Day 16 (Mon.) Sip your coffee slowly.

After class Celeste and I walked down Mariahilfer Strasse, a very long and crowded shopping street. It reminded me of Newbury St in Boston. It had boutiques, department stores, markets, and cafes. We window-shopped. We found an adorable little cafe down an alleyway and had a cappuccino and some apfelstrudel. Yum!

Other curiosities--I can't figure out how Austrian women can walk on the cobblestone in high heels, truly an art.
There are bicycles everywhere! If you don't watch out, you may get run over by a bike! There are specific bike lanes and they have the right of way. I think it's great! Ladies also will ride their bikes to/from work even with skirts on! They manage!
The typical diet is Wiener Schnitzel, wine, and strudel, among other yet most women weigh about 120 lbs.
A lot of people smoke here. I didn't realize how effective our 'no smoking in public buildings' law has become. Even walking down the street can be hazardous to your lungs as so many people are smoking while walking.
Teenagers here dress very much like American teens, but the biggest difference is the boys actually wear their pants at their waist! And not many baseball caps!

They definitely do "work to live" here. Cafes are not usually "to go." You need to sit down with a good book, newspaper, or friend and stay a while. When a few of us went to eat at a restaurant, the host said he couldn't give us a table because he had a large party coming in one hour. We looked at each other and said...one hour? that's like a lifetime to us! We convinced him that as Americans, we can eat in 30 minutes flat. He sat us at a nice table. :) It is not unusual for people to sit at a table for over an hour. Once you order, you're free to stay as long as you like. At noon time cafes are filled with business people on their lunch break. Imagine that, digestion and good conversation!

Sip your coffee slowly and enjoy every bite of that torte.