Auf Wiedersehen, Vienna

Last night we left the curtains open so we could see the lights of the city, and this morning...what?! There's another boat tied to us! Quick! Close the curtains! We heard this happened when ports got busy.

After breakfast with the Canadian couple who negatively categorize all Americans ("you're ok because you're Democrats," which I had to correct her on), we were off to some museums we had to hit yet. First, the World Museum Vienna (Weltmuseum Wien) where Greg got to look at armor to his heart's content. A great many suits of armor (back to Maximilian I, former Holy Roman Emperor in the 15th century) to Turkish items from when the Ottomans under Suleimen II tried to take Vienna in the 17th century. There was also a great collection of early musical instruments (Greg got to play an 18th century clavinet). Also saw a well-said piece on how we can view other cultures, "Encounters between these worlds...are characterized by fear and attraction. People transfer their own sensitivities and desires onto that which is new and unfamiliar. Sometimes they might even find it intoxicating, until one day unexpected sides of the opposing culture reveal themselves, and admiration turns into contempt."

Then off to the Albertina (a cute combination of Albert and Christina, Maria Theresa's favorite daughter, in which they used to live). Some interesting art and an animated video on Honoré Daumier and a nice Impressionism section.

We leave Port tonight at 11:30 for a quick jaunt to Slovakia.Read more