As most of you already know by now, I'm back in Cali. Since you've asked, and as a fitting end to the blog, here are a few musings in answer to the usual post-trip questions...

So, this is not only my last post from Vienna, but it is, in many ways, the last post of my trip. Tomorrow I take the train to our friends' house in Ingolstadt, Deutschland (nearby Munich). I spend a couple days with them and then fly back to LA on Tuesday. *sniff sniff* But this is definitely Auf Wiedersehen ("Until We See/Meet Again") as I have so many things - from each city - that I want to return to see. But a recap here is a little premature....let me just briefly share my last day in Vienna...which was PEAK PEAK PEAK....

Just got back from a wonderful concert at the Kursalon in the Stadtpark here in Wien. This is the building where Strauss used to hold concerts back when he was alive, and so they have a concert that they do as a tribute to him. Not only was the building beautiful inside, with the usual amazing molding, huge chandeliers, and carpeted, winding staircases, but the concert was so lively and FUN! It was probably the biggest party kind of atmosphere I've ever felt at a classical concert! Plus a little Korean girl and I made faces at each other and she gave me a stick of gum. So that was nifty. Oooh, and I had the YUMMIEST dinner of my trip before hand....

Just a quick check-in for those who are concerned that I may have fallen off the hydrofoil and drowned.

Think my cold has finally broken...at least I am coughing UP stuff now, which is always fun and makes me feel productive. Had a great day yesterday - did some sightseeing, discovered a Hungarian poet (what - you thought I was too sick to find an English bookstore? c'mon now...), and met a couple from Long Beach who got me into a tour of the Parliment. Best news is I have begun writing something....

Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating. It's probably NOT bronchitis. But I am totally, miserably sick. However, Budapest is wonderful! Have had some remarkably friendly people experiences. Also, the city itself has a really unique feel to it, kind of an ancient-eastern bright version of gotham city...course I could just be delirious....

Spent today visiting Prague Castle, including the amazing St. Vitus Cathedral, where I saw the Royal Crypt (it was very crypt-like, with narrow hallways and old and crumbling things) and lots of beautiful stained glass, sculpture, etc. Also climbed the 287 narrow and winding steps to the top of the bell tower for a breath-taking (literally) view of the city. (Mind you, these were the 287 in addition to the dozens and dozens it took to climb the main stairs to the castle itself.)

Wandered the streets of Prague, the ultra-romantic city, today, and searched in vain for a billingual edition of Seifert's poetry. In my search, however, I discovered many beautiful parts of the city. At first, I was a little put off, because everyone around me spoke English or German and I felt a bit like I'd joined one giant tour group.

Was kind of dreading the long train ride to Praha, but had the best train experience ever! I actually had a compartment all to myself almost the whole way. It was SOOOO wonderful. The train to Katowicze (pronounced cat-o-weets) was an old one but a short, <2 hour ride. Then the train to Praha was a newer train, without only six seats to a compartment, and I was all alone until the last 2 hours. Heavenly!

Spent the day in Krakow determined NOT to see any sights, but just to relax and enjoy myself! The biggest highlight of my day was finding a bilingual volume of Szymborska's poetry in a kind of twilight-zone moment. More on that later... So for the most part I succeeded in resisting all the tempting sights, content in wandering through Old Town and around (not in) Wawel Castle. I, did, however, go into St. Mary's Basilica Church (something forced me) and admired the beautiful blue stained glass. And I visited Kamiriez, the Jewish part of town, where I enjoyed a nice surprise concert.