AS promised....

OK, after some exercise and fresh air - walking in the Prater, I am back to continue my saga.

Sunday and Monday were pretty busy, so here goes. Went first to the Wien Museum on Sunday morning. Smallish museum that recounts the history of the city thru various maps, models and artifacts, from pre-Roman to current tlime. Good for getting a sense of how the city developed. There was an incredible digital display of the Roman settlement- really a military outpost that was their northernmost boundary, holding back the Germanic barbarians! Lots of room-sized city models and on the top floor, the living room from Adolph Loos' apartment! Cool.

In the afternoon we went to a Purim party at the liberal synagogue- Or Chodesh. Turns out it is just a short walk from our apartment and it was really nice. Very friendly and hamishe people, many transplanted from US and Britain, but not all. They had a cute skit by some kids (in constumes of course) and read the Megilla in a variety of languages, and served lots of wine and schnapps for drinking, as well as extremely loud groggers. They are a do-it-yourself congregation with a rabbi that comes once a month from England. And best of all, they are going to have a community seder, so we will join them for that, as well as other times I am sure.

After that, in the evening, we found an English movie theater and saw Sherlock Holmes, so that we can talk to our daughters about it! LOts of fun actually.

MOnday was a day for getting necessary business done. First had to get a form signed by our landlord to testify that we are not living on the street (!) Then had to take it to the Magistrate's office to "register." So many people there when we arrived but it actually didn't take that long to wait- a chance to see the famous Austrian bureaucracy up close and personal. And they are really pretty efficient! Except then we had to take their form to a bank so we could open and account. It took three tries at 3 different banks til we found one that wasn't a big hassle! But we finally did it- so now we are truly official. All that took most of the day- and Rich's birthday at that!

In the evening we met an American colleaque of his from Rutgers who is here also looking at some of the green buildings Rich is studying. We had dinner with him and then went to see God of Carnage at the English Theater- the oldest English language theater in continental Europe. Quite a good production, alto the play is fairly depressing. Then we had to go to a cafe for strudel for further birthday celebrations!

So I am finally getting caught up. Rich went to the University today and really got started with his work. He met with some architects from the planning department and he went to see a new, solar office building on the outskirts of the city. Unfortunately, on the way, in the subway, he had his pocket picked! But they were very nice thiefs and returned his wallet with all his cards- just wanted the cash and luckily he did not have very much on him at the time!

I spent a quiet day at home, catching up on a variety of things. Tomorrow we go to Linz- why you ask? For Linzer Torte of course!