Unicorn on the snow

by Thembi Shabangu (South Africa)

A leap into the unknown Austria

Unicorn in the Snow… So there I was. First time traveling to Europe and I chose to do it alone. It all felt pretty surreal while I was on the flights coming to Vienna and it soon became all too real once I landed in Vienna. Before my departure I had Googled how to get from the airport to Wien Hauptbahnhof train station. This was very easy. I purchased my ticket once I got through immigration which I found to be very convenient. Once I got to the train station I knew I could walk to my hostel as it was walking distance from the station. It’s was very easy to find. Once I had checked in, I took a shower and went out to explore the town as I only had one day in Vienna before heading to the mountains for skiing. I took tours with the hop on hip off busses and explored as much of the city as I could. Seeing the beautiful buildings learning about the Austrian history and independence before going back to the hostel where I made connections with a local and a traveller from South Korea. The next day I left early in the morning and took a train to Worgle where a contiki bus was waiting for me. The skiing adventure had begun. Who would’ve thought, a 20 year old girl from a middle class home in South Africa would ever be in a blanket of snow skiing like a professional(if they tumbled of course) amongst a bunch Aussies, Kiwis, capetonians and a jobuger. I would do it again and take a leap into the unknown until I have left a mark on every destination in the world and do this I shall.