Wiener Festwochen 2010

What I learned yesterday - do not confused Wien (Vienna) with Weiner (hot dog)! Went on a typical tourist sightseeing tour of the city (on a bus - half French/half English speaking) which included Schonbrunn Palace, the place Maria Theresa built for her family in the 1700s - she had 16 children and was the first female to rule the Hapsburg empire! She had nice digs for her family. Since I like to post oddball pictures rather than the tourist spots. I saw one of many advertising posts and this one caught my eye - she loves ice cream as do most Viennese - there are ice cream places and sweet shops everywhere and everyone seems to have ice cream at any time - even with beer.
Next picture - these guys in different (Mozart, Strauss, Chopin etc) costumes and hawking concert tickets - when I took his picture he walked quickly behind me and called out "Mamarazzi, mamarazzi" - since the paparazzi (journalist photographers who go after celebrities) must be male????? Since we attended one of these concerts in Prague did not feel the need here.

From the subway underground shopping - love the Phantasy Schmuckgalerie of jewelry - I am not enough of a schmuck to buy from them. Best find of the day: Wow - after a great Asian dinner at Yohm we ambled over to Rathausplatz (City Hall Square) for the 9:20pm opening of the Vienna Festival 2010 - it was fantastic. We heard the finalists for the Eurovision Young Musicians (cello, flute, piano, accordian and more) all accompanied by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra with a fantastic setup and sound system. The center was full of people who barely made a sound - wonderful classical music and best of all - FREE - will be anxious to see which of the 7 finalists ranging from 16-19 won. They were from across Europe and very touching. The Festival or Festwochen started yesterday and goes into June. Below is a picture of the scene taken about 10pm. People here have been wonderful to us.

Art the end of the day my new Austrian-made slippers felt great - not sure what it says on the felted wool but they are comfy. Today off to find the Deutschmeister Band march through town and give a concert then ramble around to do what we want.