Sunday's Performance

All I can say is WOW!

This won't make 100% sense to the non horse people.

There was an exibit of a horse in long lines and they did an entire GRAND PRIX test IN HAND - including one tempis and counter changes of hand at a canter - IN HAND! IMPRESSIVE! There were also horses that performed airs above the ground in hand - then the horses with riders performed airs above the ground - including levade, courbette, and capriole. They also did a quadrille performance.

I probably should have spent the rest of the afternoon going to museums and such since I leave for Krakow, Poland tomorrow but I walked back to the hostel (15-20 minutes including picture stops) and enjoyed the weather and scenery. EVERY building I have seen in Vienna (including the modern ones) has something special to look at - be it decoration or architecture.

For those who asked about the camel ranch because you knew it was important to me that I go camel riding: I did not go to the camel ranch because I rode a camel at the Giza plateau (overlooking the pyramids) and I also rode a camel at Petra (Jordan) for about 1/2 hour. That plus the 109F (46C) in Eilat, I decided it was not worth it since I already rode two camels.

Funny thing about airport security: They are SO worried that you do not have ANYTHING sharp in your carry on bags - yet then the airlines give you metal flatware (knife, fork, spoon) with your meals. Also about Israel airport security that is suppose to be super strict - it is very secure (they even scan your bags - the ones you are checking in - before check in and question you if they see anything suspicious - a VERY good procedure) yet you can carry your bottled water or pop through security and they don't make you throw it out like they do in the US or EU.

I do not know when I will have internet access again since I leave for the airport in the morning (Monday) and I do not know if the hotel in Krakow will have internet access - and I'm staying at a hotel when I return to Vienna on friday - then returning to Seattle :( on the following Monday (September 10th)

It's been an AMAZING trip - and has gone better than I had planned.

Saturday

If I haven't apologized for the mispelled words yet, I am doing so now. The German keyboard has some of the letters and punctuation in different places than American keyboards ( Y and Z are switched and @ is ctrl+alt+Q for two examples)

I am having an AMAZING time. Today I attended the first Spanish Riding School performance - actually this one was like a high level riding clinic - the real performance is tomorrow. I then travelled by the U (underground) and went to the Prater where the giant ferris wheel is. I rode the ferris wheel. Actually the cars are enclosed and you can stand up and walk around as the ferris wheel slowly moves. It is not scary and even wouldn't be scary for people who are otherwise afraid of ferris wheels. I then took the U to the Danube (Danau) tower where I went to the top. It is MUCH larger than the Space Needle - and get this: they bungy jump off of it (no, I did not bungy jump :P ) I then took the U back two stops where the stop is over the Danube (Danau) river where I took some pictures before continuing back to the hostel.

Vienna is a lot like Seattle. Weather is the same as you guys are having (I told you I would check up on you :P ) and the plants and trees are the very same types too. The Danau tower is in a huge park where there is lots of water, willows, rose gardens, and similar plants to what is in Seattle.

The public transportation is VERY good ---- several Underground lines, several trams, and a CAT --- City Airport (non stop) - which connects to a main U terminal in the city where you can even check in your luggage for your flight up to 24 hours in advance.

Lots of dogs in Vienna (on leashes) and apparently they are allowed on the U and public transportation.

I plan on writing more tomorrow.

Take care :)