Back to where I once belonged. . .

Nothing much to say about my two weeks in Europe. To my amazement, the flight to Vienna felt quick, or as quickly as twelve hours can feel. Guess I slept. These sound-blocking headphones really do work. As soon as I checked in to my hotel I went right back out to walk around and catch the sun, reset my clock, but only got through a couple of blocks before going down into the subway. My motto is: no pain, no. . . problem! And of course I had schnitzel for dinner, though my body thought it was too early for breakfast.

My first photographic stop the next day was the Imperial Palace, too huge to shoot all in one day, so I did my favorite parts first, like the Ephesus Museum and its huge collection of Greek/Turk archaeology, as well as the Ethnological museum, housing rare artifacts like Montezuma’s feather headdress, which is not at all like you’d think. Though it seems wrong for it to be here; should be in Anthro museum in Mexico City, along with the Dresden codex and such.

Amazed that I could hold out that long, I headed for the Prater that night--the local version of Disneyland--but never going on Reisenrad again, not even with a girl. The first time the excitement blocked out the willies, but since my fear of heights has only gotten worse recently, I’ll stick to the plenty of fun on the ground. The park looks amazing from down here as well anyways. Yet as I looked up at the Reisenrad, the music from the James Bond movie is in my head, not from Third Man.

I can’t believe the guy from the shooting gallery remembers me! Maybe I still have the record! And as I get older, the haunted houses seem a lot tamer--this from someone who won’t watch horror flicks

The next day was all work, but the day after that I took off to look for all the “Before Sunrise” locations--did NOT find the condoms in the park, by the way.

93 degrees in Vienna! NOOOOOOO! That’s not right! And can you believe the National Library has 200,000 books? They finally kicked me out before I could set up a campground. That’s okay, had to get off to bed because I was catching the early train to Prague, where I would spend the weekend.

Is it weird to think of an architectural feature as an old fried? Hi, Charles Bridge! Then spent the whole afternoon in the castle--shot more than 20 rolls. The topper on the day was a walk along the river, where I noticed there’s a helluva lot more hookers on the streets than I remember. . . A LOT more. . . {as my buddy Jim said, “So many hookers, so little time. . .”} Also discovered Prague has an Italian section--had no idea, and there’d been times in the past when I coulda used a romantic restaurant. . .

As opposed to that incredibly hot day in Vienna, morning here was cloudy, 60 degrees with occasional showers. . . niceeeeeeee. Glad I shot the castle yesterday, though. Spent the morning shooting the flower market, which is a lot different than a garden; less walking and wet grass, mostly. The only reason I went to the cathedral is for the St. George vr Dragon statue in front--though I find myself rooting for the dragon. And of course had to stroll across the Charles Bridge again. . . where some guy tried to sell me a hammer! I was so surprised I didn’t get to say “The hammer is my penis.”

Then a quick change of plans: instead of heading back to Vienna, took a little side trip to Budapest instead. Just like the Charles Bridge, can I say how much I love the Budapest train station? They sell delicious grapes too, although Gabby doesn’t work at the McD’s across the street anymore. . . But still, I love this town like I’d never left it. Though I did notice the blatant hookers of yesteryear aren’t so blatant anymore; they either moved inside. . . Or went over to Prague, which would explain what I saw there. Or went into porn. . .

Still playing hooky, my next stop was just one day and night in Salzburg, walking along the river to see if that blonde jogger who ran into me--literally--was still jogging along here, maybe hoping to run into me again. . . now there’s a twist “Beyond Sunrise” didn’t think of! Then at the castle I looked out toward the west and spotted the same palace I’d photographed years ago, looking pretty much the same. I had the bright idea of going over there and knocking on the front door just so I could finally put a name to the photograph, but it didn’t work out, sigh. Next time. . . And also say more than a quick hello to Hallstadtt, one of my fave places to get away from it all. . .

Okay, back to Vienna and its palaces. My work sheet instructed me to get some shots of Empress Sissi’s rooms, which I dreaded--sure, she was pretty hot for her time, but she musta been the goddess for today’s bimbo airheads, letting her pride lead her to having a 21-inch waist after 4 kids, having servants brush her hair for two hours a day, etc. Yech. The Riding School, as always, and the Imperial Treasury were a lot more interesting, though count me as not impressed by the Boys Choir.

Just outside the main entrance a gorgeous teen who looks like the cheerleader from Heroes, dressed in her schoolgirl outfit, came on to me, with her friends giggling behind her. Damn morals. . . To feel better, I had my third schnitzel (country-fried steak) of the trip. I can’t believe I’m not in double-digits!

Then, finally, the highlight of the trip, meeting up with an old friend from my UN days. 20 years later, she still looks like a young Heather Graham, hadn’t changed a bit. The very definition of a yummy redhead. . . excuse me, I’ll be in my bunk. . .

As more usual than the first plane, instead of sleeping I spent the whole trip looking at the tiny TV inside the chair in front of me. They have Serenity--how can I not? Wash still dies at the end; but I didn’t cry. . . this time. Now watching How I Met Your Mother, even though I have the DVDs.

Can’t believe I had an hour-long discussion on sandals! Sigh. . .

Okay, so there was a lot to say. Go figure.