On 24th of October, a group of 24 LEH students, accompanied by three teachers, set off for our Psychology trip to Vienna. Meeting at 7am, we left for Gatwick on the first part of our journey to Austria. On arrival at Vienna airport we were pleased to be greeted by a coach to transport us to our home for the next few days, AO hostel. After we were settled in, the group headed out to Belvedere Gardens, a popular, scenic tourist attraction. Although the temperature was low, spirits remained high. Here we partook in a riveting scavenger hunt and in teams we competed against each other, whilst exploring the beautiful gardens. To add to the excitement, it was Lydia’s, a student on the trip, 18th birthday, and this was celebrated with a cake in the evening. Exhausted after a long day, we headed back to the hostel for dinner and bed.

After another welcomed early morning, the group headed to central Vienna, experiencing our first trip on the tube. We visited the Judenplatz Museum in central Vienna, where we had a guided tour and learnt about the history of Judaism in Austria and how this has shaped modern society. Next on the packed itinerary, we arrived at the local Synagogue where we were taken through the symbols and beliefs of Judaism by a very knowledgable tour guide. To everyone’s relief, we were informed it was time for lunch! Everyone was given free time to explore the streets of Vienna and taste the local cuisine. After reconvening, we gained admission to the Cathedral of Vienna, where people were fascinated to see the intricate design of the magnificent building. A short tube journey took us back to the hostel, where to unwind we played some psychological games to help enhance our learning.

On Friday, everyone was clearly excited to visit Freud’s home and now a museum for his work. We were taken through each room and told anecdotes about Freud’s life, which helped explain some of his alternative theories, by our engaging guide. We learnt about his escape from Vienna during the war, as being a Jew he and his family were vulnerable, and how his associations with Psychology helped this escape. After some well deserved lunch we walked to the Josephinum, a museum of anatomical wax figures. It was fascinating to hear about how these were made and with such detail, which some people found gruesome! To end the day, we headed to Freud Park to pay our respects. Finally, after arriving back at the hostel, the group enjoyed some more psychological games and then headed to bed and packed.

On our final day in Vienna, we embarked on our journey to the Narrenturm, a museum of the Pathological-Anatomical Institute. It was an old mental asylum, and it was interesting to hear stories about the old patients and their diseases. We then had our first experience on a tram in Vienna, which took us to a popular theme park. Here, we were excited to ride the Ferris wheel, which allowed us to see a breathtaking view of Vienna and all of its culture. After some free time to enjoy the park, we were reluctant to leave but headed to Vienna airport, having completed an informative and enjoyable trip to the home of Sigmund Freud.

By Emma and Emilia (UVI)