A Day of Culture

Today was rather exhausting, but a very good day it was. After waking up at the very reasonable hour of 9.30, I was served kind of an odd breakfast by Romeo's mother - two gigantic tomatoes, feta cheese, and yummy, sweet, and tiny grapes. No coffee today, and that was a pity. We only have an espresso maker here, and neither one of us can figure the thing out.

I started off at about 11 and walked an hour and a half to the Albertina art museum. It shouldn't have taken nearly that long to get there, but I took a wrong turn and then tried to navigate by holding the map upside down.

I did finally reach the museum along with about 9 million other tourists. At the beginning of the day I was fascinated with all of the different languages going on in one building. But by the end of the day, I was just wishing these people would get out of my way! As a side note, I'm thinking of writing a scratch and sniff book on how to tell different nationalities apart by smell.

This trip to the museum was planned because of the exhibit on Impressionism. Although I spent three hours walking around, looking, reading, absorbing, I hope this exhibit comes to Chicago so I can see it again. Did you know, for example, that Picasso didn't just paint women with multiple sets of breasts, but that he also did some impressionistic works of art? I got to see a lot of Gaugin's work before he discovered Polynesia and Van Gogh before he cut off his ear. There was lots of Degas, although he didn't think of himself as an Impressionist, and several Cailleboits, Pissaros and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrecs. My absolute favorite had to be the handfull of works by Theo Van Rysselberghe - someone I'd never heard of before. He painted in oil, so I've learned, and his colors are just stunning! Anyhow, I loved the exhibit so much that I actually spent $35 on the exhibition book.

After tramping around the exhibit, I decided to do something ultra touristy before I set off to meet Romeo at the movies. Right across from the Albertina is the Hotel Sacher, which is famous for the Sachertorte. I couldn't resist going in there for some of the best Darjeeling tea I've ever had, plus a piece of the most heavenly Kirschtorte. I only settled for this after I learned that they had no Sachertorte today. I mean REALLY!  Are they kidding? That's like going to Disney on Mickey's day off and getting stuck having your photo taken with Goofy.

All fueled up and ready to go, I set off to the movie house early to make sure I could get good tickets. (You get assigned seats here in Austria.) Of course, to get to the movies, I had to cross one of the most dangerous streets in the world: Kärtenerstrasse. What makes it so dangerous are the hundreds of shops! First I stopped in to get a new tube of Labello lip balm, since I was out. Then I stopped into the perfume store down the street so I could by the perfume I love but can't find in the US. 

And just around the corner from the theater is the cutest little leather store where an adorable red wallet caught my eye. My own wallet has been falling apart for some time now, and I've been looking for something unique and durable. After pelting the poor saleswoman with questions for 20 minutes, I pulled out my Visa, and away I went with my new wallet.

Unfortunately, just as I got to the theater I got a text message from Romeo. He has to work late tonight and can't make it to the movies. Pfüi!!!!  I sucked it up and walked home. Boy do my legs ache. The only thing that can cure this kind of exhaustion is some local wine. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Happy Austria Day!

Today is a national holiday in Austria, akin to an independence day. As such, everything is closed and military-type parades will fill the streets in a few hours.

To escape the chaos, Romeo, his mother, Kristina, and I are escaping to Hungary for the day. We're not going to Budapest, because we've all been before. I can't tell you the name of the town we are going to though, because if I ask again, I'm going to get slugged. We're going to eat fish. That's all I can tell you.

Yesterday was nice, if not lazy. We took a walk in the park with the (screaming) baby and then drove off to Klosterneuberg to the opening of a new contemporary art store. It was pretty fantastic. We were greeted with wine and cheese and led to a buffet of nasty looking meats. But next to the meats was Liptauer - a very yummy spread to put on the wonderful Austrian bread.

But yeah, we looked at the art, which consisted of crochet dolls and tin boxes. Fun stuff to be sure, but nothing I can't live without.

In the evening, Günter came by and we watched an Austrian movie called Slumming. I dont know if I'd call it strange or deep. After the movie, Romeo and I looked at each other's Facebook pages (I'll show you mine if you show me yours) and then layed around reading the Sunday paper.

I'm hoping now that someone is out of the bathroom so that I can dry my hair. It is so damp here that it looks curly, frizzy and crappy pretty much all the time. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try.

So what day is this? Three? Dunno. I only know it is Sunday morning and tomorrow is a holiday and we're going to Hungary.

The last couple of days have been calm and relaxing. Friday I woke up to a breakfast prepared for me by Romeo's mother. I like the way this woman thinks, by the way. Breakfast consisted of Baniza (think Burek) and cake. Then I set out to see if I remembered my way around Vienna. It was quite a walk, but after two hours I had convinced myself that I knew where I was going. And what was waiting for me when I returned? Lunch! Tomatoes stuffed with rice and peppers and probably the best salad I have ever eaten.

I could go on and on about the food, but I'll try not to. Romeo's mother is an amazing cook and spends most of the day in the kitchen. Those times when she isn't cooking, she's pushing food on someone. I've taken some pictures and I'll share when i get back home.

The 23rd was Romeo's birthday, and we celebrated by going to a jazz club with some of our friends. Although I'd hardly call the music jazz (think Cat Stevens meets Eric Clapton), it was really good. So was the beer. Stiegl! We got back to Romeo's at about 1am, stinking in a way I had forgotten people stink after a night out in Europe. Smoke, smoke, smoke, people here smoke like crazy. And since fresh air seems to be the catalyst for most diseases suffered in the industrialized world today, there is no ventilation in these bars. My clothes and coat smell like the bottom of an old ashtray.

Yesterday, Romeo and I went for a long walk around the Tabor street. It is kind of a shopping area, but also where the Orthodox Jews live. It was the perfect European morning. Espresso outside, window shopping, mimes, and at the end we ended up at an outdoor market. A HUGE outdoor market with all kinds of fresh things (including fish) and flowers.

Anyhow, we had a party last night and then went to a bar called Cocktail where, well, never mind.

Hope you are all groovy! I need to go have some more fun.

Pre-Vay-kay Jitters

The worst part of any trip has got to be packing. This time tomorrow I'll be nearly three hours into my flight, and I still haven't packed a thing.

Sure, I've done the pre-va-kay shopping, bought tiny versions of my toiletries (except contact solution. On my list for tomorrow.) I've got some new clothes, a bunch of gifts for my friends. But now I'm doing laundry and everything is in bunches all over the condo. Don't even get me started on the cleaning that has to happen between now and the time I leave for the airport.

And what am I doing to relieve the stress I'm causing myself? Packing? No. I'm blogging.

Don't get me wrong - I'm excited for the trip! I'm just not in the mood for picking out my wardrobe for the next two weeks.  A quick check of the weather tells me to pack warm clothes and an umbrella - not that I was expecting a beach vacation in Vienna this time of year. But rain nearly every day?

Today, I'm most excited about my trips to and from the airport. I've got rides, both ways! that means I get the luxury of using the big suitcase. And you know what the big suitcase gives me license to do? Buy boots in Vienna. Oh, the shoes that are waiting for me...

Because Obama said "change"

Yeah, I've made some changes around here. The website that used to host this blog is gone forever. I hadn't updated anything other than the pictures in years, and the design was lamer than lame. I might get around to making a new website someday, but since I do this at work, it isn't something I really do for fun anymore. But, uh, speaking of pictures - anyone looking at the archives will see that all the pictures are gone. They resided on the old website and I just don't feel like updating all the links.

T-3 days until Austria. I'm excited as can be, but I haven't really started packing yet. There are still a few more gifts to be bought, maybe a fancy dress, and I have brought up the suitcase, adapter, and euro hairdrier. The actual packing will take place on Wednesday, since my flight doesn't leave until 7 and I took the whole day off. The bills are paid, the blog has been moved, and the camera has been charged. So really, what's the big deal about stuffing a big wad of winter clothing into a bag? Easy Peasy.

(Stay tuned for the packing meltdown on Wednesday!)