Blog started!

So when I first began telling people I was studying abroad, the first words I heard were, "Send me pictures."  I already tried doing just that with emails, but I decided to start a blog because emailing pictures is really just a pain and Facebook limits those older folks who may not have one.  If you are interested, this is how I will be communicating pictures from now on (I hope).  We'll see.
I will post the pictures that I have already sent by email for all interested.  Here we go:

Upon my arrival in Vienna (after a really nasty confrontation with Passport Control in Germany), I hopped on the train to Baden bei Wien to do research for my honors thesis.  I dragged my suitcase 15 minutes to the town center only to find out the cheapest lodgings were halfway back to the train station.  Then I went to get my operetta ticket for Gräfin Maritza.  I got distracted along the way back to the pension by way of hiking trails and snapped this picture.  Afterwards, I took a nap and went to the operetta, but was too jetlagged to really comprehend much of anything.
The next morning I finally head out to Graz.  My mentor, Steffi, picked me up in a cold downpour, showed me to the hostel I would be staying at, and showed me where to buy my first purchase in Austria: an umbrella.  She went off to work, while I proceeded to McDonalds for free Wifi and, only because I felt obligated to, a Coca Cola.  Turns out to be the nicest McDonalds that I have ever been in.  After another nap, we went out for traditional Austrian food (is Cordon Bleu really Austrian?).
I got to move into my dorm the next morning.  It was still raining, but the next day was gorgeous.  So, I went on another hike, up 260 steps (left) to Schlossberg (castle hill, right). 

Here are some pictures of the town as well.  The first is Murinsel, which I cannot decide if I like or not, and the next is the inner city, with the city hall most prominent. 
Until tomorrow, probably, when I continue with what I have already sent to some people.