Stairs and Stares

Today was a near repeat of yesterday, so I won't bore you with the description, but rather comment on the Austrian Stairs and Stares.

Many of the buildings in Vienna are very old (obviously). For example, the palace that IES uses has two huge doors at the entrance, and a walkway wide enough to drive a horse drawn-carriage through the entryway, and into the courtyard, then to the stables in the back. There are other aspects of the building that indicate its age, such as the bathrooms that are just closets built in hallways with a toilet inside, because the palace did not originally have plumbing. Being that we climb a lot of stairs in the morning to get to our German classroom, I have spent a lot of time thinking about them. The stairs are considerably shorter than the standard stair height in the US (and this has been noticeable throughout older buildings in the city). I hypothesize that this is because women had to wear huge dresses that disabled them from taking large steps. Another thing about the stairs: there are a lot more of them! The ceilings are very high, which creates a humbling effect, but that means more stairs, and when I still want to be in bed in the morning, climbing them is a feat! About 100 every morning! Sometimes it helps to sing "Climb Every Mountain" whilst making the trek. 

To discuss the homophone: Austrians stare. Although I find this an awkward custom, I rather appreciate it. I always wanted to stare at people that I found intriguing, and now I can! Sometimes I'll end up having a staring contest with someone on the tram or someone that I'm passing on the sidewalk. It feels like a game. 

Well, it is far later than I wish, and there is still studying to do for my German final tomorrow! I am SO looking forward to getting it done! Gute Nacht!