Day 14: Make it suspenseful

The morning started quite early for most of us. A majority of the group is visiting Amsterdam or Prauge over the weekend, and leaving in the afternoon. Consequently, the rest of us are handling their luggage while they are gone. This prompted some chaos trying to account for everyone's bags before our 8:20 bus time.

Following breakfast, we drove to the University to give our presentations. All of us did very well, but unfortunately, none of our videos would work in the lecture hall we were in. Following the six groups' 20 minute sessions we headed to the restaurant for a fancy farewell feast. Professor F offered us a toast of champagne before a delicious broccoli chicken bake was served. We also got an interesting classic Slovakian dessert made of poppy seeds and raspberries. It was a great way to say goodbye to the University.

We then took the girls to the train station to see them off to Prauge before returning to the hotel. I charged up my electronics before those of us staying in Vienna headed to the local megamall for some shopping. We walked around for a few hours and failed to find an appealing Slovakian jersey that was relatively cheap. The mall was remarkably similar to Summerset, perhaps with a Great Lakes Crossing modernness to it. They even had sales gimmicks, like a man dressed as a turtle, he was friendly, but we were less than interested in the purses his store was selling.

When we left the mall we headed to the city, but took the senic route but walking along the river. The place was unbelievably similar to the DC Foggy Bottom/Georgetown waterfront where I run in the Summer. It was gorgeous, except for a distant fire, which didn't look so pleasant.

Just like DC...less expensive though

The fire

Exercise machines along the river side. Indecently, also the speeder bikes from Episode VI.

We left the riverside and headed into the city, continuing our search for a good Slovakian Coat of Arms souvenir, but everything remained more expensive than we wanted it to be. We ended up at a cafe that Leslie, our program director recommended, which ended up being very good. Steve even tried to feed a stray cat some schnitzel, but it wasn't interested.

We caught the train home for 50 cents, but because Steve was buying a coffee as it was coming, Robbie decided to wait for Steve to jump on the train. Unbeknownst to Robbie, Steve jumped on the train as the doors closed, leaving Robbie to wait 15-20 minutes for the next train.

The view of the city as the sunsets while we wait for Robbie. Way to go, Steve.

Once we found Robbie at our stop by the hotel, we headed back to the hotel to play cards. I fell asleep immediately, not feeling very well, but excited to embrace Vienna in the morning.