Springtime in Vienna: A Writing and Photography Retreat

April 6-13, 2013 in Vienna, Austria

with Kayce S. Hughlett, MA, LHMC and Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE

Dreaming about springtime in Vienna? Longing for a European adventure with kindred spirits? You are personally invited to experience the city that inspired Mozart, Klimt, Freud and countless others. Part pilgrimage and part cultural excursion, this whole-life experience draws upon expressive arts—writing, photography, movement—and the cultural backdrop of Vienna (City of Dreams) to nourish an exploration into the inner landscape of your soul.

This weeklong retreat offers both guided and solo time, urban accommodations in a lovely apartment (with amazing companions just like you) overlooking the famous Opera House, personal tours of well-known and hidden treasures… and more.

• Each day will have a unique attention and rhythm, including group gathering time, a city excursion, and personal time for exploration and/or restoration.
• We will be engaging writing and photography as ways of paying attention and cultivating how to be more fully present in the world. (No writing or photography experience necessary!)
• This is an active retreat. We will be walking, hiking, and using public transportation to promote a sense of living in the city rather than merely visiting.
• Your time away offers built-in “unstructured” time for personal exploration.  Sip coffee and people watch in a local café, stroll along the Danube, nap in your cozy apartment, meander through markets, museum hop, whatever your heart desires…

A sample day:

• Awaken at your own pace.  Have breakfast on the apartment terrace or stroll to a local café.
• Morning group gathering in the large apartment living space to become aligned with an intention for the day.
• City or countryside tour with photography/writing prompts including visits to the summer and winter palaces, the opera, Melk Abbey, Vienna woods, Belvedere museum, and more.
• Free afternoon for wandering, napping, writing and dreaming in those wonderful Viennese cafes , visiting other museum sites, exploring the city by foot with camera in hand.
• Dinner as a group
• Evening closing session

April 6 – 13, 2013

Arrival & check-in Saturday April 6, 2013 (Retreat begins with evening gathering & orientation).

Closing Ritual Friday evening April 12, 2013

Check-out & departure the morning of Saturday April 13, 2013

Program Fee

$1750 (double occupancy); add $375 for single occupancy = $2120

Cost includes 7 nights lodging, 7 dinners, breakfast the first morning, lunch the last day, entry fees for all group excursions, and public transit pass. 

Not included:

Travel expenses to/from Vienna & transfers to/from airport

Travel insurance required (include trip cancellation, medical coverage, and repatriation)

Breakfast and lunch will be on your own with many low-cost options available (including preparing meals in the apartment kitchen).

All entry fees for excursions on your free time (a list of recommendations will be provided including free and low-cost options) are your responsibility as well.

Limited to 8-10 participants (depending on double/single occupancy choices) for an intimate experience.  This is not a big and hurried tour, but a small gathering of pilgrims savoring one of the most beautiful cities in the world together.

We can't wait to welcome you!

$300 nonrefundable deposit holds your space.

$1450 final balance due February 15, 2013 ($1820 for single)

Retreat Guides: Christine Valters Paintner and Kayce Stevens Hughlett

To reserve your space, contact Kayce at kayce@kaycehughlett.com for a Paypal invoice for credit card payment of your $300 nonrefundable deposit.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me!