Friday Sept 21 - off we go to explore Vienna - first, a ride on the metro now if I could just figure
out how to get a ticket - someone stops to help, yeah!! - it's an 'automated' station - I go one stop from Taubstamemgrasse to Karlsplasse - my goal to get to the Spanish Riding School for 'Morning Exercise (of the horses) with Music!! - Im in the right general area but can't figure out the doorway oh well wait a while and a line-up forms must be the place!!
 The most amazing thing here is the exercise 'yard' which is a bldg which is quite beautiful and also cold/damp - there are 3 groups of 6 horses who come out together and do their exercises - we are assured these are for the benefit of the horses, not us so we may not see the 'famous' jumps   etc ., ..we don't basically the horses walk around..we are also reminded several times that photo are 'absolutely forbidden' -
Most of the horses are grey or more mature fully white but there is also in each group a beautiful brown horse - really gorgeous -- the most interesting thing that happens is that at the end some
scattered applause breaks out and 'freaks' the horses!!

Now to find the Tourist Info place - yeah!! lots of questions but probably the most important is how do I get out of Vienna on Tuesday heading for Krakow. I buy my train ticket here - have been travelling 2nd class but that was Switzerland think on this train I may go 1st - however it is almost 45$ more and only available for the first half of the journey so -- I know my place! - 2nd class it is!!

Find the Naschmarket which is a really interesting place - one row of eating places lots of oriental-sushi, vietnamese as well as Austrian - which I choose - sausage sauerkraut bread and shrum (red)! - wine that has been fermenting for a short time it is cloudy and a little sweet - I liked it. I get a generous daub of mustard it is not hot but spicy.
The other row at the market is people selling all kinds of produce - lovely variety of fruits, cheeses, meats and fish and fish!!

Followed by coffee at a street side cafe - after sitting for about 15min realize I have left my hat in the toilet - yep, it's gone!! another one bites the dust!!

Followed by a short visit to Secession House where I see my first Klimt exhibit - he's having an anniversary this year so lots of ads about who has some of his work! for this one I say big deal although others seem impressed ....

and then - the absolute requirement in Vienna Sachertorte at the Sacher hotel - and tasty it is!!

ok - its time for home - and ---- I have a bathtub just the thing for tired tourist toes!! My apt is a studio but has 3 large windows - love european windows that open either from the top or sideways - we should import!

Saturday - I head out early ( have to wait for the box office to open) to the Belvedere Palace - beautiful-- here because they have lots of Klimt. wondering if people come here to see the art in the building or just the buildings - they are beautiful!

- lots of tourists
- hear every language of the world but lots of Russian, Japanese and some arabic (the men are always carrying LOTS of parcels- the women gliding along doing the choosing!!
- discounts for over 60 yrs
- people smoke
- take my first tram ride

Lunch - search out Trzesniewski buffet for lunch wow - a small cafe with about 20 finger sandwich choices - mine: egg with egg ( pronounced i mit i) sardine/onion, tomato - and a small beer pfaff (about 1/8 of a litre) like those small A.W mugs of long ago - anyway it's delicious - all are served on a sturdy dark bread - the tomato is my favorite sort of like a fine bruschette with lots of parsley etc)
Demel's - was going to wait but advice is avoid the late afternoon rush and I still have room so head to the 2nd most famous cake shop - and have, apple strudel - interestingly cheaper than it Switzerland 3.50e and an 'Americano' coffee - there is only one place outside with a woman so I am bold and ask if I can share her table (after I ask if she speaks english) - fortunately she says
yes; strudel/coffee good - the woman.......from TO - here to join a cruise.

Off to the Hofburg Palace - fortunately only a 10min walk ------

I wonder if this is a 'blog' or a novel - I do like to talk -- but most of you already know that!!
- thanks for reading