y’all I missed Europe. I really really MISSED Europe. To be able to have the time (and health laws) to be allowed back overseas just tickled me more than you can imagine. Did Brooke plan for this one? About as much as she usually does. Did it work out? Most definitely. How so? Let’s go through it…

The trip began, perhaps with the most shocking event to date. My flights, allllll of my flights, left on time. Has this ever happened to me? No. Remember this day folks. In fact, let us all write it in our calendars and make it a Holy day of obligation.

Did Jesus stop there with his miracles? He did not. Y’all know how much I’m weirdly aversive to salt?? I was able to pick a low-salt mean option for my in flight meal. How 21st century of me! This really got me going. Customized meal…on a flight that left as scheduled? Who does this girl think she is? **insert emoji with the girl popping her wrist**

Fast forward a zillion flight hours and (of course) no sleep later to the land of Veganista (vegan ice cream joint) and my Austrian half (Victoria)…

It was upon landing from my third successive flight that I was met with my mortal enemy, public transport. Now, this may be where y’all all start thinking, “This is where she goes down. This joyful tone of hers is about to get real dark”. But you would in fact be wrong. This girl has shockingly gained a few skills in public transport taking since her old Aussie days. I’ll just say it right here. I successfully took a train from the airport to Victoria’s place, including a transfer, WITHOUT significant delay or getting lost. If I was in some treetops rn I’d be screaming it, trust me. #growth

Our first destination was so painfully obvious a trip to the grocery store in order to pick up some Mozart balls. These tiny lil balls of joy know no match y’all. Second only to the nostalgia of TimTams, I have been without Mozart balls for far too long. They once truly saved my life. Remember that time I got stuck in Munich without any of my belongings? #Goodtimes that were made better by Mozart balls. I promise you, I didn’t even drop my bags off at Vic’s apartment. I went straight to the grocery store aisle, dragging my luggage behind me, and started shoveling bags of Mozart balls into a cart. Y’all think I’m being dramatic. I assssssure you I am not. I’m now seated comfortably next to my pantry at home which has an entire row stashed with bags of Mozart balls (and stoopwaffels of course). I hope they last a lifetime.

I was so so exhausted from my zillion hour travel time that I considered taking a nap after this. Key words in here being “considered”, bc I swiftly shoved that desire deep down and got ready for a day out in one of my favorite cities. After dropping off the checked-in-bag worth of Mozart balls (+ my other luggage) and washing the airport gunk off of my skin, we headed out to Mariahilferstasse. It is here that my trip began with two back to back vegan gelato shops. Could the day get better you ask? Somehow. Somehow it did. Yes.

Off to Museumsquartier! We went for a stroll around Heldenplatz (Heroes’ Square) which houses the balcony of Hofburg Palace in which Hitler gave a famous speech from back in 1938. Victoria told me that she used to study in this palace on the weekends.

^^If that sentence sounded too casual to you, you’re in good company. My jaw dropped. “You used to study in there? In that PALACEeee?”. It really made club-mid (Middleton library on LSU campus) look like a leftover ball of trash ahha. Could y’all imagine? “hey ladies, y’all want to go read a few chapters in the palace today?”. Some things I just can’t get over and have to harp on for a second. I hope y’all felt the shock that I did and resonated just as much.

On a more serious note and an aspect of why I do what "crazy" things I do, being back in Museumsquartier brought back a floooooood of memories. A few years ago I was in that very spot, on a free walking tour. I had walked through the same hallways and along the same streets. This time the memories of the stories I was told back then were overflowing back into the forefront of my memory. I remembered (so vividly) wanting to be as present as possible on that free walking tour years ago. I had said to myself, “the odds of you ever being back here are so incredibly slim, so make sure to soak up every second you possibly can.” And it was in remembering that moment that I became immediately self aware of how lucky I am in this life.

I’ve been through terrible times, but I’ve also been through joyful and awe inspiring moments. I felt insanely grateful and amazed. Not only at feeling present in this historical place of Vienna once again, but for how I’ve changed as a person during that time in between. How thankful I was for my study abroad program for sparking this. How dedicated I am to making those travel decisions and learning from every trip. How happy I am to have friends such as Victoria to shuttle me around within such places. Most importantly, and I will brag on myself for a moment here, how impressed with myself I truly am to have the confidence in myself to do so. Making choices to do things that none of your comrades are really doing as you watch them hit important life milestones, going against the status quo, and leaving a dream that no longer suits you are HARD and SCARY things to do. I’ve slowly learned how to navigate life in such a way that is able to put me in a place of immense gratitude and made decisions that put my happiness at the forefront. I had at least twenty five thousandddd VERY justifiable reasons not to be here in Vienna a second time. Everyone does. But getting here despite everything, and feeling these moments is indescribable for me. I am where I am supposed to be. I am growing as a human and I am doing things that bring me joy. BIG. ADULT. THINGS. I know. I know.

I've had so many people wonder how it is possible that I travel so much. You just have to get started! You have to make that move. It has to be important to you <3 . Not every trip will be over an ocean. Sometimes only small trips are possible, but you can find wonder and adventure closer to your backyard than you think. Even in America, a days drive can take you to a whole new place full of things you've never seen before. If you've decided that travel is something you want to do, just say yes. Decide where your priorities lie and figure the rest out later. You can travel solo as a chick through Europe. You can do crazy things. You might have to hand-wash your underwear in a sink or sleep in the back of a car in the middle of a snowstorm, but it is ALWAYS worth it. It isn't as unattainable or expensive as you may think initially ;). I'm going to write a blog post soon about what I've learned and hope it inspires others to take that leap, bc it really can change your perspective on this thing we call life.

next posts will be more on Vienna, western Austria, and then my solo trip through Budapest :) stay tuned