2015 seems to have been a particularly busy and travel-filled year for Katja; in fact she’s not quite certain where the year went. What she is quite certain of, however, is that she had a fabulous time ringing in 2016.
Always one for a foreign getaway, she decided it would be much more fun to ring in the New Year abroad, specifically in Vienna, one of her favorite places in the world. Because what’s not to love about a beautiful city with impressive architecture, fabulous museums, wonderful music, and last, but not least, the most exquisite cakes.
The trip got off to a good start when she was upgraded on her Austrian Airlines flight over. The refined girl that she is, she was happy to have dinner (multi-course and prepared by an in-flight chef) served on proper plates and with proper cutlery, and to drink (champagne, of course) out of glass, not plastic (so much more civilized). But perhaps the highlight was the massaging chair and mood lighting. Nothing like being able to create the perfect ambiance with just the press of a button...
Katja arrived in Vienna early on the 31st, and of course first on her agenda, after dropping off her bags at Le Méridien, where she always stays, was cake. The city is home to many charming coffee shops, one of the most beautiful ones being Café Central, an impressive space filled with columns and boasting magnificent ceiling arches. Located in the Palais Ferstel, it first opened in 1876, and has welcomed the likes of Sigmund Freud and Leon Trotsky during its very distinguished history. But really, it's all about the treats, and so she indulged in her favorite Viennese coffee specialty, the Einspänner (an espresso topped with a generous portion of whipped cream), and, obviously, cake (it makes a great lunch). She especially loved Central's dainty little chestnut torte.
After devouring her treats she burned off some calories by wandering around the city for a bit, checking out the Silvesterpfad, or New Year's Eve trail. The trail consisted of numerous stalls selling various renditions of the Glücksschwein, as well as other tokens meant to bring good luck, and even more stalls selling warm alcoholic beverages, the most popular being Glühwein, served in festive pig and mushroom shaped mugs. Her favorite, however, is Eierpunsch, which, like her coffee drink of choice, is always topped with whipped cream.
Then it was back to the hotel for some beauty sleep, as she wanted to look her finest for the Hofburg Silvesterball, where she would be ringing in the New Year.
It was a glamorous formal affair, one of the many balls held in Vienna during its winter ball season. The ladies all donned gorgeous (well, for the most part) floor length gowns, and there were numerous rooms filled with a wide array of music and festive decor. Katja watched the debutantes make their way up the stairs
before making her way to the dance floor, or should she say dance floors, as she went from waltzing to Strauss to disco-ing to Boney M. And, unsurprisingly, there was much champagne, or in this instance Sekt, to be had. Because, of course, she wouldn't want to start off 2016 without her favorite beverage in hand. Katja also made certain to pick her own lucky four leaf clover, one of the traditions at the ball. While she's not particularly superstitious, she knew it couldn't hurt, and always better to be safe than sorry.
Katja enjoyed herself so much that she thinks she might have to make New Year's Eve in Vienna a yearly tradition.
Of course, as with almost any party she attends, she was amongst the last to leave. She certainly would never let something silly like jet lag get in the way of a good time/ruin her reputation as the life of the party...
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