BARCELONA

Well, well. I am not more rested than before but I have a little bit of time before the night starts.

This is a wonderful city! it has electric energy that charges even the death...or the very tired like myself. It´can be 3 am and there are people in the streets, you can eat whatever whenever and it feels generally safe in the very public places.

I have found Barcelona to be the city of details, everything is in the details. Walk for a while around the streets and pay attention and you will see all sorts of beautiful, odd, horrible but always creative detailing on buildings.


See what I mean, all in the details!! 



Things like window frames, AMAZING doors, unexpected gargoiles, beautiful concrete engraving on buildings called esgraciado, art nouveau catalan por todos lados y los magnificos edificions de Antoni Gaudi.


door detail. Restaurant signage in catalan art nuvo 


I am sure that his work is not everyone`s cup of tea, the aesthetic is so different and unusual and unexpected that it creates some kind of visual indigestion that needs to be nurtured with some AlkaSeltzer, ok, that sounds bad but I don´t mean it in a bad way. I love it, i love that it is is concepual, that it mixes art, craft and architecture and nature. I love the colours and mostly to me it seems unpretentious and fun, seems that the guy was just having plain fun and what is even better is that he was left alone to do his work, his way. I wonder if in Vancouver or other cities that creativity would be allowed to develop.


La Pedrera. Gaudi. 


Another Gaudi building 

The part Guell is beautiful, it looks like a Tim Burton movie, I wonder how much of Tim burtons inspiration comes from gaudi´s work. It is wonky, it seems that it is going to star moving at any moment.


Detalle de las banca I like that it is a ¨"mountain " park, not a flat one, and there are some sort of balconies that look they were made with wet sand "bolitas" some of them are scary, like from a scary movie. The houses, like the Pedrera are amazing. The roof top is quite something, but I could´t see it all as I got a horrendous vertigo attack. It has been getting worse, I am worried about it, perhaps it is time for me to go skydiving again.....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.

MAS BARCELONA

Mi amiga Martha (de Espana y de Burnaby) muy linda me dio contactos de sus amigos en Barcelona. Conoci a su hermano Albert muy simpatico que me ha invitado a una fiesta y otro dia al cine con sus amigos del hiking, a group of really nice and interesting Barcelonians. Two of them took me for a Valencia dinner with cidra after the movie and we had a very animated evening! So thanks Albert!

Also, I have met 2 of Spain´s wonders: Rafael and Jomelo, another 2 of Marthas friends. They are the funniest people ! I went for a coffee with Rafael and he took me on a quick walking tour of Barcelona, showed me all the amazing design stores that Erwin so kindly recommended and then went for lunch to his place. He shares his piso with his friend Jomelo, a beautiful place and we had a great lunch served by the cook! so nice to eat like we use to eat at home. Then Jomelo, who is a developer and architect took me around to see buildings and imagine, a private architectural tour of the city by someone that knows a lot about it! well, I had a blast and learnt a lot. We went to a bar to have a bikini and a clara (ok, i had a coffee) and a clara is a Michelada by the way. Then Rafael joined us again and they took me to eat Jamon Iberico and beer and to show me the seedy part of town! more churches, the school of design, the hospital and all with explanaitons, anecdotes and a lot of laughs. We ended the evening totally drunk at some Ramblas bar .... not true about the totally drunk! Great day!!

I have gone to so many places that it is hard to remember. My brain is really, really tired. Today I went to the Guell park where I met a Kiwi and we toured around together, and then to the Tiditabo mountain where we met a great spanish couple with whom we are going to go out tonight to celebrate Oscar´s bday and the best way is to be the ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, when things just take their course amazing things happen!


Montserrat sculptures and a section of where people put their candles, mine is a red one in the bottom left hand corner. Photo. CB2006 

Tibidabo is the highest point in Barcelona and there is a big church, and during the summer a fair. Right below it there is a fancy neighbourhood (don't remember the name).


View from Tibidabo 

That day we were about 2 degrees in the morning and by 2 pm it was about 20! great but not when carrying 10 kilos of winter clothes!!



more view from tibidabo. CB2006 

I bought a pair of Campers, the very spanish shoes that Martha always wears, they are yellow! i wasn´t to kesen at first, but then i put them on and oooooohhh, they are sooo comfortable.

OK later i will post more on Barcelona, take care.

The SAGRADA FAMILIA

Stairs up to the tower of the Sagrada Familia. cb2006 


This are the staris to go up one of the towers in the Sagrada Familia, I went up about 50 steps, fricked out and came back down, it doesn't have a railing and it is very narrow, spiral and high, so I was a chicken and came back down!

This is the strangest church/temple that I have ever seen. So Gaudi. His concept was the "forest" and nature, to inspire goers of any religion to take some time and pray. He was a deeply religious man. The church has been in construction for something like 80 years, nothing in comparison to many of the churches around the world, like the Dome in Milan that took over 500 years to build. It is nice to see a church "in progress", perhaps it will be finished during my life time.


Tree like columns 

In order to speed up construction, they are using modern methods like making steel structures for the columns, thus, the whole church will not be recognized by the UNESCO as a monument for humanity. The only part that is is one of the facades that was built exactly as Gaudi had planned. The doors are magnificient, I think that is my favourite parte, but the tree like columns inside are not only different but soothing, perhaps is the shapes, everything inside is soft and curvy. I will be very curious to see how it is once is finished. Most people I talked to think it will be completed in the next 20 years, we'll see.


Sagrada Familia Facade 

There are several sculputres of saints, and Jesus on the cross, and the Sagrada Familia which are hard to describe. But they are intriguing and one can spend hours just observing and finding new things for a long time. I wish I could do that one day, the day that I was there it was VERY cold so it was not a day to be observing the art. My favourite doors were the ones with all the type, the worksmanship and the design are outstanding.


Details of the "type" doors. CB2006 

HOLA MAJOS GUAPETONES!!!

Aqui reportando desde las tierras Catalanas. Barcelona es tooooooodo lo que habia oido y mas, Me encanta!!! hay tanta energia que creo que si no me pongo lista voy a caer rendida del cansancio, asi es que hoy me voy de cine. Mi amigocha Marta (de Espana) ha sido una linda y me contacto con amigos de ella y su hermano. Ayer fui a tomar cafe con Albert (el hermano) y despues me invito a la fiesta de una de sus amigas que estrenaban "piso". Un depto. preciosisisisimo, enooooorme, con techos de 3 metros and big rooms and all white and the ceilings and walls decorated. So it was nice to go to a Spanish house warming. Lots of yummy food! the must curios was that for dessert there were two blocks of ice cream, so I cut a slice and put it on a plate grabbed a spoon and ate it. Later I realized that the waffers placed beside the ice cream were to MAKE YOUR OWN SANDWICH )(commercial TV resmember), so i felt really foreigner, but it´s cool, and the waffers are the exact size of the block of ice cream.

About Barcelona I don´t know where to start...there is so much going on and I am very tired. It would be the time now to stay here for a couple of weeks, sleep late and recharge batteries but no, gogogogo, and go.

The hostel is located in a great place where I can walk everywhere, the funny thing is that my boots are refusing to move, they are not liking me very much right now. O gosh, I think I am tired so I will be writing to you later on when I feel more focused and know where to start to tell you about this amazing part of the world.

Who has been here???

CIAO ITALIA

Tomorrow I am heading to Barcelona. Erwin, I am planning to stay at least a week, it was one of my primary points of interest. I was going to take the train (about 13 hours), and eventhough i have the Eurail pass I still have to pay 62 euros, and I found a flight for 75 euros, so I am flying, better 1.5 hours than 13!!!

So, next post will be from the Spanish lands!!!

I HAVE SEEN MY GRANDPA....

Yes, it is funny!

I have seen many guys that look like my grandpa, (my mom's dad). Today I saw my aunt Lourdes in the metro and have seen my mom a few times. It is weird to see Italilans look like my family, I guess the Italian gene is still in us. Everyday someone asks me for directions and a few times people have said, "I thought you were from here".

I like Italy a lot, I would like to live here given the chance. I would like to live in Rome, it has everything I love. Art, history, character, sophistication, the perfect mix of the latin + european ways and in a weird way it feels like i could fit quite well. I understand abouy 70% of italian and can speak about 3%, the prego, presto, grazie, arrivederci and a few other words come out of my mind in a very convincing way.

Tonight is my last one in Italy, I fell in love with this country. I know I will be back someday. I would really like to travel all over the place.

MILANO

Nobody in Italy so far seem to be very interested in the upcoming Winter Olympic games in Torino. The flame is going to come around Milano on Jan 29, there are some banners by the train station and that is it. weird.

Anyway, I was expecting Milano to be this fabulous place and at first glance it isn't, though I know it takes me 3 days minimum to get a good feel for a city. So today after I found out I couldn't leave I started exploring the place.

The Duomo is breathtaking, I think that so far it is my most favourite church in the gothic style, I love the gothic style. It has thousands of needles and I love the details on top of the interior columns and the ornamentation of the sections of each dome.


The Duomo, it is being restored 

I went to see the Last Supper and couldn't get in as they claimed there were no spaces available until Friday NEXT WEEK.... that sounded to me like what the Bush twins were told about the restaurant in New York. I asked, well, if someone doesn't show up can I go in, and they say, EVERYONE shows up, I said I didn't mind to wait bbut the staff was totally adamant and told me (and a few more people) to make a reservation or leave. So I left. They take 25 people every 15 minutes and if you are late you don't go in, it sucked! so if anyone is planning to travel to Milano better book now to see it, otherwisse,,,,,this is what happens. I also went to the Sforza Castello, I love old castles and went to the museum. I was looking forward sseeing the exhibit on fashion and textile design and guess what....it's no longer. Can you believe that there are no musueums of fashion in Milan or Roma?? or at least I didn't find them, but nbe sure that I have been looking for them!!
Then of course I went to walk in the Galleria Duomo and Montenapoleone, Oooooohhhh, ohhh, migod, needles to say I am still drooling, the stuff that can be found in this city.

I wonder what are the conditions that create such a fertile place for creativity. The Italians are incredibly talented people, as a people, since forever. Why is there so much genious concentrated in one country? is it the pasta? no really, i find that really fascinating. Perhaps is that they know how to enjoy life? they enjoy food, friends, family, everyone seems to talk much, kind of not holding back. Though, here in Milan people seem very tired. The well heeled are dressed perfectly but the masses don't seem to be so fashionable. cheaper clothes, vinyl purses or cheap ones. Perhaps is because everything is so expensive, I mean, shoes go for at least 180 euros. Milan is the economic power or Italy, apparently they make and sell everything here. I would like to come back here some day and really explore the scene.

In Rome and Firenze my hair was a hit, got a ton of comments. Here in Milan EVERY woman has long, straight black hair, I mean ALL of them. And the men, still with great shoes. Lots of boldies and to the relilef of some of you, some with facial hair, beards to be exact. The few nacos with a mustache, jajaja.


An outdoor theatre in Milan. See the inset, it's so cool! 

SPELLLING

The other day I was reading my posts and I was embarrased at the writing. So many mistakes that I hope most of you donàt catch. It is weird with all the different keyboards, then I am usually half asleep when writing and then....well, maybe i just donàt know how to write properly, so ignore them, OK__

VENEZIA - 3

So yes, Venezia was absolutely wonderful. I loved the place. I am just worried that it might not last much much longer. Most buildings look deteriorated and it must cost a fortune to restore all that. I will have to become more informed about "save Venezia" if it exists. I went to the Fenice Theatre, amost to see, there are a lot of problems with government funding for the Arts in Venice, for example, they have cut the budgets for the Opera houses as it is very expensive to produce them for only a few performances.

Picture perfect!! 

San Marcos is spectacular and the style so different from any other churches. I found a wonderful museum of musical instruments with many instruments from the Middle Ages, I know the music lovers would go nuts in there. Apparently must young Venizians leave the town to bigger pastures thus it is full of old people that like it quite. It is hard to party and all the houses are so close together that if you breath hard someone three buildings away will complain )this is what the locals told me).
the last night in Venize I was alone after dinner, so all alone and cold went into a bar to have a hot cappuccino, about .5 hr a couple of german lesbians came and it was quite entertaining to see them as love birds, and then about 5 irish came in. They were very funny and were saying all sorts of goofy things, they thought I didnot understand and were talking about me for a little bit, started taking pictures of me imagine! I should have charged them, and then more irish arrived. They were so funny that I couldnh help it but laugh at what they were saying so they realized that I speak english. This was around 9 pm. to make the story short we ended up singing and laughing until 1 am when we were basically kicked out. Those Irish people are crazy and they are so much fun. They were a group of mostly couples in their 50s that are rugby fans and were in Venize for a match, their team is the Ulsters from Belfast and now I know how to singç stand up, for the Ultster team, stand up....lalalalla.l I have a place to stay in Belfast, they were sooooo much fun. I am glad I stayed and did not mind being all alone in a bar full of singing irish. I remember Marcos telling me how much fun Ireland was.

I also went to the little islands of Murano, Burano and Toreccielli ?. The Murano glass is wonderful, I dont like a lot of the traditional designs, but there are some amazing modern things. Burano is soooo cute but when we arrived it was after five, was dusk and worse the fog was so thick that it was hard to distinguish the colours of the lilttle houses, it is like a toy town, lovely. And the other island it had a lot of snow still, the church is old and I liked it. I really like very very old churches like that one. The sun was setting when I arrived, it was a weird sun, like a cold fire ball suspended in the mist, very misterious.

Venize felt very safe eventhough some of the tiny mini narrow streets I had to take to my hotel could be scary, but I found out that there are 55 cameras in San Marcos square and all over Venize there are hidden cameras, they watch you all the time, so that made me feel secure, I donàt know if it is a false sense of security, but even then. They are paranoid here, to use the internet they ask you for your passport if you are a foreigner or at least a drivers licence for everyone to keep in check who uses the net. That bugs me, who the hell cares if I go to the net or not.
There are some fantastic restaurants and beautiful bars and cafes. I had a couuple of Venize tours at night and that was very, very nice. With the locals.


Being attacked by the dog-doves 


I always had wanted to go to St Marcos, seat outside and watch the action. So I did the only day that the sun came out for about 2 hours. Mmmmhhh, yummy hot chocolate, best sun of the holidays! 

VENEZIA - 2

Got you!
Venezia is so so pretty it hurts the eyes, I just get bored to hear myself saying how beautiful everythin is....I could just sit and look all day and that is what I did in fact. I went to the church of the Salute and walked around and around and I found a sunny spot by some steps going down to the ocean and just sat there, soaking up the sun and looking at the water. And later I went to have a super yummy (and expensive ) hot chocolate at the Piazza San Marcos after being attacked by an army of the fatest pigeons I have ever seen. It was a perfect day! I am stuck in Milan, I thought the train left today for Barcelona but no, only monday, wednesday and sunday so i guess ill have to stay. Im not to crazy about this place but there is much to do so might as well enjoy it right?
Will talk soon.


San Marcos 

VENECIA

I arrived to Venecia on Friday night, got looooooossssst, so lost, without a reservation and carrying my $%^&*^&*^&((**&))) suitcase all over the little bridges of Venice, arggh, first time that I hated the red monster, it is like a monster now, hahaha, i'll post more later. It is HORRIBLE HERE, I cant believe it can be so ugly with all those canals, and buildings, and ugly italians.... hahaha

this is an awsome picture!!!

FIRENZE *florence*

Cecilia flew yesterday to Berlin, it was really cool to spend sometime with my sister travelling a bit of Europe. She really hated the fact that many italian guys wax their eye brows!! funny, i never noticed until she mentioned it. So I stayed the last night in Rome by myself, wento out and had fun.

Today, tuesday, I walked around the stuff that I was missing and took the 4:30pm train to Firenze. I went on the fast one so it took 1.5 hrs instead of 3.5. When i got here it was already dark, but I LIKE IT>>>>>>LIKE IT.....i want ot live here too, hahaha, i am going nuts now. So I checked in the hostel, a really nice one, and met my roomates, there is one woman travelling with her daughter they are from Cranberra, the other onw is brazilian, one scottish and another messy one who knows. then I was asking where to go for dinner, and a girl that is travelling by herself, from Mexico joined me. Her name is Fernanda and she is 19, really nice smart fiery girl. We had a rissoto dinner and on the way back to the hostel we got invited to a party. So we went to a really posch bar, full of italians with a funky dj, got a drink had a good time and escaped from the claws of the guy that invited us. It was tons of fun, then back to the hostel and meet more people and now it is this late and I am wide awake writing on my blog. At the rissotto restaurant we met a group of Mexicans from Leon that are here in their bi-annual trip to the shoe stores..they come to italy twice a year to meet with designers and look at what the trends are. So of course we talked to them. They told me about the Italian Institute of Shoe Design.....ahhhhhhhh!!! can you hear where this is going....it's close to Venezia so when I go there I will be checking it out shoes+design+italy rrrrrrrhhhhh!! hihihi
It is cold and it is raining!! so tomorrow will be wet day too much to see.

I will send photos as soon as i can, I'll see if I can get my CD in and bother Marcelita again.

This hostel has free internet all day/night so I guess I'll be posting more often. Until then, may god be with you. Love.

SIGUE ROMA

Rome is wonderful, wonderful. I love it and want to live here!! hihihi

Of course the Vatican is the biggest corporation of the world, I am very well aware of that, but from the point of view of what we all get hammered in our brains about what the Church should mean, it doesnt make sense and its ridiculous. Big reason why I am not a devoted catholic as I see a lot of hypocrisy /dont know how to spell/

Anyway, I have heard that he Colloseum was not that great but went anyway and I found it amazing as well, that is such a familiar structure and though not as im[pressive as some of the other buildings it is a great sight! I can imagine it when it was all marble and painted adn with the people walking around in their roman outfits watching the animal shows. We heard a few tour guides saying that the lions eating Christians is more fiction than fact....go you to know. I find that my brain is so saturated with information that it is hard to remember things, besides de fact that i am definately having an affair with that German guy, Alzheimers, hahaha.

The Palladin, the place where rome was founded is a beautiful archeological park. Walking around there takes you to another time, it's all green, with those beautiful tall, dark green trees with flat tops and cypruses. The ruins are somewhat well preserved as when you look carefully there are areas where the polychromatic mosaics are still visible. I really like the very high narrow hallways with the arched ceilings. There are several fountains and the backdrop of the city with several churches are perfect for some amazing pictures. My digital camera is kind of crappy, though it is supposed to be a good one. The Sistine Chapel was everything it is meant to be, I was truly touched, stayed there staring at the ceiling for over an hour and ended up with a bad neck ache. I really need a massage, carrying the suitcase, climbind the bunk beds and carrying my day bag is heavy, my muscles hurt, well, at least I can still feel some muscles after all the gelato, hahaha

The sales in Europe started on Jan 12......aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!! well, I had to shop, Italian clothes at 70 off....wonderful, it was an amazing exercise on restrain. Perhaps next year I will come back with 2 empty suitcases. Everything fits except the jeans, the ones that do are so low that are obscene really, they look good on the veryyoungskinnycarrot girls.

Rome, rome rome, all roads go to Rome, I wonder if there is a road there for me to go back soon, well, maybe, and yes, he Italians are truly attractive and vein, but well deserved, all tall dark and handsome and really well dressed, great shoes!!!

The sunsets are amazing, now I know where Raphael got his colour palette, i got some pictures of the ski that i will send soon. Inspiration, we are surrounded by it, just a matter to keep on looking, not with the eyes but with the soul.

It is well after 2 am now, I am very sleepy and guess where I am..... Firenze!

ROMA -3

So as I was saying, all the styles of architecture are on top of each other. The city is rather chaotic, especially after being in Vienna right before but that is part of its beauty. It is obvious that the rules or each period decided to do whatever they wanted to do without having much of a big picture for a big city, but in my view that is what makes it beautiful.

Today we went to the Vatican Museum. Talking about the Vatican, the Vatican employees have been the rudest I have encountered in all Europe. There are a lot of homeless people in Rome and it is embarrasing. I mean, the mighty church should be embarassed, at least in Rome no one should go without a roof on their heads, in the city of God and with the mighty rich Vatican city. Mmmmhh, political ranting, but true. Anyway, finally saw the Sistine Chapel, it was very emotional really as it is all that showing of perfection. The guy really knew how to see thus knew how to draw, knew everythinga bout the Bible and the Divina Comedia and was able to create what he did....dam it! running out of internet, well, ciao bellos, big night out tonight, i think last one in Rome.

ROMA - 2

Only a few days here and it's fair to say that I love it!

Rome overwhelms the senses in no time at all. There is music and much noise everywhere, so much to see -from people to architecture, art, shops to amazing sunsets; the food is so delicious and rich, and the smells of coffee, pizza and pasta are everywhere, touching things is a must from an ancient rock to a soft leather purse.

I can say that I am not that ignoratnt, I've studied art, travelled a bit, love music and art shows and all that. I have seen many exhibits by well known artists and not so well known ones and still I find myself truly amazed by all the things I have seen. Yesterday we went to Vatican City and of course to the St. Peter's Basilica....I have seen so many pictures of that place, but nothing had prepared me to see what it really is... impressive!! Those of you that have been there know what I am talking about and those of you that haven-t it's hard to describe. It is so grand and magnificent that it is normal to feel like a bug, yes, like a little earthy bug. I am quite sure that was part of the strategy, make people feel like bugs so they adore God. I still think that God is not that pleased that man uses him as an excuse to create such extravagant and grandious structures, but still it is breathtaking, just the sheer size of it.

We climbed to the top of the main dome and from there the perspective is simply amazing. Unfortunatelly I had a minor freight attack *i HATE heights* so it took a lot of effort to go around, I could hardly take any pictures and I even got a bit cry baby, a bit embarrased. From there, we kept climbing until we reached the outer part of the top dome and from there we could see Rome in all its splendour. Fantastic to say the least, there is a 1200 year building, together with some houses from the Renaissance, by a Blockbuster in front of a Baroque church *ill continue later 0 internet closing now).

ROMA

AAAAAHHHHH, we arrived in Rome. So far, bellisimo!!
Will write more. Love you all. Sorry I haven't been e-mailing, I'm always half asleep when I'm on the net, or don't have enought time.

WIEN - continued

Eventhough the city itself is not that amazing, what happens in the city is.

There are several concerts, operas, ballets, plays, etc every single day! there is no shortage of cultural events. It can be very pricey - about 200 euros for a ticket or you can pay TWO euros to watch the same play-concert-opera but you have to stand, now that sucks!! but the point is that it is not prohibiting (the cost).

There was a lecture on design and advertising at the Wien Academy of Visual Arts by a well know Dutch designer, but I saw the poster the day after. I also went to the Belvedere Palace which is great but the attraction for me there was to see Klimt's 'The Kiss'. I love his work and this painting is nothing short of magnificent live. I loved it in books, but once in front of it it comes to live, the colours are rich, the textures are varied and the size is perfect. It's quite large, mmmhh, i think I woiuld like to have it in my living room, together with the lamps from one hall at the Opera House, OK , 1 lamp would be enought. Fabulous examples of Art Nuveau, which is a style that I really like, particularly in lamps. I was trying to plan how to get one of those Opera's lamps, ....I know, my criminal mind at work!!! I also went to the Secession Building, one of the finest examples of Art Nouveu Architecture. The exhibit wasn't anything great, photos of a woman with a towel in her head (what??? is that art???), any how, in the basement of the building there is a mural by Klimt, lovely, but what I liked was to see his sketches. the sketches have a raw energy that is so inspiring to me, I wonder why I can't draw like that, but I'm glad someone can do it.
The motto of the secession is: Each era its art: to art its freedom. That I like very much, I think that's so true, my students will be hearing about it !!!

At night, after the concert we went with a friend of Cesa and he took us to the highest building in Vienna to have ice cream and coffee. You can see everything from there, the Old and New Danube, yes, they have an old-new Danube, they divided it to avoid the yearly city flods, I find that so funny. We had a really fun evening with this guy, thought I think I was the third wheel. Anyhow, after that we went back to the hostel.

The last day we decided to shop..l..finally!!! so yes, I did buy some tops, super nice and as the sales in Europe just started it was well worth it!! Then we took the train, at 7:30 pm....to ROME!!!

Wien, I liked it very much, all the culture, all the music, no wonder why is the music capital of Europe!!! and the concert halls were packed (mainly locals) and people were super well dressed!! One day I would love to go the Opera Ball, it hpappens every year and it is possible to buy tickets.

WIEN

Vienna, what a place. To be honest I am not that impressed with the city. Perhaps it is because I always imagined Vienna as this elegant city, full of palaces and gardens, not very big and certainly quiet. Well, is nothing like that. Is modern, rather simple, with lots of big palace like buildings but really nothing exceptional.

We arrived in the afternoon and after checking in the hostel we went for a walk down Maryhilfigerstrasse. WOW! the shopping I mean, great clothes and shoes, lots of little cafes and grilled potates stands. We didnàt quite make it to the Opera because it was verrrrry cold.

Next day we took one of those hop-on-off bus tours and it was nice to see the main sights. My favourite was Schonnebru Palace (beautiful fountain) where Sissy and Franz Joseph lived. Wonderful gardes, it would be amazing to see them during the summer time. The beatiful fountain was frozen so I got a picture there. The rooms are rich and big and beautiful, and when people enter the main ballroom inevitable everyone dances the waltz, of course it helps that the audio tour (included with the ticket) plays the music.

In the Sissy movies I used to watch they always depcit Sissy and Francisco Jose so in love. Well, she wasn't. she was like Lady Di, got married at 15, thought marriage was an enourmous sacrifice and as soon as she delivered the heir, she dedicated herself to travel, do charity work and take care of her physical self. What a disillusion!! in the movies they looked so happy!! (hahaha)

At night we went to the Vienna Opera to watch Cossi Fan Tutte (Mozart). 3horas, pero es una opera light, bastante divertida. Otra noche we went to listen to the Wien Symphony. I really enjoyed it and Cecilia was totally in her element.