Where Bus2alps Rode…..Weekend of February 17, 2011

Our weekend trips just keep on getting better and better. With Switzerland and Austria under our belts this past weekend, our Bus2alps crew had an awesome time. From living life on the edge in Interlaken to hearing the sound of music in Vienna and Salzburg, we created memories that will last for a lifetime.

The hills were alive in Vienna and Salzburg this weekend! Everyone was pumped to first check out Austria’s largest city Vienna, famous for its history, beer and schnapps, and most importantly its song and dance. Vienna has one of the most famous opera houses in the world and many students went to see “The Flying Dutchman”. The show was amazing and tunes seemed to be hummed throughout the remainder of the trip. During our time in Vienna we also got the chance to try some of Austria’s famous schnapps. Among the popular flavors were apricot whiskey, chocolate banana, and a cinnamon spicy schnapps nicknamed “rocket fuel.” We finished our stay in Vienna with a fun night out in a popular nightlife area known as “the Bermuda Triangle.” Everyone was able to have a traditional Austrian beer and chat over their favorite events and sights of the day.

The next day we packed up the bus and headed over to Salzburg, home of “The Sound of Music”. The most memorable part of the trip was by far the Augustiner Brewery. The reaction of the Bus2Alps crew upon entrance to the Brewery was similar to that of a 5 year old at a playground.  The food choices were endless, the beer was cold, and the atmosphere felt authentic and welcoming.  While enjoying baked chicken, potato fries, and a liter of beer, one student passed by (on his way to refill his 1 liter ceramic mug with beer) and chanted “This is the best place ever!”  Then, a table of girls raised their glasses and chanted “Prost!”.  It is safe to generalize that same reaction to the 35 other students who played on the Augustiner Brewery ‘playground’ because everyone left there stuffed, satisfied, and singing “The Sound of Music” through the streets of Salzburg on the way to the pub.

It’s also no surprise that this weekend besides singing atop a mountain, we brought a group of students to our home away from home… Interlaken. Upon arrival at Balmers hostel students eagerly rented their snowboarding and ski gear, to head up and experience the beautiful and scenic Swiss Alps. With the sun shining and phenomenal views, everyone stayed on the mountain until closing time in order to soak up every last second of the experience! Saturday brought even clearer weather and more adventure. Students who did not go up skiing participated in activities such as paragliding, skydiving and canyon jumping. With the adrenaline running many of those students decided to join night sledding. A group of 50 people went up on Saturday night to enjoy a night of sledding down the mountain with a fondue dinner awaiting them afterwards. After all the adventure we ended the night at our go-to night spot, Metro Bar, which is located in the basement of Balmers. A convenient walk back up to your room after dancing the night away.

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