Revering The New Year In Cool Austria

Although old family traditions would make it mandatory for anyone in our clan to spend New Year's Eve at home, I was in Vienna with some of my friends who bound with me in welcoming 2007. It was a very different experience for me; at one point, I was sorrowful because I was away from my family, and at another point exciting because I was able to see how a universal event like New Year's Eve is celebrated in a localized manner in a place like Austria.

Anyway, my stay in Austria proved to be certainly extraordinary. First of all, the Austrians call their New Year's Eve "Silvester," after Pope Silverster I of the 4th century whose divine feast day is revered in Austria every December 31st. In the last Silvester, the Inner City of Vienna became one gargantuan and herded ground zero of festivity. There were over 80 stands that distributed drinks like champagne and plenty of foods. Party fever flooded the whole Vienna: from the City Hall up to the gargantuan Prater ferris wheel. My friends and I took the streets to participate in plenty of discos, concerts, clubs, operattas, and other extravagant events that were being held. Good thing I did not lose myself in the middle of the turbulent Vienna despite the thick crowd, ear-piercing music, and free beers.

The Legendary Imperial Family of the Hapsburg

Anyone who's had more than a fleeting interest in the rich historical tapestry of the European continent has likely heard about some of the more historically vilified families, like the Medici and Borgia houses of Italy, the Hohenstaufen line of Germany, and the Romanov dynasty of Russia. So, I don't think anyone would be startled to find that Austria has a famed aristocratic bloodline as well, though their Austrian origins tend to be obscured by both their German origins and the fact that most of the members end up remembered as part of the ill-fated Holy Roman Empire. I am, of course, speaking of the martial and flamboyant Hapsburg royal lineage.

The Hapsburg line, as I've mentioned, is most often associated with an ill-advised undertaking we know as the Holy Roman Empire, though Austria was really the domain for the family. One memorable fact about the house was that, for many generations, the Hapsburg heirs were obsessed over having Austria eventually dominate France and, from there, proceed to dominate Europe. I should note that, during the time the Hapsburg family was in power, Austria had much more territory, political importance, and military prowess than the modern incarnation of the territory.

The Hapsburg family was one of many to have found themselves impeached in the face of advancing technology and the horrors of the First World War. However, the line had actually changed with the times prior to that, with successive rulers becoming less and less obsessed with conquering Europe and compromising with their neighboring lords.

My Much-Preferred Austrian Cake

The only trouble I had in Austria was pronouncing the name of my much-loved food. "Apfelstrudel" -- it could be a tongue-twisting challenge, though whatever trouble voyagers may have in asking for this pastry, I'm sure it would be all worthwhile, soon as they get a bite of this scrumptious treat. Served with the warm aroma of Viennese coffee, I felt that heaven is right where I am gorging on my much-loved "Apfelstrudel." While there are other delights of Austrian food like the "Sachertorte," "Kaiserschmarren," and the "Gugelhupf," I just can't get enough of this oblong pastry filled with sugar, raisins, chopped apples, bread crumbs, and cinnamon. It is commonly baked fresh and served warm only to suffice my sweet tooth.

The secret, an Austrian chef declared, in making a pleasing pastry is the way doughs are kneaded to perfection. It takes great abilities to make the dough firmer also with just the right texture. Bread flour with water and vegetable oil should have the perfect fusion to bake a dense jacket for the delightful, fruity fillings. Aside from fresh apples and raisins, "Apfelstrudel" is also sprinkled with dark rum and lemon juice to fuse more flavors in the cake.

Actually, I could not care much what's inside my much-desired craving, all I know is that when it comes to pastries and desserts, Austria is the home of the best-tasting appetizing sweets.

The Renowned and Novel Austrian Gingerbread

If I sayGingerbread man, what will you at once imagine: ghostbuster or Alice in wonderland? What I heard lately was that the gingerbread was being turned into something practical these days --- Open Spaces, the pre-Christmas theme of this inventive competition by Bene EAT ART. The event challenges the inventive minds of Austria's architects to produce some elaborate designs with the use of gingerbread. Architect Rüdiger Lainer, journalist Michael Freund, and last year's victors Andreas Machalek and Johannes Pesendorfer were chosen to be this year's jury for the gingerbread event.

According to the jury, it was a very difficult task to be a judge in this type of events. Another judge says that the architects this year have far more improvement than last year's contestants, since the former's works were nothing but modern and unique -- proofs that they put their hearts into their works. It has been a tough rough task to present the winners this year, but eventually, W. Stelzhammer Studio became the distinguished victor with Iris Karminski Pielsticker, Monika Hoffman and Celen Arcas for the work entitled Open Space With Bear. The jury criticizes their work as nothing but open, light-hearted, logical, self-sufficient, and flexible, as seen from the group's full mastery of the competition's concept, Open Spaces.

Going Away to a Far-Removed but Breathtaking Place

Most jet-setters only want to have a vacation to get away from all the burdens and worries that accompany their daily lives. As such, they pick places that are distant, where they can relax and enjoy life in complete obscurity.

In Austria, the perfect hideout is the Hotel am Sachsengang, an area set in a farm county where simple delights can be enjoyed without too many hassles. There are about 106 rooms here, all beautifully furnished, but if you need to be in a state of complete silence, you can always refer to the fireplace at the lounge area where you can sit and stare at the playful fire.

For the authentic romantics, special programs are steadily being prepared, but these can also be availed of by families and groups who may want to experience highly-specialized events.

For the sports lover, there are several recreational corners here, including four tennis courts, located just behind the hotel, as well as four golf courts located approximately 30 miles away.

If you need to slow down, take a dip in the hotel's steam bath, or simply have a relaxing massage, all done indoors and with cutting-edge facilities to boot. You can also try doing a stroll down the Donau-Auen, a newly-built national park founded nearby.

The Hotel am Sachsengang offers the perfect space for a faraway relaxing vacation, but in case you need to go back to the urban city, you need not really worry because the nearest avenue is only about five miles away.