Well, my dear readers, it appears that my journey through Vienna and Austria has nearly come to a close, and I must think of some poignant final thoughts to leave you with.

The first thing that comes to mind is that in two days I will be jobless and homeless, but besides that minor inconvenience, I am trying to reflect a bit on what I will miss most about this city that I have come to know and love.

I realize now that Vienna is quite unique in how half of the city seems to be stuck in the 17th and 18th centuries while the other half of it is a modern 21st century.  Remnants of an age with horse-drawn carriages and overcoats are still visible in the vibrant coffeehouse culture that survives to this day, where even today to-be-Freuds of our own millennium meet and discuss.

Yet, as a young person, Vienna also offers everything that has come to be expected from a 21st century world-class city—arts and culture, nightlife, shopping, dining, transportation, and nature. From the gorgeous renovated buildings throughout the old city now used for modern shops, to the numerous palaces and their gardens, the Viennese are spoiled with the abundance of architectural aesthetics and green spaces this city offers. To walk through Belvedere and see modern art sculptures or to drink wine overlooking vineyards and the Danube—the old and the new, the city and the country—all of it is within reach.

To live the past while also living the present—this is the ultimate experience Vienna has to offer.

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I love it when I see intrepid young travelers carrying a Let's Go guide (the most recent edition, as well) and dutifully reading it as they walk. I was about to go start a conversation when, suddenly, they walked into McDonalds...

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This weekend, Vienna's contemporary dance festival, ImpulsTanz, began with an outdoor performance in the courtyard of the Museumsquartier. In its 27th year, ImpulsTanz is an annual city-wide dance festival that runs for about a month with shows, lectures, and workshops. The shows (performed by local and international groups) run every day at about eight venues throughout the entire city. (For you theater folk—it's like the Edinburgh Fringe, but for dance.)

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The 19th district of Vienna is known for vineyards, vineyards, more vineyards, oh yeah, and most importantly of course, the wine that comes from the vineyards. 

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