Vienna, Austria

Marcela finds me funny too!
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I started my Vienna trip in a posh restaurant called Haas Haus.  Tai took me here for a yummy dinner!  She was the first friendly face I have seen since I left for my travels and it was fun to hang out.  Haas Haus overlooks Stephansplatz, which is the most famous church in Vienna.

The next day Tai, her kids and her Austrian friend Maria went to the Wachau.  The Wachau is the wine region (think Napa Valley) and as you'd imagine is ridiculously beautiful!  It seems children like me a lot.  I think its because my maturity level matches theirs.  Okay, maybe it doesn't quite match... Drew is 7 after all.  I head home that night, exhausted!  Kids have endless energy!  I think how lucky my parents were to have a child who slept all the time ;-)

It seems children like me a lot. I think its because my maturity level matches theirs.

Hanging with Tai in Vienna!
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The next day I head out to see the city.  I go to a variety of Museums including the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum.  The former has 5 Rembrandts.  Now I can't tell a Snoopy from a Van Gogh... but it is clear that this fellow can paint!  The latter museum has a statue that is 25,000 years old and is the 2nd oldest ever found.  Its quite amazing to see.  After the museums I take long walks through their pretty parks and pet some friendly dogs. I try in my highest voice to say "hey buddy, who's the prettiest buddy around?"  But no response.  Then I remember the dogs here only speak German.  Ahh well.

Overlooking the Wachau
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The next day I take a river tour on the Danube.  I meet three Russians; Lara, Natasha and Nicety.  We drink beers as we tour the Danube locks.  I've never been in a lock before... it's pretty cool.  They need to make shoes like this.  Then whenever I need something from the top shelf, I can just push a button and the shoes will lift me up.

After the river tour, I head to the Film Festival at Rathaus.  The Rathaus is gorgeous and holding a festival here is surreal!  We watch an animated Peter & the Wolf adaptation.   After, we see a concerto.  It is one of my favorite things to do in Vienna.

The Wachau region (wine region). We ate at those trees next to the blue church tower overlooking the Danube!
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That night I head off to the Casino to try my luck.  Sadly no craps tables.  So I head up to the Roulette tables and win 40 Euros!  After this I get a drink at the bar and meet Walter, Evelyn and Christian.  Walter has visited all over the US and is simply shocked that he can understand every word I say.  He cant believe I don't have an accent.  Now those of you who have traveled with me know that when I am in a foreign country I lose my ability to speak English correctly.  I speak broke english. You understand me but english is not good. Walter thinks this is easy to understand... so maybe this broken english was my master plan all along!  Oh well, it was worth a try.

Tai with her kids and her friend Maria.
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The next day I head off on a day trip via Train to Bratislava.  Bratislava is very cute.  If I had a friend who played chess, we could've played on the biggest board I've ever seen.  That night, back in Vienna I try sushi at EN - and it is very good.  I am starting to figure out how to order sushi correctly when I travel.  Just stick to the basics!  Just like my English.  Hmmm, maybe I'm on to something here.

Now, I swear the fountain of youth is in Europe.  Narcisa, a girl I meet at a bar guesses my age and thinks I am 27!  I tell you, I may never leave Europe if everyone keeps guessing that I am 27.  I suppose I should ask someone to guess who is older than 22.  Ahh, but whats the point, this way I am one year younger than Iryna ;-)

The church tower as seen from the ruins
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I leave Vienna to go to Brno which is 2 hours away by train.  My plan is to stay in Brno for 4 nights before I head to Salzburg.  I check into my hotel and go to the room and unpack.  There is no bathroom in the room - you have to use the common bathroom in the hallway.  I try, but someone has eaten something they shouldn't have and the bathroom is occupado.  Occupado for quite some time.  So I go back to the room to lay down to take a little nap, but roll onto the floor.  The bed is mysteriously on a 30 degree slant.  Now 30 degrees doesn't sound like a lot but you realize it is each time your head hits the floor.  I try to wedge one leg under a chair to the side of the bed to prop myself up, but my legs falls asleep and then, thunk, head hits the floor.  It is very hot in the room so I forgo the bed and try to take a cold shower.  At least this is in the room.  I head over and pull the curtain and see a shower handle.  It is short, very short.  I pull it up but it only reaches my belly button.  Hmmm.  Hmmmm.  No way to get the shower head higher?  Hmmmm. I suppose I could get on my knees to take a shower, but I do not.  Nope, not as hot as thought.  Instead I head out of the room to get some lunch.  I find a cafe.  Well actually it wasn't hard.  All Brno has is cafes.  And they have every food imaginable.  You know those restaurants that cant decide what they are?  Italian, Thai, Korean, Mexican.  I order some fish.  1 hour later... no kidding, 1 hour later it arrives.  I eat and then use their restroom.  No occupado.  I then head out to sightsee.  I see all of Brno in the next 5 hours.  There is a pretty red church and castle too.  The architecture is very nice.  But clearly Brno wasn't meant to be.  I go back to the hotel, sleep on the floor and head back to Vienna in the AM.

Experimental Sushi. Stick with the basics!
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Whew!  Back in Vienna!  My first night back I head out to sushi.  I need comfort food after my stay in Brno.  I go to Dots, experimental sushi.  I am ready... I stick to the basics.  And its pretty good.  I meet Susanne and Bettina.  They are Austrian.  Finally, some locals! And they are not 21.  I don't ask - but guess 28(ish).  We chat over sushi and start drinking, Proseco.  We then head to a bar in the front of the restaurant for more drinking.  We upgrade to champagne.  It is an awesome night!  Susanne works for Hugo Boss and travels Austria making sure all the stores look good.  Bettina shops.  Seriously, every time I asked her what she did, this is what she said.  No wonder I had to buy the drinks.  Girl has no money!  At 3am we head home.  I stagger.  Susanne said she has to go to work in the AM.  This must be impossible, I can barely walk.  I wake up at Noon and spend the next day laying about.

Vienna is so beautiful!
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The next night I head off to a dinner party.  My new friend Marcela has been invited and brings me along.  Marcela and I dont eat meat so our host Anita is nice enough to cook us spicy pasta and garlic bread.  It is yummy!  We drink much wine and chat about places all over the world.  The trains shut down at 12:30am in Austria so we have to hurry home... but we get a bit lost on the way.  But it's ok, we find our way just in time!

My final night in Vienna was a typical Spitzie night! I met my new friend Susi out at her friends bday party in a park near Praterstern.  We drink at the park and then head to an underground club nearby.  It really is underground... underneath the train station!  Of course, more drinks follow and then I seem to recall staggering home at 4am.  Much fun that night... and the exact opposite the next day!  In fact, I was so tired the next night that I broke my sleeping record... I slept 13 straight hours.  Think of how much longer I wouldve slept if there was Patron around!