Blogs from Vienna, Austria, Europe - page 105

Our flight was scheduled to leave O'hare at 2:33pm on the 6th but because of snow, (and some stupidity on United's part) we did not take off untill after 7:30pm. Because we took off over 5 hours late, we missed our connecting flight in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a little bit of a worry but it worked out well and we got on another small plane to Vienna less than an hour later. Once we arrived in Vienna, we were greeted by our "Buddies" who are a couple of local guys assigned to help us transition us to life in Austria. Gabriel and Matthias are awesome and have helped us with so much. Yesterday they helped a couple of us set up a bank account and get a cell phone. After we were finished with some ... read more

PROLOGUE Surprise! I am not really writing this entry on Feb 7th. I bet I fooled you all. Instead it is the middle of March, and I realized how truely fast time is going and I really need a way to remember all that has happened since I have been here. This will help comfort me every time I think to myself, where has all my time and money gone? Instead of drawing a blank, I can just log on to the handy-dandy internet and all my problems will be solved! That being said, I will move on from this disclaimer and pretend that I have just arrived in Vienna, wide-eyed and bushy tailed, eager American in a brand new city for the first time. * * * * * * * I am incredibly jet-lagged. ... read more

Day 17 Friday 2nd February 2007 “Bags to coach and departure” early this morning as we made our way through Italy to Austria. Stopped at the bottom of the Dolomites for lunch. These are limestone Italian Alps that spread across Trentino-Alto Adige and into the Veneto. This spectacular Alpine region is a favourite for skiing in winter and bushwalking in the summer. We were soon in Austria, famous for their apple strudel, schnitzel, Mozart, Strauss, Arnold Schwartzeneger and Schnapps. Again time for another history lesson. The founding family was the Habsburgs. One of its greatest rulers was Maria Therese, mother of 16 children, including Marie Antoinette. Frederick the Fearless was responsible for the national flag, 2 stripes of red with a white stripe in between. Frederick the Fearless won many battles. He was often seen with ... read more

So the first day of my first round the world trip for 2007. Will be in Vienna for a few days at my office here doing 2006 performance reviews for my direct reports and attending an International Scientific Workshop we are sponsoring for Tick Borne Encephalitis (a disease we manufacture a vaccine against). Although my itinerary may change as my trip progresses, I plan on leaving Vienna for Delhi, India to meet with the Austrian and German Embassies. Will have a Weekend day (Sunday) in Delhi and will try and see a few of the sights in the city. Hopefully no major earthquake in the region like last round the world trip! From Delhi will be taking the long, long flight to Sydney Australia (via Singapore) which I will use as a "home base" for a ... read more

well i am in austria. the place is beautiful but i believe i am a little worn down so i am more than happy staying in the internet cafe and writing to you all. so far i have seen london, paris, lyon, barcelona, the french riviera, verona, rome, austria and more. haha i am having the time of my life. the whole entrie bus is sick pretty much except for a few other lucky people. i am sick and dying but i am forging through. i am having a little bit of homesickness but i guess i will make it. the group is fantastic and we are all getting along. venice was amazing. i got to go on a gondola ride and drink a bottle of wine and just enjoy the scenery. it was awesome. paris- ... read more