Hello everybody! I swear, I was going to update yesterday, but Max already had and I didn't want to override his. Anyway, here I am in Vienna. I arrived on Wednesday morning after another overnight train. Again, I did not sleep very well, but it was enough. I shared the cabin with an optometrist named Othmar from Vienna. He was very kind and must have learned many new words as I tried to sew my backpack. Ah yes, the backpack, the metal structure part ripped a hole through the bottom of the bag while we were in the trainstation in Hamburg. I can only assume Max did it because he was holding the bag at the time we noticed it. (Just kidding, I believe it was the 300 pounds I was carrying in it for 3 weeks.) Teresa chatted up the shoe repair guy in the station and got me a piece of leather. My 3 sewing kit needles broke during the job, but I believe I got enough of it covered to prevent further tearage.

Wednesday I visited "Haus der Musik," an interactive museum covering how the ears work and we interpret sound, how sound waves work, music technology, and the history of Vienna musicians. There was even a room where I stood in front of a huge tvscreen, used an electronic conductors wand to conduct the orchestra on the tv. If I messed up, they'd stop and yell at me. In German of course. Very amusing.

That night I also went to "Lohengrin," and opera by Wagner in the Vienna State Opera House. It was incredible. And cheap, too, only 3.50 Euros, but I had to stand. It was ok, there was a railing to lean on, and I had my own little screen with the translations on it. It went for 4 hours! My feet, although in new Geox comfy sandals, were still a bit sore.

Thursday morning I went to the Belvedere palace and gardens. I saw art by Klimt, "The Kiss," and many other artists I had and hadn't heard of. It was lovely. I had lunch in the gardens thanks to Teresa and her packing of food skills. I'm still eating on some of that, by the way.

Thursday night I met with Othmar (from the train) and his wife. They took me up to the nearby hills/minimountains to the wineries. We walked more (This was ok...it was more of a relaxed pace,) and enjoyed the view of Vienna from above. We then had dinner at one of the wineries. They were absolutely wonderful and I am so grateful for their kindness and time spent with me.

Now it is Friday morning and I am off to see more sites here in Wien, as it is called here. I will maybe take off for Prague tomorrow, and then will try to upload photos.

Love you all!

Nikki