My favorite time of the year is the time our APPINA TEAM gets together for our annual Christmas party! It usually takes place in January and is in a different city each year. This year, we all met in Vienna and wow, what an amazing city it is.
Thursday, Jan 09
Upon my arrival in Vienna, I made my way to the Hampton by Hilton. The journey from the airport was quite seamless with the public transport.
After freshening up, I decided to explore the city. I took the U-Bahn to Karlsplatz, where I enjoyed wandering through the vibrant pedestrian zones and busy shopping streets. A highlight of my day was stopping for Kaiserschmarrn, a delicious traditional dish. I also took the opportunity to admire the stunning architecture of the St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Friday, Jan 10
Today, I met a friend who lives in Vienna for lunch. After our meal, we took a leisurely stroll through the beautiful Schönbrunn Gardens, soaking in the wide display of nature and serene atmosphere. Following a quick rest, I was thrilled to welcome the remainder of the Appina team as we set out to visit several hotels.
After a day of so many impressions, it was time to gather with the team for a traditional Stadtheurigen dinner. The food was absolutely amazing, offering a delightful taste of local cuisine. It was a wonderful opportunity for great conversations and bonding with colleagues.
Saturday, Jan 11
Today offered it all. We started with our energetic guide Susanne for an underground city tour! Did you know that Vienna has a hidden underground world of tunnels, bunkers, catacombs, and cellars. The underground is a fascinating place to explore, offering a glimpse into the city's history! After exploring we ended with wine tasting in an underground wine cellar and then made our way to have lunch at the famous Café Schwarzenberg.
Refreshed and energized we made our way by cable car to the outskirts of the city visiting the Heindl Chocolate fabric! Besides of touring and learning all about chocolate, we had the opportunity to make our own pralines!
So many impressions already but the day isn’t over yet. Tonight is the night of our annual festive Christmas dinner. The place chosen was the Meissl & Schadn Restaurant which is known for its authentic Wiener Schnitzel, made from veal, coated with egg and breadcrumbs, and fried in butter. The restaurant's open kitchen allows diners to watch the schnitzel being pounded and cooked. It was a beautiful night full of laughter, appreciation for each other and a feeling of gratefulness to be part of such an amazing team.
Sunday, Jan 12
This morning we visited the museum Time Travel Vienna a one-hour, humorous guided tour in your own language including 5D Cinema, Animatronic Shows, Virtual Reality (VR) Music Ride and Special Effects. I enjoyed the interactive presentation and it gave a high level overview, meeting the Habsburg family and the famous composers Mozart and Strauss. In an original Air Raid shelter you will feel the horrors of World War two. Last but not least, you will fly over the roof tops of present day Vienna in a Horse carriage Ride.
Now its time to say good by to most of our team. Thankfully a stop at one of the many sausage booth’s followed by a piece of Sacher Torte helped us feel less sad. The rest of the day was spent having conversations, exchanging ideas with my colleagues from the incoming team, followed by some last minute shopping and delicious Italian Food.
Monday, Jan 13
All good things have to come to an end. But before catching the train to leave Vienna and spending some time with my family in Germany, we visited several hotels.
What an amazing trip it has been. I always leave our APPINA Travel outings energized, grateful and love that I have the opportunity to travel the world, to expand my horizons so I can then better serve my clients. THANK YOU and until next year!
