A weekend at home, Toy shows and school holidays

2 December - 7 December

A flight from Bratislava to Dublin

Annual televised Toy Show

Flight to Vienna

Church/School holiday

Opera etc.

I was worried. My roster had me penciled in for two Friday classes even though I was told I would never have a class on that day, a courtesy granted by the school.  I already had a minor confrontation with my betreuungslehererin having asked for the Monday off.

I was scolded.

I was threatened.

And all this drama unfolded in the teacher's lounge as we celebrated a colleague's birthday.  I thought it was unprofessional and a little bit awkward!

I was offered cake.

I made no apologies.

In the end I was released with a warning and cautioned that the powers in the bm:uk might come after me if they caught wind of my plans.  I doubted they would.

I was reliably informed Mondays were my busiest day.  After that weekend I believe I had 3 Mondays off in a row.  Funny that.

The weekend in question, 2/12/11-5/12/11 I was flying from Bratislava to Dublin.  Some weeks before I had taken the precaution of purchasing tickets from the International Bus station at Erdberg.  A return ticket set me back €20.

I was unimpressed with the price and the rising costs and ended with my angry resolve that my endeavours to save money were often fruitless, especially my attempt to secure cheap flights which were mounting similar deficits as if I had just chosen the basic and common option i.e. Aer Lingus. It was a tough lesson learned and I stowed it where I stowed all other useful information somewhere in the deep dark recesses of my memory. As I was worried about my spontaneous Friday classes and because I was reluctant to enter into further confrontation with my school I went back to the bus station in the hopes that I could change my bus times. The lady was very accomodating even speaking in English, however, it soon emerged that while I could change my bus departure time I would be late for my flight. I left it as it was and shuddered and trembled at the thought of having to beg my teacher master overlords for their understanding and possible forgiveness, as it were my worry was for nothing. The next day I went into school my Friday classes were scratched out. On Thursday I got my hair l cut. It was a strange and unique experience-the first time I had my hair cut abroad. The guy, an energetic and enthusiastic Turk, gave me a Biff style haircut straight out of Back to the Future! I had mixed feelings but I was told that I "grew into it".

My friend Anne visited she was passing through Vienna. We had a few chats and drinks but ended up in O'Connor's Old Oak Pub drinking cauliflower soup. The next day I had to make my way to Erdberg I got on the bus pulled out my book and sat back and relaxed as we powered toward Bratislava. Bratislava airport is a wonderfully modern building and a little anachronistic if I am honest. I loitered bought some coffee lingered a little longer before I went through security. The flight was okay (tea was expensive) I landed in Dublin some three hours later and to schedule. I got picked up at the airport and made my way to Skerries. That night the annual and a luttle famous Toy Show was broadcast on RTE. It almost always offers a few good laughs. It was satisfactory but nothing especially good or memorable :)

I had a nice quiet weekend with my girlfriend with plenty of lazy tv and filming. I returned to Vienna Monday. I got a taxi to Dublin airport and began my journey. Bratislava airport was buzzing with activity. I missed my bus. I bought a coffee and sandwich and pondered my options. I found another cheaper bus leaving for Vienna. The bus driver seemed a little confused when I explained my predicament his attitude changed abruptly when I waved the money in my hand.

It was close to 8 o'clock Austrian time when I got back to Vienna. I got a text from my friend Jon. We agreed to meet for grub. Jeanine got in touch in the meantime and agreed to come along. We went to Kolar and just by chance bumped into other friends. After we moved on, our little entourage split, some went for karaoke others for coffee. We met Dietlinde and her dancing friend on Stephansplatz and suss out an open cafe. We found one near Graben the establishment's name now eludes me. We had some caffeinated beverages and Mozartkuche, topped with chats and discussions. We parted ways and agreed to rendezvous later in the week. Thursday was the Feast of the Assumption so we had a shorter school week than normal. However, the next day, Tuesday, was business as usual.

 Kirsten and I had talked about the abundance of cultural opportunities in Vienna. We both agreed at last that when in Vienna one ought to go to the opera. Some TAs had already gone to see 'La Bohéme'. Sadly several others had either seen this masterpiece or were otherwise engaged. We arrived and waited for the sought after stehplatz. €3 they cost. It was an amazing show. The opera was both atmospheric and haunting although it was a test of endurance to race between the action on stage and the translation drifting across the little monitor hanging from the railing beneath me. I was able to divide my attention adequately and learn the minimum amount of information to form a coherent story. We went to Flanagan's after and as the group refused to meet there we moved on to Beer and Songs and began our weekend of social escapedes.