The trip to Vienna with the GV Angelomontana was a very special experience for all of us and certainly one of the highlights of the year. The six of us were able to spend five days together in this impressive city. We were already looking forward to the trip in advance, because in addition to exploring Vienna, we also had a very special event to look forward to. For some of us, it wasn’t our first time in Vienna, but this trip still promised to be something very special. Even on the journey there was a lot of laughter and talk about what was in store for us.

When we arrived in Vienna, the six of us moved into our Airbnb, which was to be our home for the next few days. It was nice to experience everything together. We went shopping together, cooked together and reviewed the day over long conversations in the evening. Living together like this brought us even closer together as a group. Of course, we also wanted to explore Vienna. On the very first day, we made our way into the city center. Vienna has a special atmosphere. On the one hand, you can feel the history everywhere, but on the other, the city feels lively and modern. We strolled through the alleyways, looked at the Vienna State Opera from the outside and stood in front of the Hofburg Palace in awe. The magnificent buildings and large squares clearly show how rich in tradition and important this city is.

Another highlight was ice skating in front of Vienna City Hall. We went there in the evening and were immediately impressed by the backdrop. The illuminated town hall in the background and the large ice rink in front of it created a special atmosphere. Not all of us were equally good at skating, which led to some very funny moments. We helped each other up, held on to each other and laughed a lot. It was a very nice evening where we simply had fun and enjoyed our time together.

A visit to the Prater was also a must. There we rode the famous Viennese Ferris wheel. As the cabin slowly moved upwards, we enjoyed the view over the rooftops of the city. Afterwards, we went to the park and rode a few rides. Some of us felt better after the rides than the others.

However, the highlight of our trip was the Redoute of the Rudolfina student fraternity in the Vienna Hofburg. We were impressed as soon as we entered the magnificent halls. The ornately decorated ceilings, the large rooms and the chandeliers created a unique atmosphere. The ceremonial opening of the ball was a particularly beautiful moment. We five women were allowed to enter together and stood at the very front of the hall. From there, we were able to watch the debutantes dancing the opening dance at close range. It was impressive to see how elegantly they floated across the floor. The ball was also a masked ball, which made the atmosphere even more special. At midnight we were allowed to unmask ourselves. Before that, it was ladies’ choice, which was unusual at first, but also a lot of fun. After midnight, it changed to the men’s choice. We women also had a dance card on which the men could sign up for certain dances. This tradition made the evening particularly exciting. It was also particularly impressive that the Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and State Secretary Alexander Pröll were among the guests. We danced the waltz and later the quadrille. Dancing in the historic halls surrounded by so many elegantly dressed people was an unforgettable experience. Those who had had enough of the classical dancing could move to the lower area, where a disco with a live band provided a more relaxed atmosphere.

Time passed incredibly quickly. The ball lasted until five o’clock in the morning and when we left the Hofburg, it was already getting light outside again. We were tired, but very happy. This trip to Vienna and especially the ball will remain in our memories for a long time to come.

Nadia Salomé Seligman-Schürch
Senior of Angelomontana, 3rd floor