Vienna

Having an amazing time in this city. Vienna is known as the "Paris of the East" and I have to say that it is NOT an overstatment. We have pushed hard while we were here and yet there is so much more to do, see, and Eat! With good fortune we will return some day and if you should have the chance we strongly urge you to come and see for yourself.

We leave today for the city of Edger in Hungary - its pretty far east and out in the rural country - bloggin from the Westbahnhof (train station) in Vienna.

Thru the Backdoor.

One of the things we strive for in traveling is to get away from the common, packaged tourist traps and find the real local experience. Our favorite travel guide, Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) calls this "traveling through the back door". Found 2 back doors last night.

First we had a late dinner in a small restaurant off a deserted alley. Inside were real locals having their beers and their dinner. Not a word of English. No souvenier shops.

The second back door was opened by Jacob, the son of Jan & Charlotta the owners of our B&B. Got in around 11 PM and met up with Jacob and another couple staying here from California. Jacob pulls out a bottle of Plum Brandy from the freezer and we end up doing shots (toasts in Czech,of course) and staying up until almost 2 AM talking politics, religion, history, marriage, children, etc. It never ceases to amaze me both how similar and how different people are all over the world.