Mozart in Vienna

While the pictures don’t do it justice, the interior of Michaelerkirche is amazing. The depiction of the creation of man, with heaven above and hell below really fascinated me. What I didn’t’ realize until I was back in the apartment looking at the guide book (figuring where to go tomorrow morning) was that Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ debuted in this church on December 10th, 1791. Of course, I had to have this on the apartment stereo as I write this. But then, it’s only 1 of 2 CD’s that I have!

Still trying to figure how to play the iPod through the stereo. Tragically, all the stereo buttons are in German…

Saturday in Vienna

Left the apartment a little before 8:00 am and came back six hours later after a hike around town. Started off at the Naschmarkt, the largest daily outdoor market in town (GREAT coffee spots and people watching sitting outside) which on Saturdays also has a massive outdoor flea market. Brillian sunny day today, so the market was jammed.

Had breakfast in the market, then wandered off to try a different coffee place - Cafe Sperl, where a young Adoph H used to go spout off and generally be a boor in the early 1920's. No trace of him anymore, thankfully. Great place to hang out and read the latest issue of the Economist (lots of course on what's going on in Myanmar).

Off to the Museum Quarter, through the Hofburg and to another, more famous coffee spot - Demel, for the sacher torte. Like a good little consultant, back to the apartment afterwards to put some hours into a client file.

Tomorrow, Sunday, a little coffee, a little walking, a little work, a little nap...

Prophetic image...

Could this really be an early dipiction of another tourist fighting off the local pickpockets in Vienna?

And no, I'm NOT over it! Can't figure who I'm more pissed at: the thief, or myself for leaving everything in one wallet, in my hip pocket. What a simpleton!

Vienna office

To see some pictures of where I'm working, go to http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/visitors_service.html

I haven't had time to take pictures myself, and these are likely better than I'll take. The first picture on the web site shows the UN buildings with some small lakes in the foreground. My office is on the 14 th floor overlooking these lakes and the Danube River. Beats the view second floor view of the parking lot I have back home....

Found him!!!

As a highly skilled investigator (those who know of my prowess in finding the office fridge will get the joke) I was able to track down the nimble fingered thief who lifted my wallet. I'm sure it's the one in disguise in the middle... He has that look about him...

My street

I'm on Neubaugurtel, a block from Westbahnhof train & subway station. Lovely quiet street. Parochial school at the end on the left (yellow building), with a curry restaurant across the street, and a Turkish one across from that. One of the more well known schnitzel houses (Zu den Zwei Lieslin)is ten minutes walk away, so I'm off to try that tonight. No, this trip isn't all about food... Seriously!

Starbucks who?

One thing about the Viennese, they know what coffee is all about. This is Cafe Central in the Innere Stadt (central, old part of town) where Trotsky used to come play chess. Gilded, vaulted ceilings, marble pillars. I sat for over two hours doing reading for work (justice and security sector reform in post conflict and transitional states) and marveling at the reality of being here. Amazing.

Welcome to Vienna

Vienna - - - land of history (the Romans were here 2000 years ago), interesting sights, great coffee, and pickpockets. When you're distracted taking pictures, guess what happens?

Lesson learned the hard way - if you have 500 Euro's, two credit cards and an ATM card, leave most of it in the hotel room safe, NOT in your wallet in your back pocket. At least my passport was in my room, and I'd bought a cell sim card and air time yesterday, along with a four week subway pass. I had also stored all my credit & ATM card numbers in an e-mail account so was able to call and cancel them, and call home to ask for a Western Union wire transfer.

Silly, silly, silly me.

On the other hand, it could have been far worse!

The passing of a friend...

Sieglinde and I never had children together, so the "son we never had" was our great friend Balloo.

When we found him at the SPCA, he was a little eight pound bundle of black fur and he looked like a bear cub. So, we named him after Balloo the bear in Kipling's Jungle Book. For thirteen years, he gave us countless hours of joy and unconditional love. He had as great a life as a dog can have, made friends with everyone he met, and left us suddenly two weeks ago.

He is missed by all who knew him.