Travel Through Heathrow Airport

Hi Everyone:

Just wanted to thank our pals and contributors, Idriss and Barbara, for their helpful comments on travelling through Heathrow Airport.
I wanted to share my experience with everyone, in case during the summer, you might travel through that Airport.
For me, it was a nightmare, Nightmare at Heathrow, to quote the old flick. One can only carry one bag, that means for ladies, only a handbag, nothing else, no VAT refund, carry one, etc. For men, that would be just a tote bag holding your laptop, etc. Barbara and Idriss had told me this, but, as usual, I do my shopping in Wien and had lots of Tax Free, VAT iitems. At Heathrow, they would not let me go through the passport control with the Tax Free bag, so I had to run to United's counter and have it checked in. That gave me 10 minutes to get to the United Gate at Terminal 3. I ran all the way, needless, to say that was my exercise for the year. Missed all the great duty free at Terminal 3. I even cried to the Passport Lady, but she said no deal. She said that they (the BAA people) never tell passengers about the one bag rule, so I wasnt the only one. Fortunately, United was pretty good this time and the bag made it on to my plane, so it was waiting for me at Dulles. It better be since all of my great Wien stuff was in there!
Also, I had the nice man at Austrian Customs stamp my VAT forms (it should have been done in the UK (last Schengen place)) but he remembred me since one of my VAT places is the Loos house and he remembered that. He was great, not your usual bureauctric person. He wanted to get rid of me so that he could back to watching the soccer game on his little TV set. So sometimes it pays to be persistent, but not with the BAA people.
If any of you are thinking of travelling this summer to the US or in Europe, avoid Heathrow at all costs, unless it is your end point.
Again, my thanks to Barbara and Idriss and I hope this helps some of you.
Hope to read you all soon.
svon

Hello to Everyone!

Gross Gott:

Just wanted to write and thank everyone for a wonderful trip to Wien! I really enjoyed all the times that we were able to get together, especially seeing the Royal Deutschmeister Band perform in front of the Hofburg as in the days of the Emperor and seeing the lovely objects from the Imperial Auction! Just another reason why Wien is so majestic and noble!

Sorry that we couldn't make our movie night, but hopefully we will be able to in September in between our networking party.

Hope we can all stay in touch through our Blog and that you all will have a wonderful summer and enjoy spending it in Wien.

All the best to everyone,

Susanvon

If anyone is interested...

Hello everybody!

I'm starting to wonder where everyone has disappeared to. Well I myself have not been to active on this blog lately so I thought I just have a look after this long while and I see that everyone is somewhat absent.

So I'd like to contribute to this wonderful idea of an international blog and I don't want it to just disappear.... Talking about international - there is going to be a free concert in Schönbrunn this week (I copied the info underneath my writing). Idriss and I unfortunately cannot attend but I can highly recommend it to anyone who has a bit of free time and doesn't mind a large crowd of people.

Well I'll get back to my work and studies and I hope to hear from you soon... maybe someone is interested in a gettogether sometime soon? There is a place in the Augarten park that sells breakfast until 2pm. I haven't tried it yet but it does look nice...

All my best to everyone!

Barbara.

THE SCHÖNBRUNN CONCERT 2007 – Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Valéry Gergiev
On May 24 the “Concert for Europe” with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will take place for the fourth time in the Schönbrunn Palace gardens - with free admission for the public. Austria’s music salute to the world – the greatest classic open air - has already become a cultural brand for both the republic and the city of Vienna. The story of a unique success up to now: three concerts with a total of 250.000 visitors and about 400 million viewers all over the world.This year’s concert welcomes Russia to Europe: with the famous Muscovite conductor Valéry Gergiev at the conductor’s stand and a program including among others compositions of Mussorgsky, Tschaikowsky, Rimsky-Korsakoff and Strawinsky. As every year, Federal President Dr. Heinz Fischer will assume patronage over the concert as well as the Austrian Federal Government and the City of Vienna.Valéry Gergiev is Russia's most renowned contemporary conductor being in great demand all over the world. In his country he is appraised as a hero, because after the collapse of the Soviet Union he could rescue the famous Kirov theatre in St. Petersburg. Since 1988 he is managing the opera house, again renamed to Mariinsky theatre. Gergiev, since this year also chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, is proud of Russia’s music heritage as part of the European cultural tradition. Also for Clemens Hellsberg, who is celebrating this year his 10-Year-Jubilee as executive of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and for the producer of the Schönbrunn Concert, Herwig Ursin the “fascinating manifold and diverse music tradition, yet having common cultural roots, is an important basis for the ongoing intensification of the European Idea, especially in the year of the 50-Year-Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, and also for the spiritual coherence of this continent." The classical music summer open air event of the year will again be broadcasted live by the Eurovision Network as well as by Austria's ORF 2, starting at 9.05 pm.

Movie Night in Wien

Gross Gott:

I am bringing over the movie "Bad Timing" all about Wien by the famed British Director. Is is the new release DVD and includes an interview with the Director as well as outakes from places like the Hawaelka Cafe and the Club on the Dorothegasse.

Not sure what night we will watch it and where but if I have to, I will go the Herr Fisher's or Herr Gustenberger (sp?) place to watch it. So plan on attending!

I will bring the Orville Redenbacher popcorn for us!

svon

Upcoming Trip to Wien

Gross Gott:

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing well. Just to let you know that I will arrive in Wien on Friday, May 4th and hope to see all of you at some time. I will send my contact information under separate e-mail.

Remember the Freud lecture on Sunday, May 6th, our quick movie night and also the Imperial Auction on Tuesday, May 8th @ 5 pm.

I saw our blogmaster when he was in DC, went to WH, Capitol Hill, Air & Space, Freer and Sackler Galleries and COSTCO and had lots of fun.

Has anyone heard from our Wien expert, Duncan? Hope he hasn't decided to relocated to my homeland and will be back with us shortly.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

susanvon