At the end of the spring semester 10 students who had taken Dr. Brokoph’s LTRN219Vienna at the Turn of the Century course spent one week with Professor Brokoph in Vienna, which - according to her - is the most beautiful city in the world.  This week in Vienna gave the students the unique opportunity to visit all the historical and cultural sights they had learned about in that course. Among the many activities during that week they saw an opera in the world renowned National Opera House, attended a concert in the most beautiful concert hall in the world, the Musikverein, visited museums with local art and history instructors, and toured Schönbrunn Castle. The week began with a walking tour around the famous and beautiful Ringstrasse which the Austrian emperor built at the end of the 19th century and which displays Vienna administrative and  cultural buildings, such as the Parliament, the City Hall, the Opera, the Court Theater, the University,  in  a most  splendid  fashion. It encloses the inner core of the city which was designed by Italian and Austrian architects to create an intimate  center full of winding little street, courtyards, archways, palaces, staircases, curves and corners to please and surprise the eye of the admiring city explorer every step of the way. During their  ample free  time, the students  made many discoveries on their own, tasted the local wines and the delicious coffee and sweets in the many beautiful coffee houses all over the city, bought food at the big and colorful open market, the Naschmarkt, explored Vienna’s night life and shopping and in general experienced the bustle  and vibrancy of this truly multicultural city.  The students were housed with families throughout the city and were given money for their meals.

“My experience in Vienna was amazing.  Vienna has become my favorite European city, it's very easy to get around, and I never once felt uncomfortable being in Vienna.  It was also great to see, in person, what we learned about in class.  When I learn about something I want to get to experience, and I got the chance to do that when we went to Vienna.  It was also interesting to put together all of the various landmarks we learned about.” “.Jess Richards

The cost of the visit to Vienna was divided between the students and SLU. The students paid for their air fare (with financial assistance from the university where appropriate) and SLU paid for everything else: room and board, transportation as well as all planned activities.