Have you already recorded a Love Letter and posted it for the world to see? Or are you still feeling shy and need a little inspiration? Craig from the UK recorded a Love Letter for Austria and was so inspired and inspiring that we just felt we had to dig a little deeper
Love for Europe is real and we are are seeing evidence of that every single day. At KAYAK we are offering you the platform to record and upload your own video Love Letter to either Instagram or Facebook.
And every day we receive hundreds of hilarious, cheerful, touching, gloomy, thoughtful, but always poignant and personal video clips starting with “Dear Ireland,” “Dear Slovakia,” “Dear Spain” or “Dear Norway,” etc.
To explore some of these videos for yourself simply visit the project page and immerse yourself in these very real stories; to see Craig MacMillan’s Love Letter and her heartfelt message to Austria just click on the link.
Europe is, simply put, diversity, life, and inspiration on a scale so much bigger than the political and restrictive belt some people see it as.
We liked Craig’s “Dear Austria” video so much that we wanted to know more about him and the experiences and relationship he has with Austria that drove him to share such an honest and refreshing Love Letter.
Craig MacMillan: I’ve been studying German for 11 years now, starting in high school. What started as in interest in German football soon developed into a passion for the Germanic history, culture, food, beer (of course), and lifestyle…
I first travelled to Austria – and specifically Vienna – for my ERASMUS year abroad, where WU Wien is partnered with the University of Edinburgh. From minute one, it was instantly different from my travels to other German-speaking cities, and like no city I’d ever been to before. But to keep it real: it was difficult. I’d never had to actually rely on my studies of speaking German, and I’d never moved home without the help of family or friends. So I went to Vienna alone, uncertain of how I would survive!
On my first night in Vienna, I wanted food – but it was a Sunday; of course, all the shops were shut, apart from the Würstelstand (hot dog cart) near the flat. Having only experienced “Hochdeutsch” (High German; similar to the Queen’s English) or some ‘cleaner’ German accents previously, I was totally stunned when the kindly old lady at the stand said “jo dos koste zwo ochtzi bittuh”… and then when I asked her to repeat herself, she kept the accent but said it slower!
Accommodation in Vienna from £11
Looking back, it was a very typical exchange with someone from Vienna: they strongly stick to their accents, idioms (oida! = dude!), culture and history… but in a way which was somehow welcoming at the same time. So when I was in a bar, trying to learn as many Austrian slang words as possible from some of the students I studied with, they corrected me 100 times not to make fun of me, but instead to make sure that I could be a part of it. And studying at WU was an incredible challenge too, as I studied most of my classes in German with local Austrian students – including essays, presentations and everything else!
Where at first I thought I simply wouldn’t be able to take part like the others, I was supported and encouraged by pretty much every single person in each of my classes… who must have seen so many ERASMUS students come and go, it was incredible to see that kind of support for a weird stranger from Scotland. And it’s for examples like these that Vienna reminded me of my hometown, Glasgow – a big city that behaves like a village. And Vienna is brilliant at that contradiction: on the one hand with magnificent architecture, incredible history, and of course the fine dining and Kaffeehaus experience… and on the other, pubs, clubs, parties, football pitches/stadiums, parks and trees everywhere…
You get the idea – it’s a place that can show you whatever you want, as long as you look for it.
Are you looking for the perfect hotel in the shopping, sightseeing or party district? Use KAYAK Heat Maps to search for what you want, and we’ll display all the hotels close by on a city map. Simply click on ‘Map View’ in the upper left corner on the hotel search page. Now just click which filter you are most interested in, like ‘Nightlife’, and the party zones and corresponding hotels are highlighted.
So, to be welcomed so patiently into such a place was really unexpected – people were always excited to speak German and English, but more excited to speak Austrian German and Scots English. The similarities between Scotland and Austria definitely helped. (mountains, farming, social culture, weird accents… playing little brother to England/Germany!)
Two or three years after my ERASMUS year, I had the opportunity to do an internship in Vienna – and it was even better the second time round, always with something new to experience, and never once boring. I travel back at least twice a year now, living in London, and every time I go back, it’s like meeting an old friend. When I first went to Vienna, I was a nervous 20-year old with patchy German language skills and living comfortably in my own UK-based bubble.
Now, years later, I can return the drinks bought for me by the locals – and sit down to enjoy it with them – and can walk the streets of somewhere which used to be completely alien to me with the comfort of feeling at home. That’s a special thing.
I have the people of Austria(/Vienna) to thank for that – the scenery, the history, the architecture, the palaces, etc. are all utterly beautiful… but it’s the people who offered me directions, drinks, new/weird food, random vocabulary and so on – they’re the ones who give Vienna its spirit (its soul).
Check out how to see as much of Europe as possible in our guide: Europe’s Greatest Hits: 10 Countries, 11 Flights, 30 Nights – All For Under £1300
Note: These rates are based on search queries made on KAYAK.co.uk on July 5th, 2017. The prices are quoted in GBP. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
