Day 22: The Great Book Exchange

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Corinne:
I’m going to start with the opera last night. Rosie spent a well-deserved evening in while Sarah and I went to try for the 4th time to buy opera tickets and see the show. The first two times were the day before yesterday, when we saw the line and baled (1) then went to the theater after the opera already started and got the news that they were sold out (2). Then yesterday we went and had just our shorts and tennis shoes on and were told we needed pants or skirts (3). So we hurried back to the hostel for dinner, changed, and speed-walked (sped-walk?) back to the opera house, getting there five minutes after the performance started, but finally got our tickets (4). It was literally standing room, and we couldn’t see much of the show or any of the translating screens for the first two acts. So we enjoyed the singing and passed notes on ideas about what was going on. After the intermission, we got spots on the railing to see the translations and more fully understand “Don Carlos.” But it was blazing hot, and some one else had already fainted, so with about ten minutes to go we popped outside, then saw the finale and left for the hostel. Where I ate two pieces of toast with Nutella and peanuts. Best midnight snack ever.
I was fully surprised when this morning went off without a hitch. Yesterday, I had also received an e-mail from Maria asking when we were going to get in and giving us two late train times. Since our hostel wanted us out by 10 and we wanted to get on the 11 to Klagenfurt, I e-mailed her back to try to meet us for the earlier one. She got the message and so we were on track to get to the 11. We were ready by 10 (for the first and only morning of the three in the hostel), took an easy bus with our pre-purchased tickets, didn’t need reservations for the train, got a compartment to ourselves, and weren’t bothered for the rest of the ride.
I believe you have heard about our book “woes.” Rosie has Dune, and I traded “Sammy’s Hill” in for “The Broker” when we arrived at Vienna, then traded that for some Nora Roberts romance. However, then Rosie and I traded so now she is reading the romance and I began “Dune” while Sarah read it while I was fully preoccupied with the scenery on the train.
About the scenery: I was a chapter in when I looked up and couldn’t look away. The hills were verdent and dramatic, with little village pocketed throughout. That was the end of “Dune” for me. It was also the end of any idea I had of sleeping (after staying up to finish my other book last night. Yes, my life is slightly ruled by literature.) We all agreed that this is the best trainride we’ve taken yet. It is also the last with our large bags, as it is just day trips and airplanes from here on out (minus the Chunnel).
Anyway, gorgeous, with a castle.
And then we arrived. I was a little preoccupied with making sure the train didn’t leave with Sarah on it because she had forgotten her sweater in our compartment. So I was waving at the conductor, and then looked over to see Maria!
Haven’t seen her in months. Hair was longer, but that’s about it. Still my sister. And I was already excited even before she navigated everywhere with her full proficiency in German.
We went on a “shopping spree” to get all of our groceries for the next couple days, then came back and decided on a walk before dinner (after eating some poppyseed-filled croissants called mohnkipferl).
We went to and from the lake, passing a cornfield, the university, and a bunny. At the lake, we decided that Austria is currently our favorite country.
That didn’t stop us from having stirfry for dinner.

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