Friday, March 18, 2005

Ice Cream in Vienna

You have to love a city that opens its ice cream shops the first day the temperature is above freezing!

Yes, it finally stopped snowing here and actually the temperature spiked up to around 55-60 in the last few days. Yesterday, there were lines out the ice cream shop doors and kids were eating cones in the streets! We've all been waiting (im)patiently for the sun to make an appearance and I have to say I appreciate that they go all out and celebrate with ice cream!

Today, the cafes had even set up tables on the sidewalks. Could it be spring?

A real compliment!

I have finally been complimented on my language skills!

The other day, in the usual Viennese subway rush, I was running down the escalator, head down, when I collided with a man and had to stop short. I forgot my German and said, "Sorry!" as he pointed to the problem. Someone had committed the cardinal sin of city living - standing to the left on a subway escalator!

"No problem," I said, again forgetting German in a flustered moment. "Must be a tourist." (I can say that, now that I'm an official Austrian resident!)

"Your English is so good!" the man replied, "Where did you learn to speak so well?"

So, thanks goes out to Joe and Susan Anthony for providing me with absolutely perfect Southern Maryland English!

And there you have it. Six months of German classes have gotten me a compliment on my fluency in English. I have to be happy I have one language down, if nothing else. (Don't tell your British friends I said that!)

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Still snowing

It's snowing on March 8 and still the Viennese don't slow down. I mean, snow after March 1st?! C'mon - we need a snow day!