I Wish I Was A Weiner

VIENNA--Well, here we are in the city of champions. At least from an artist's standpoint. They actually have a walk of fame here, much like the one in Hollywood, only here it's all classical musicians. I will be brief because apparently in Austria time is money. I'll type as fast as I can...

We drove for a long time yesterday, making our way from Prague. Cloudy grey day, perfect for sleeping or reading a book. The countryside is full of mustard fields, vineyards, and my favorite surprise, red poppies. Some of the kids picked a few and decorated their hair. We did a rest stop just across the border...our first All-German menu. Encountered a little frustration when students couldn't order properly--a big thankyou to Paul Buyer and Matt Burcham for sharing their German language with the rest of us gringos.

Eventually with full bellies, we headed to the Central Cemetery. I think every teacher said something along the lines of "I could spend all day here." It is amazing. Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert, Schoenberg, and Hugo Wolf are all there, along with hundreds of thousands of others. It was a remarkable way to start our visit and really feel like we were in the presence of greatness.

Dinner got a unanymous "YES!" when we were finished. Beef burgundy with egg noodles, a brothy soup that tasted a lot like WonTon, and tiramisu. We were in hog heaven.

The day just continued to get better...most of us spent the evening at The Prater. The Prater is the world's largest amusement park. It's open every day and night and admission is free; you just have to pay for your rides and food. Everyone split into groups and when we compared notes this morning it was clear, things are different over here! The rides are run more like game shows--there's lots of dialogue between the passengers and the Carnies, and it's just an incredibly fun atmosphere. There are detailed stories to tell, but they will have to wait for a day when Internet access is a little less expensive!

We did a city tour this morning to get an orientation of the city, and we are preparing to head to a music museum. It's a hands-on place, and in such a rich cultural environment, I expect it to be great. Hope all is well back home; we'll keep you posted!