Baby, it's cold outside

This morning I loaded up Grooveshark (some old-school Rhythm and Blues) and properly unpacked all my things before heading out into the cold (about -10°C) to register at my local Municipal District Office, Karmelitergasse 9. A walk across the street took me to Erste Bank where I intended to set up an Austrian account. The girls at the reception told me I’d have to come back tomorrow – although they did take me to say hello to the person I’d be seeing - so I booked an appointment and went back to Molkereistraße.

Back at my apartment, I chucked my camera in my bag and got the U-Bahn to Karlsplatz to see the Art Nouveau (or ‘Jugendstil’) Pavilions designed by Otto Wagner in 1899. The pavilions were formerly used as a Stadtbahn Station before the construction of the U-Bahn in 1981. Fortunately a public outcry halted their planned demolition and the pavilions were converted for the U-Bahn. I took a stroll through Resselpark and arrived at Karlskirche (St. Charles’ Church, completed in 1737). Initially I was shocked that such a building was adorned by an insensitive array of portakabins placed around the pond to its front. On closer inspection, I realised each had been adapted into an art installation.

From Karlsplatz I made my way to the Belvedere, a complex housing the Belvedere Museum, which consists of two Baroque palaces (Upper and Lower). Completed in the early 18^th century, the Belvedere was commissioned as a summer residence for Prince Eugen of Savoy, with reward money for his victories during the Spanish Succession. The Upper Belvedere façade especially, was a fantastic example of Baroque style and, I expect, is made even more impressive by the ornate parterres leading down to the Lower palace. The gardens, however, were blanketed by thick snow, and the bitter weather soon forced me to retreat home. On my journey back to Karlsplatz I bumped into a small group of compatriots who were travelling Europe. On hearing that I was here to study, one of the girls asked if it would be at the university nearby - a building with which she had evidently fallen in love! Admittedly I didn’t know, as there are two universities in Vienna, but back at my apartment I was pleased to note that it is.

It feels slightly bizarre living at my apartment still not having met my flatmates. I expect they should soon arrive (they have food in the fridge) but I’m curious to meet them; what nationality, what they study etc. One good sign so far is the alcohol in the fridge!