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Published: July 21st 2010
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tram
back to neuwaldegg So today was the day I had been anticipating for about 11 years now. The return to all the places in Vienna where I had spent so much time as a kid. Started off by making the long trek out to the American International School where I spent 5th and 6th grade. I forgot how far out from the city centre this place was. They were doing renovations at the time but they did not seem to mind too much that some stranger was walking through the place. I quietly wandered through the building for a while checking out some old classrooms, the cafteria, gym, playing fields, etc. It looked just like I remembered it.
Next was the old apartment building which I found with ease. Just took the same walk from the bus stop that I made everyday after school. Everything looked the same, just like AIS. The old wall where Josh and I used to play soccer, the trail behind the building, the ping pong table in the rec room. Not much seems to have changed in these eleven years. I was hoping to get into the building but no one was around to let me in. Bit
AIS
my old school, AIS of a bummer. The only real difference I saw in the neighborhood was that the horrible horrible Chinese restaurant at the bottom of the hill was closed. The only questions is whether is was closed for health violations or simply because no one went there.
I figured I still remembered how to get to my old friend Ians place from there so that's exactly what I did. Was just as easy as I remembered. Checked out the courtyard behind his apartment where we used to play soccer and mess around as kids. As fun as it was it would have been nice to have Josh or an old friend around for the day.
Enjoyed the same ride I had done countless times as a kid when I took the 43 tram the entire length of the route down to Schottentor on the edge of the city centre. Walked down towards Stephensplatz and was pleasantly surprised at how much I remembered. Decided to quickly head over to the Danube Isle as I heard it had been built up a bit recently but was not too shocked to see that not too much had been added. Just a few bars
prom
the street we lived on and cafes along the waterfront. It was nice to get a good view of my Dad's old work area out at the Vienna International Center though. I am not really sure why I expected things to be different when I arrived here. I am pretty sure Vienna, and the people here as well, haven't really changed too much in the last century, much less the last eleven years.
Made my way back downtown and wandered through the city streets for a while just soaking in the sights and thinking of life back then. Had been a great two years. The city is so safe that it's really not too dangerous to let your kid go out and play in all corners of the city with their friends by themselves. However, I am not sure why anyone would want to live here for long when they are older ha. Sure, it's a beautiful former imperial city but its kind of bland and the people aren't really the friendliest or most engaging. Plus, the food kind of sucks. Took the walk up the stairs of the south tower of Stephensplatz to get a view of the city and see what else
apt
old apartment complex looked familiar. Saw the old incineration plant designed by the kinda out there Austrian architect and a few other things of note.
Met up with my host Natalia downtown and went over to a bar on the Danube for a couple of beers. Weather was perfect and it was nice to have a relaxing evening chatting with her about all types of things. After a long day all over the city I was pretty beat and she needed to get up early for work so we headed back. Quite a successful day in Vienna but there is still more that I would like to see to evoke some memories of old times. We'll see how it goes.
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