Today was a laid back day for apartment 15, but not for the rest of Vienna....the EURO Soccer Tournament ended, no doubt to the delight of the Viennese who wanted their city back!! Actually, most of them left, I think. The UBahn was really dead. I took advantage of the opportunity to check out the Belvedere. What a gorgeous place!!! It is considered to be one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the world, and is definitely more beautiful than the ...

Today was a touring day. First Kay and I went to the flea market where we picked up some sweet stuff...I got a necklace with black beads and brown shells. One of the fun parts of the flea market is talking the vendors down. I got the necklace for 10 instead of 15 Euros, and struck a few other deals. At the flea market you really have to be looking for something in particular, so I'm not the biggest fan. It is something I'm glad I experienced, BUT it smells terrrr...

Today was shopping with Kay and my piano lesson :) The piano lesson was okay...I havent really been able to play and my fingers and wrists kind of tingle, so we talked more about technique and being at the piano healthily. My problem may not be so much my technique, my teacher suggested, but more what im doing when im not at the piano, like lifting heavy things, using the computer, taking notes in a class...I just need to realize when something doesnt feel right...

Thursday...one week and one day to home :) Today was our solo recital for the class. Everyone played and sang pretty well...I love programs like these because you appreciate all the work that went into them since you prepared and went through masterclasses together. Thats a rare opportunity, so I found it pretty fun. My piano teacher came! She is really awesome, and apparantly she was into my performance :) I played the Brahms Ballade Op. 10, Nr. 1 that she gav...

The past few days have just been work preparation for tomorrow's recital. I'm 10 days away from being home, and have so much to do between now and July 4!! Today was field trip day. We went to the Natural History museum, considered one of the finest in the world. Im coming to find that the Austrians say that almost everything in Vienna is "Among the best in the world" so I wonder if its actually true...Based on the "best" things i've seen, I ...