The Sound of Music and More…

Before I begin this blog, I just want to set the scene for where I am writing.

I was on my way to a brunch place in order to write a blog but also take myself out on a little date, when I came across the cutest cafe right in the first district. I didn’t even check the menu, I immediately took the last table that was available outside.

My goal for this morning was to find a calm terrace where I could freely write and sip on a nice cappuccino. My wish was completely fulfilled. Cro opened just a few weeks ago, and the best part? Most of the clientele are speaking Ukrainian, and my waitress is also Ukrainian! So I will definitely be coming back.

Besides finding cute cafes all over Vienna, I have also had the pleasure of having family visit me AGAIN over the past few weeks.

At the end of June, my sister Dasha, her two sons Philip and Leva, and my dad all flew to Vienna to enjoy a nice family vacation. Obviously, not everyone from the family was here, but, we decided, after many hilariously stressful moments, that it was probably better that way!

We definitely went through many situations that would not be handled lightly by a non-Gorodnicha. Let me start from the beginning!

My sister arrived first with her boys, and I took my tourist role up and showed them all over Vienna. We did the butterfly museum, the secret passages in the 1st district, and even put the boys to sleep for their afternoon nap in a hammock!

Our first days were very eventful and sunny. But the party only started when the final member arrived. The one and only: Andriy (my dad). We picked him up at the airport, and quickly went home to get some much needed sleep. The next day was quite entertaining, as we want to an event called “Picnic in Prater”, where the symphonic orchestra was going to give a free concert.

Right when they were setting up, it started pouring rain! We were getting soaked, but didn’t want to give up hope. They basically told everyone to leave, because the chances were so small that they would start playing. But then the unthinkable happened! I saw a small ray of sun peaking out from the clouds, and slowly, the rain came to a halt. The crowd cheered! We were chanting, encouraging the musicians to come back on stage. And it worked! Within several minutes, we were front stage enjoying a lovely classical music concert.

The next morning, we needed all our energy to take the train to….Salzburg! For those of you who don’t know, Salzburg is one of the most beautiful mountainous cities in Austria. Not only is it surrounded by a landscape of hills and lakes, but it has such a lovely old town, full of churches and antique taverns. And, for those of you who are fans of the well-known movie “Sound of Music”, it was filmed here! We spent our time walking around with our eyes always gazing up.

We visited the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which gives the best view of the whole city. We also went to the oldest tavern for lunch one day, which is known for its fried chicken. We really enjoyed the fresh air and calm atmosphere of Salzburg. But our journey didn’t end there.

My wonderful sister decided the Austrian trip wouldn’t be complete without a stop in a small village, to really get the full experience. We booked a couple rooms in a bed and breakfast in the small town of Niedernsill, which is a few kilometres from Zell am See. Niedernsill has a population of under 3000, and has wild animals all over. It also has a beautiful lake in the center, that has built in slack lines and hammocks, which makes the experience that much better.

We stayed 3 nights in this quaint village, with a small day trip to Zell Am See. I don’t even have the words to describe this town. Zell means a monk’s cell in a monastery, and was founded in the 8th century, but only entered the Austrian Empire in 1816. Thanks to the Salzburg-Tyrol railway built at the end of the 19th century, tourists from all over Austria could come enjoy this shoreline and ski-resort.

Fun fact: in 2015, Zell am See hosted the Ironman World Championship, and this was the first time it was held outside North America.

Anyways, besides all of these interesting details of the history of this town, the most remarkable part was what we experienced when we rented an electrical motorboat in the middle of the lake. The view was incredible. Peace and nature all around us. I felt so alive.

This trip was definitely a great way to reconnect with my family, nature, and myself. I have recently decided to leave the Hard Rock Café, because I felt like it was not a place where I could thrive. Out of my experience in Gastronomy, it is definitely a nice place to work, but as a musician and creator, I need to be somewhere where my skills can be put to use.

Therefore, I’ve been applying to creative jobs, with a few interviews lined up. I don’t really need a full time job, because I’ve had quite a few private students for piano, english and swimming, but I do think it’s important to continue to gain experience for my CV.

So there you have it, 3 cities, 10 days, 5 people, and immense adventure. We are already planning our next trip, we can’t wait.

Stay tuned!

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