Unfortunately, Obama would be disappointed to be informed that the bar named after him is a dive. I wouldn’t suggest a visit unless you are feeling extremely patriotic. Obama Bar

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Paul and I don’t know much about the balls in Vienna. I looked around on the Internet and was really surprised how little there was about the topic. I’m happy that I am writing about it then!

Friday, February 13 is the day of the Coffeehouse Owners’ Ball. This is what I understand so far:

• 5,000 people come to this event
• The Austrian President will be attending
• Black tie is expected, no suits allowed and women must wear floor-length gowns
• Debutants are presented
• Entertainment is provided
• People dance

That’s all I know for now. On Friday I’ll take lots of pictures and post them on my blog with details as to how it went down.

Coffehouse Owners Ball in Vienna, Austria

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Upon our visit to Munich, I realized that my memories of the city were pretty good. Naturally I compared Munich to my adopted city of Vienna and noticed the following that I prefer about Munich over Vienna:

• The underground subway is in fact underground. The only time it emerges is when it is out in the suburbs. I like this because Munich doesn’t have the noise that the train makes and there is no bad real estate because of the above ground train. In Vienna, the train is about 30% underground, the rest above ground. It is unsightly and loud.
• The people of Munich are friendly. Ask any Austrian or anyone who knows the Viennese, and they’ll tell you the Viennese aren’t proper Austrians because of their rudeness and unfriendliness.
• Munich is cleaner than Vienna.
• Munich has good shopping that is comparable to Milan or Paris.
• There’s a great party scene in Munich
• Cultural opportunities of fantastic museums and great theater are never ending

Having not been to Munich for over eight years, I did in fact romanticize. Though the above holds true, Vienna still holds my heart because of it’s imperial nature. The Inner City of Vienna blows Munich out of the water in its ability to impress with its fantastic architecture. I have never seen anything more beautiful or impressive than the Inner City of Vienna. Also, cultural opportunities are just as strong in Vienna as they are in Munich, and there is a good party scene in Vienna too.

That and I just might be feeling that Vienna is in fact, home.

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6 cloves
4 Tablespoons sugar cubes
Rum to pour over sugar
4 cups red wine (dry)
1 orange to zest
1 lemon to zest
3 cinnamon sticks

Pour red wine into a pot with the cinnamon, cloves and zest from the orange and lemon. Let it warm up (but don’t cook it, just warm it).

Put some kind of metal grate over the pot to place the sugar cubes on. Pour a little rum on the sugar and light on fire (be extremely careful please!!). Let the sugar drip into the wine. (If this seems too unsafe for you, just drop 4 tablespoons sugar into the wine mixture and add a dash of rum in).

Use a strainer and pour the Glüwein into cups and serve hot!

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It’s basically an outdoor fair that goes on for six weeks to celebrate that Christmas is coming. There are stands that sell toys, Christmas decorations, and sweets. What the adults really go for though, is the very strong alcoholic Glühwein. Here’s how Glühwein is prepared.

Take some cheap red wine and warm it up in a pot. Throw oranges, cinnamon sticks and other mystery spices in. Grab a metal grate and put it over the pot. Place a large sugar cone on the metal grate and douse it in rum. Set the sugar cone on fire and let the sugar drip into the pot. Serve hot. Get drunk.

Yesterday was the opening of the Christkindlmarkt in Vienna. Vienna has about 15 different ones located throughout the city, but it is the opinion of many that the one at the Rathaus (city hall) is the best. Don’t go to a Christkindlmarkt during the day, you’ll be the only one there. Go after the sun sets. I know it seems insane to stand around outside in the middle of winter, but get some Glüwein, and it won’t seem so cold. Enjoy the merry atmosphere.

Vienna Rathaus Christkindlmarkt

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Everyone knows that eating breakfast is an important health choice. Below is what you’ll usually find when breakfast is being served.

• Bread. It’s the most delicious that you have ever tasted. I don’t know what they do to their bread here. You usually get a basket with a variety from white bread to dark bread filled with seeds and nuts. Divine!
• Butter and jam are served along with the bread. If you’re lucky, you’ll somehow get a hold of homemade jam. It seems like every woman here makes her own. I am a fiend in collecting homemade jam. I like it because it seems to have less sugar, allowing you to taste the fruit more.
• Nutella. If I have to educate you about Nutella, you are missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. Chocolate is allowed, (no!) full accepted, as part of breakfast. For you Americans, you can buy it at any grocery store where the peanut butter is. Smear it over French bread and let your taste buds dance with delight.
• Hard boiled eggs are usual. You can ask for soft boiled eggs if that is your preference.
• Ham and cheese. I find it very weird to have lunchmeats for breakfast. Austrians make themselves little sandwiches for breakfast. Odd.
• Coffee and orange juice.

At an Austrian breakfast you will not find omelets, pancakes, or muffins. There are no breakfast joints either. If you want to go to breakfast, you go to a (surprise!) coffeehouse and are spoiled by the above items being served on silver platters. Literally. Silver platters. I find the experience to be decadent.

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Where we fail to communicate is culturally. For example. Last night we were watching TV. It occurred to me that it was Thursday night. A golden night for me, because that means the next day is Friday, which is a half workday for me. “Hurray,” I called out, “the weekend is almost here!”

Paul grumbled in response, “Great for you, I have school all day Saturday.”

My response. “Sucks to your asmar.”

“What did you just say?” Paul asked.

We run into this all the time. Last weekend we were watching the third movie of Bourne Ultimatum. There is a scene where Matt Damon is washing blood off of his hands. I said, “Out, out damn spot!”

“What did you just say?” Paul asked.

Last example. We were at Ikea to pick up a piece of furniture. A number kept blinking and no one was showing up to pick up the piece. A man called out the number numerous times, but the crowd who was present just gave the guy a blank stare. I said, “Bueller.”

“What did you just say?” Paul asked.

I can’t make a reference to anything it seems. Culturally Paul grew up differently. Though he read Shakespeare in school, he only glanced at it the way we only glanced at Goethe. Can you quote Goethe? I sure can’t.

He’s not the only Austrian in this boat. I was talking to some friends and we all agreed that we like The Simpsons. I asked them if they picked up on a certain reference in one of the shows, as it was subtle and quick. They asked me what I meant about a reference. When I said that The Simpsons was a social commentary about American society, they were mildly surprised. They hadn’t been aware of that; they just liked the show because it was funny. Can you imagine missing out on that aspect of The Simpsons? Props to The Simpsons though for still being funny.

Awhile ago a good friend of mine came to visit me from the US. We were at a restaurant and she had to go to the bathroom. She was gone for a long time and upon her reappearance I quipped, “Did you fall down the rabbit hole?”

Without missing a beat she answered, “Almost. I did have to go down some stairs to get there. The line held me up though.”

I was grateful for not having to explain what I had just said.

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Just a few weeks ago, my husband Paul and I went to visit his grandparents in upper Austria. Their home is about two and a half hours northwest of Vienna. As I spent the weekend with the grandparents in their home, I realized we can’t even hold a candle next to them when it comes to being green.

The grandparents don’t even know what being green is. The things that our generation is trying to do today are the things grandparent generation has been doing naturally all along.

The grandparents have their own vegetable and fruit garden. It’s huge and keeps them completely supplied for the entire spring, summer, and autumn. They also have chickens that produce eggs. They aren’t buying produce that is using CO2 submission to get to them.

When Grandma does actually go grocery shopping for the things her garden doesn’t supply, guess what. At seventy-four years old, she takes her bike to the grocery store, no matter the temperature outside.

Grandma also unplugs everything. The TV, the washing machine, and even the radio. I didn’t even think about unplugging our washing machine. And do you think she has a dish washer or clothes dryer? Nope. Forget the plasma TV and computer too.

I know we can’t give up our gadgets that suck up so much energy. I was without Internet for two weeks and I thought someone had cut off an arm. What we can do though, is look back to the older generation and get a few tips from them.

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