'Twas Waltz Time in Vienna

 On a complete whim I decided to attend the TU Ball with my lovely friends Robyn and Sandrine. Sandrine asked me to go on Tuesday. I thought it over, and had new shoes and a ticket in hand a day later.



Robyn and Sandrine looking stunning in red


The ticket transaction was rather funny...though I'm not sure who was laughing who.
I was a bit lost and walking around the TU campus near Karlsplatz, and got loads of looks while walking through the main buildings. They just knew I didn't belong.
After finding the right building, which was actually in the park, I walked in and pretended to know what I was doing.
"Hello, I would like to buy a ticket for the ball." Auf Deutsch. "Erasmus?" "Uhh, no" I was searching for my Ithaca ID "American?" "Yes." "IES?" This is the institute where I studied abroad, and I noticed that the ticket woman had her pen poised to place my name next on the list of IES students in attendence. Puzzled (should I say Fulbright?), I said yes and gave her my ID. The other woman giggled a bit, and my name was placed on said list. I received my ticket ten euros cheaper than the regular student discount. Bazzinga. They laughed again as I walked out, and more as I pulled instead or pushed the door open. I laughed right back.

We got ready at my apartment while sipping wine and listening to music. It felt like some Austrian remix of Prom, as no one was quite sure what to do with their hair, how to walk in their shoes, or generally what to do with themselves. Oh wait, that was just me.

We emerged from the taxi and took pictures in front of the Hofburg before beginning our royal evening.

We watched, or rather our cameras watched, the opening ceremony and dances, and we sipped more wine in one of the grand rooms. The evening passed as we walked through the palace and admired its grandeur. Everything was quite surreal.

We waltzed in the main room, salsed on the Latin floor, and watched the traditional dances of dirndl clad ball goers.

I danced in both quadrilles, one at midnight and one at two, and laughed the entire time. You see, while I understood the directions, I find it rather hard to actually dance them. Especially when you're shoulder to shoulder and tripping over ball gowns. My partners had a laugh as well, and everyone around us seemed quite confused. After the ceremonious turns, hand holding, and bowing-basically anything you've seen in a movie involving a royal court, or some sort of Shakespearean dance scene- we were swept up by a galloping frenzy in which you run underneath the arms of other couples. Next came the Viennese Waltz.
To the famous Strauss piece, you know, that one about the beautiful blue Danube. Oh, what a night. Whirling around with Strauss floating in the air was such a beautiful, surreal experience.



Let the Quadrille begin! *I'm bottom right



Unfortunately after my second round of waltzing with Sebastian (who looked young enough to be one of my students, and was oh so cute) I was hit with a wave of dizziness and nausea. Talk about spinning. I thanked him for the dance, and we eventually made our way outside to the taxis.



My dance partner

 After arriving home at around 3:30am (pretty early for Viennese standards, as many people stay until past 4) the girls figured out the night bus system and we slowly morphed into tired, post ball mode. I was in bed until well past 3:00pm on Friday.

What a wonderful night!!


Friday evening I went to the Musikverein with Sergio and his two friends for a cello concert. This was absolutely gorgeous, and the perfect, relaxing, zennful night out post ball.