Today we left the city of Budapest and headed for Vienna, Austria. Let me just say that I think sometimes the people of Europe get a bad reputation for their attitudes and ways they treat Americans. However, from day one on this trip I can honestly say I have never encountered more positive, friendly, helpful people who are willing to drop everything and do just about anything to help. This goes for hotel staff, restaurant staff, fellow travelers, cab drivers, tour guides, and just plain people on the street. For instance today our taxi driver from Budapest gave us suggestions on Vienna, another helpful man let us know where to wait for our exact train car, and yet another man who was just there to put his papa on the train lifted our luggage on for us. God is good. There has pretty much been no language barrier and in every restaurant we go into we are given an English menu. Just makes me realize how much they want to please. Heaven knows if someone speaking another language came to tour in the US I don't know of a place that the language barrier would be so easily overcome. Just a thought to share.

Once in Vienna we checked into our new hotel. It is a boutique hotel. It has quite a charm to it, and is nothing like the Holiday Inns from back in the States. Each floor has artwork from the owners own collection and we are on the floor with all the Donald Duck paintings. Love it! The place even has a scale in the bathroom. Seriously...I am on a two week vacation in the pastry and potato parts of Europe. I don't want to know what I weigh. However, its in kilograms so I would weigh less right?

We toured the Imperial {Hapsburg} Apartments today. The old town buildings are quit beautiful. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures. However, we did learn about a special napkin fold that the Austrians use for formal state dinners. It is one where they are able to put a roll in the folds of the napkin. Only two people on the royal staff know how to do this fold as it is a closely held secret.

We also learned the sad story about the Hapsburg Empress Sisi. She was married to a great leader and was a very beautiful woman. However, she led a very reclusive life out of the limelight of the Austrian people. In her later years she suffered from depression after her son's suicide  and was later assassinated. Her tragic story reminded me of Princess Diana. She was never able to find lasting happiness.