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 Hapsburg's palaces from the outside. (no fear, however, Maria Theresia bought the property after the owner, prince eugene, was long gone, and the hapsburgs gained control of yet another gorgeous estate.) There are two parts of Schloss Belvedere. The upper has the most fantastic view of Vienna...it is a view of the inner stadt perfectly. then there are beautiful gardens (of course) and then the lower belvedere, because one palace is never enough.

I went to the upper Belvedere, where some of the most fantastic art in Vienna is held. The highlight of this collection for me (not being an art fanatic) was, of course, Gustav Klimt's work, "The Kiss," which is the most popular print EVER sold. EVER. I saw that. I looked at it, and other than being really big, I had to ask myself, what makes seeing this different from looking at the print? I guess it is the experience of seeing the artifact, just as seeing Beethoven's piano (Which I still have not found...:-/). I guess the fact that what Klimt put up there couldnt be changed, just as a performance can't, makes art in general special. Of course, there is a certain amount of fudging room. I dont know. I wish I would have known more about the painting, and I think I will research it in my free time (ptsh).

After the Belvedere, I came back home to work on homework, and checked out the EURO tourney on TV while enjoying some Radler...It's half carbonated lemon alcohol-stuff and half beer. Pretty good, but not as much as the real stuff. It's too sweet.

For those unable to keep track, or those who aren't following, Espana beat Germany in a hard-fought game of fussball. Woot.

So anyway, the people below me or somewhere are smoking something that smells absolutely terrible. I'm shutting the window now. Oh Europe. We are trying to figure out whats up with these weirdos at Karlsplatz who have blue mouths. Someone told us that its Nyquill and people use that to get high, which isn't unheard of, even in the states (?) but we decided it wasnt Nyquill, but we are all really curious what these kids are up to.

Work now...finals week, and home Friday for fireworks!