My new world – no AC except in McDonalds

We arrived in Vienna to find a massive heat wave, 37* C which is 12* above normal and our final destination, Bratislava, Slovakia (45 min away) is exactly the same. The high temp yesterday reached 97* F.

It’s 20* cooler back home. This is just the opposite of last summer when we left VA having a heat wave and were nice and cool in Europe.

We knew that AC isn’t as pervasive as in the USA, but we managed fine during other visits. However, it wasn’t THIS HOT.

Oh well, we will adjust. DH actually likes heat and the humidity is only 31%.

Our course in Slovak language and culture begins tomorrow. Today we had registration. DH & I are the oldest students by A LOT, but everyone has been very welcoming to us. Perhaps we’re a curiosity?

The tram stop is right outside our dormitory & very cheap. A monthly ticket for us senior citizens is 12 Euros (about $18). Today we walked all over the old town (stare mesto). I was surprised by the large number of tourists. My Slovak language skills have improved in just one day. I guess that’s the benefit of total immersion.

Immersion has not extended to the local food yet, not because I don’t like it, but there’s no AC anywhere except in the most expensive places and McDonalds. So after traveling thousands of miles we ate twice in a place I never patronize when at home.

It was a different atmosphere, however. They had an Italian grilled chicken sandwich on very nice roll and another on baguette. There was a separate bakery area with nice looking cheesecake and assorted local types of pastries. I’m sure I walked off the calories from dessert. Beginning tomorrow all our meals are included with the course so we will see what the students eat.