Klimt Villa

Hi Everybody!

Idriss and I finally made it to the Klimt Villa and spent a wonderful afternoon there together with the doctors from St. Anna. It was a really special visit where Dr. Becker was kind enough to show us the upstairs and other hidden treasures in the villa. We found the little chair Klimt used to sit on most curious - it is really tiny.

Many many thanks to Susan for making this visit possible and to Dr. Becker for providing us with all the background stories that you just don't find in any book.

All our best to you all,
Barbara & Idriss.

PS: If we manage we'll upload more pictures to share with you the experience and document the state of the building before the planned remodelling.

A small anecdote from the "Donauinselfest".

As you all know Vienna has an island - rather large- in the middle of the Danube. It stretches over 14km and is very green and nice. On a weekend in June every year the town of Vienna organizes an openair festival with plenty of concerts of all kind on this island and this year alone 3 Million people came. It's the largest european open air festival and it's for free.

Now the OEBB (austrian train company) offered reduced tickets throughout Austria to get there. Significantly reduced. They sold plenty even in advance. now you would think they would be prepared for more customers. Think again.

They were not. They didn't have enough trains and neither the trains nor the platforms could take those masses of people that by the way had already purchased their tickets. Well... so smart OEBB had an idea....guess what?.... yes they called the police. Made people leave the train and the train platforms. Now this was friday - and it gives you an idea of Austrians who still waited patiently until they somehow made it to Vienna by train. Well anyway.

Sunday arrives people want to go back home and you would think that the train company has learnt. Well they hadn't or maybe a little. I think they just had the phone number of the police handy... but more trains? that would have been too much thinking to ask for especially because nobody of those customers chased by the police is complaining.

Have a great day!
Barbara

Vienna is Safe Now

Hi Everyone:

Just wanted to let you all know that Bruce Willis has left Vienna and the Sacher Hotel. He never made it to the Albertina (he was chased away by adoring women fans). He is now in DC promoting his movie, so you call can feel sorry for me.
The Governator has left Austria also (he was only in Graz) and is now in the UK. Hope the new PM can handle him!
Barbra Streisand cancelled her Vienna tour due to weather, so you are safe from her political rants and raves.
Also, the 2007 Opernball celebrity (I wont say her name) is now out of jail and will be on Larry King tonight, so Vienna is safe from her.
So all you Viennese pals should be safe for a while. Hope the weather cools down and you all have some great times.
susanvon

The Governator in Austria

Hello Everyone:

Hey, where is everyone? Thought we are supposed to stay in touch via our blog, I would love to know what everyone is doing this Summer in Wien! I never make it to Wien in the Summer due to the dearth of ac, but will manage in the future to come over during the Summer moths. I would love to go to the movie nights at the Rathaus, has anyone been there yet?
Today, I saw that Arnie landed in Graz yesterday and was greeted by a MP in full lederhosen, must have been a sight to see, though Arnie was not wearing them! He will be in Austria on a private visit and then on to Britain. I am not sure if he attended President/Secretary Waldheim's funeral on Saturday at St. Stephen's (it was on CNN, very dignified). But I do know that President/Secretary Waldheim attended Arnie's wedding on the Cape many years ago. This time, Arnie brought his daughter, Katherine, who was named after his Mother, which was a nice touch. Hope she appreciates her wonderful Austrian heritage.
Also, hope all the Doctors from St. Anna's enjoy your trip to the Klimt atelier/villa. You all will be the last to tour it, as it will be closed until July of 2008 and may not re-open then to the public.
Best regards to everyone,
susanvon

Condolences for President/Secretary Waldheim

Goss Gott to All our Viennese Bloggers:

Condolences (sp?) to all of our Austrian and Viennese friends on the loss of your former President. Regardless of his politics, he was a true gentleman from the "old school" and always loyal to Austria.

I belive that he was a neighbor of the Klimt Villa/Atelier in Hietzing and supported us in our efforts to maintain it.

best regards to all

susanvon

Third Man Update

Hi Everyone:

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have the Criterion Edition of The Third Man. I think, so far, it is only available in the US>

It is two discs and has one entire disc devoted to the making of the movie. It even includes a piece about the Burg Kino showing the movie every weekend. Also, it has an interview with the little boy with the ball, who is now an adult, just about Duncan's age!

In any case, I will bring the entire dvd set in September for our movie night and Duncan's friend, who has the Third Man Museum may want to attend. The dvd mentions his museum.

Best regards to all

susanvon

Date for our Networking Party in September

Gross Gott Everyone:

It is already June so I want to start organizing our Fall Networking party in September. So I will need some dates from everyone:

Please tell days are your preference and which dates, ie., Mon, Tues, Wed or Thurs and Week of September 17 or Week of September 24.

From eveyone that I have polled so far, the best day seems to be a Thursday, and the best week for everyone seems to be the week of September 17fh.

I need your feebdback ASAP and I will be sending our separate emails as well.

Danke

svon

Last Chance to Visit Klimt Villa/Atelier in Hietzing

Hello Everyone:
Just wanted to alert all of our Vienna Pals and everyone else who reads our Blog, that the Klimt Villa/Atelier in Heitzing will be closing at the end of June of 2007. The jurisdiciton of the Villa has been taken over by the Belvedere. The Federal Government always owned the villa and now the jurisdiciton has been transferred to the Belvedere.

But good news, the Klimt villa will re-open in July of 2008 as the despository of the Klimt archives, so it will be much improved and more professionally managed than it was before.

So, whoever is reading this, please post on the blog that you want a tour of the Klimt Villa/Atelier before Juen 30th and I will arrange it.

I will also be sending around individual email alerts.

All the best to you all in Klimtland,

susan von

Ocean's 13 Premier here in DC!

Hey All You Pals out there in Viennaland!

I have extra tickets for the DC Premier of Oceans' 13 on Monday, June 11th here in Georgetown!

Anybody interested in flying over the Big Pond to go with me?

Let me know and I will make the arrangments!

You can see all of the Hollywood A Listers as well as all of our goofy Members of Congress and Senators here in DC!

My Best to everyone,

susanvon

Happy June in Wien

Gross Gott Everyone:
Just wanted to wish everyone a great Summer in Wien? I would love to know what everyone is doing and what are your Summer plans?
Has anyone been to see the movies at the Rauthasplatz? I always wanted to go but never made it. Had a wonderful trip to Prandorf, great shopping Wolford and Bally there are great, then on to a lovely dinner at Neuseidel with Bernie and Elisabeth. Hope you all get to go there this Summer, it is a beautiful part of Austria that most tourists dont see to appreciate.
Things are quite here for now, but will soon "heat up" with the campaigns, glad that you in Austria are over that.
Hey Idriss and Barbara, how was your event with President Fischer at St. Anna's hospital? Please post photos if you have any. I would have loved to be there, what a great event to have for the wonderful children that are in your care.
All the best to everyone for a great week end.
Susan von

Sand in the city...

For those who currently are in Vienna:

As of today there is an open-air exposition open to the public on Heumarkt. Located between the Hotel Intercontinental and the Konzerthaus various artists display cultures made of sand. The highlight of the event is an 8.5m tall model of St. Stephan. This is a picture:

This is something I hope I'll find time for to visit - I already missed the concert in Schönbrunn but saw some of it on TV. Has anyone been there?

Well whenever we make it to the sand exposition I'll let you know. However, I do think it is worth a visit.

All the best

Barbara

How to get a donor organ ... another absurdity on the horizon

Hi everyone,

I was wondering whether you have already heard of the latest absurdity this planet has to offer. For those who don't know yet a briefing...

A Dutch gameshow/livesoap is going to start soon and guess what the goal of the competitors is this time. No they are not winning a house that they built together or get a car or whatever you may think. No, there are going to be three candidates who have all been HLA matched ( immunotyped so that they have the same immune system properties) with a terminally ill person. All three need a kidney. And now the audience gets to vote via SMS which one of the is going to get the kidney after the person passes away. Now isn't that something that you want to watch on saturday night?

By the way the official's statement concerning this entire project was:

"You know those people have a much better chance and likelyhood to get a kidney this way than being on a regular waiting list for the donor organ"

Anyway I hope that this at least raises the public awareness for the need for such organs and for the need for research to help those people.

I'm looking forward to your opinion and wish everybody a great day!

All the best

Barbara