PixiePrincess310
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2012
Day 8 High Society
This morning you take the buss around the corner to the Spanish Riding School, home of the Lipizzaners. Wow. This is exactly what you've seen in all of the movies, etc. The tour and information is very interesting. This is probably the most in-depth tour of the entire trip. You will visit the stables (restricted to special guests), see the tack room and meet a Master Rider (the highest rank possible.) If there is a show that day, you may be able to purchase tickets which sell for 75 Euros each for seats or 25 Euros for standing. The show is at least an hour long.
After the riding school you will take a short walk (I can't even remember where) and then you're on your own for a bit. This is a great opportunity - and your LAST to do any shopping. We saw quite a few people walking on the street (and particularly on holidays) wearing traditional clothing. There are many shops where you can purchase these for both adults and children but again, they are not cheap but the quality is good. Also, don't forget holiday decorations and CHOCOLATE!
After lunch you will be picked up to go to Waltzing lessons. The formal ball circuit is a big deal in Vienna and you will see flyers and posters everywhere for different charity balls during the season. High school students here take formal dance lessons after classes the way we have band, cheer and football practices. You will attend classes at one of the oldest schools in Vienna and the grandson of the originator welcomes you and runs the practice. In attendance are 6-8 of his young students who take you through the steps and dance with anyone needing a partner. By the end of the lesson, we were all waltzing or quadrilling away. If you have a little JA who likes to dress up, this is the opportunity for her/him to wear her/his new Austrian outfit or a princess dress that she may have brought from home (as 2 or 3 little girls in our group did!)
That evening you will visit a very special restaurant for the farewell dinner. Words cannot describe how eclectic and interesting this restaurant and its owner are. You will be mesmerized the entire evening. Once again, tears came to my eyes as each adventurer shared what was the most memorable moment of the trip for him or her. So many mentioned Steph and Dean as well as the other great members of our group (smaller - only about 23 guests.) Your adventure guides have worked hard during the trip to take hundreds of photos, several of which they present in a slideshow this evening. Wow, did we do all of that in a week. Now is also when a contact list is passed around (in case you want to share your info with the others in the group). Copies are distributed upon leaving in the morning. You will also be given a card on which your trip code is listed. You can use the code to access and download all of the photos that your Adventure Guides took during the trip. I really felt like I wouldn't have had to take any photos, Dean and Steph did such an awesome job. Additionally, your airport transfer and flight information is attached so you know exactly when to be ready the next day.
I'll include a few other thoughts on the trip in my next update - which will be soon.
This morning you take the buss around the corner to the Spanish Riding School, home of the Lipizzaners. Wow. This is exactly what you've seen in all of the movies, etc. The tour and information is very interesting. This is probably the most in-depth tour of the entire trip. You will visit the stables (restricted to special guests), see the tack room and meet a Master Rider (the highest rank possible.) If there is a show that day, you may be able to purchase tickets which sell for 75 Euros each for seats or 25 Euros for standing. The show is at least an hour long.
After the riding school you will take a short walk (I can't even remember where) and then you're on your own for a bit. This is a great opportunity - and your LAST to do any shopping. We saw quite a few people walking on the street (and particularly on holidays) wearing traditional clothing. There are many shops where you can purchase these for both adults and children but again, they are not cheap but the quality is good. Also, don't forget holiday decorations and CHOCOLATE!
After lunch you will be picked up to go to Waltzing lessons. The formal ball circuit is a big deal in Vienna and you will see flyers and posters everywhere for different charity balls during the season. High school students here take formal dance lessons after classes the way we have band, cheer and football practices. You will attend classes at one of the oldest schools in Vienna and the grandson of the originator welcomes you and runs the practice. In attendance are 6-8 of his young students who take you through the steps and dance with anyone needing a partner. By the end of the lesson, we were all waltzing or quadrilling away. If you have a little JA who likes to dress up, this is the opportunity for her/him to wear her/his new Austrian outfit or a princess dress that she may have brought from home (as 2 or 3 little girls in our group did!)
That evening you will visit a very special restaurant for the farewell dinner. Words cannot describe how eclectic and interesting this restaurant and its owner are. You will be mesmerized the entire evening. Once again, tears came to my eyes as each adventurer shared what was the most memorable moment of the trip for him or her. So many mentioned Steph and Dean as well as the other great members of our group (smaller - only about 23 guests.) Your adventure guides have worked hard during the trip to take hundreds of photos, several of which they present in a slideshow this evening. Wow, did we do all of that in a week. Now is also when a contact list is passed around (in case you want to share your info with the others in the group). Copies are distributed upon leaving in the morning. You will also be given a card on which your trip code is listed. You can use the code to access and download all of the photos that your Adventure Guides took during the trip. I really felt like I wouldn't have had to take any photos, Dean and Steph did such an awesome job. Additionally, your airport transfer and flight information is attached so you know exactly when to be ready the next day.
I'll include a few other thoughts on the trip in my next update - which will be soon.
It's research and quality control, right? Did anyone happen to mention concerns like Cevsky, etc?
