Going to Graz

Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Today was a long day of class. Learned lots but its hard to sit when you want to explore the beautiful country you are in.
Later on after class we were taught a new kind of walking, Nordic Walking, apparently its huge out here and it burns 40% more calories (if done right) than just regular walking. What you have is two ski poles with rubber stoppers on them and you move them when you step, you also use them to pull you up hills. We had a great walk through the town.



out Nordic Walking

 Thursday, May 24, 2012
Today was another long day of class, we had early lecture so they served a traditinal Austrian breakfast to us which was pretty neat, an assortment of breads and slices of ham and chese, we also had these yummy chocolate bites.

We had the afternoon off so I took the time to do laundry and grocery shop for the weekend.

Friday, May 25, 2012
We started off our day at the little train station that really reminds you of a bus stop its so tiny
After our long train ride we literally jumped from one train and hustled to the next train which took us to Feldbach. Then we went to the train that took us to Graz. We walked from the train station to our hostel. We dropped our luggage and went to a kebap stand.



a small group of us with the train station and train in the background

this is a kebap and traditional Austrian ginger ale (YUM!!!)

 We then went on a walking tour of Graz. Graz is an amazing city, its full of history and culture and the people are surrounded by it. I know we looked like crazy tourists just snapping away with our cameras but the beauty of the city was not lost on us.

Graz's city hall...its a newer building...you know only from early 1900

We went up to the clock tower and had the most magnificent view!

 After our walking tour we went to this pretty old restaurant which was very very pricy (dinner was €18!) but it was sooo yummy and the atmosphere of eating in this old cobblestone alley under a pergola of grapevines was so worth it!

dinner under a grapevined pergola

chicken with pommes and white asparagus...YUM!

After dinner we walked back to this bridge that had a club under it next to the water. The club was hopping and the line went halfway around the bridge.

When we first walked on this bridge we all noticed that the fence around the bridge is covered in padlocks. Our professor explained that young lovers or newly married people put a padlock on the bridge to lock in thier love. Since they were not with me but I wanted to ensure their love was locked in I put a lock on the bridge for Shannon and E...love you guys.

the whole bridge is covered in these padlocks

later on after the tour I went back and added a lock for Shannon and E, that would be the tiny gold lock

We climbed up to the clock tower which is a central point and landmark in Graz, wow its an amazing view. It so hard to not look like a tourist while your mouth is hanging open at the beauty and history surrounding you.

The clock tower and the view



 Thats enough for now...more later...we are going hiking tomorrow...