Tunisia

Hi everybody,

I hope you're all up and well. Idriss and I are going on vacation to Tunisia and will not have internet access in the following two weeks. We'll still look forward to your posts on this blog and will answer any emails as soon as possible after our return. For now we are very much looking forward to our vacation :-).

We wish you all a great coming two weeks and hope to read you all thereafter.

All our best
Barbara & Idriss.

New Panda Cub in Schonbrunn

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to congratulte all you Austrians on the birth of the new Panda cub at Schonbrunn!!!
The first new panda cub born in Europe in twenty something years!
Yeah for Austria!
The news here in the US loves this story and it is all over CNN, NY times.
Hope you all are doing well.
Still hot and humid here.
best to everyone
Susanvon
ps DC has a panda cub but we never get to see it since Bush put it on the "do not fly list"
LOL

Bobble Head!

Hi Everyone:
Hope this color shows up!
I need every one's help with this project. I need to buy in Wien a Bobble Head representing Austria, ie, Mozart, J. Strauss, Lipizzaner, etc. I know that there are Bobble Heads here in the US of the Governator, but he sued for copyright infringement and they were taken off the market.
Anyone out there have any suggestions where I can find one?
Put your thinking caps on!
Best to all
susan von

Latest Austrian Drama

Hi Everybody:
I tired to make this Loden green, not sure if it will show up on the screen!
Anyway, the NYTimes and CNN (I read them both first thing in the am, since I am a news junkie) both had extensive articles on Natasha Kem_____ about her ordeal. It has been a year to date since she was freed. The articles said that she had been on Austrian TV talking about this matter.
It was quite interesting and she said that she had been back to the house where she had been imprisoned; she also said that she didn't like people asking for her autograph, since she is not a "superstar." I wish I could have seen it, I wonder if it is on a web page video someplace?
Did anyone watch it?
Does she live in Wien and does anyone know which District?
I wonder if it is on the Graben close to the Hermes store? LOL
Best to everyone
susanvon

Trip to Wien

Hi Everyone:
Hope you all are staying cool as the summer winds down. Still very hot and humid here in DC. No one in town is here, they are all away in Texas or Cape Code. I seem to be the only one stuck here in "backwater" DC and a friend of my put it!
Anyway, sorry about the purple color, it didn't show up very well. Any news on Austrian politics, please let me know. I check CNN and the NY Times and there wasn't much listed.
Just made my final flight arrangements for September. I will be in Wien from September 26 (arriving) until October 4th (departing). This time I am coming over on Austrian Airlines coming and going. They are the best, lots of fee Sekt and no transferring planes and worry about luggage, plus they are always on time, unless US carriers.
Anyone have any experience with Gruner Vetliner wine? I understand that one has to open the bottle with a bottle opener, similar to a beer bottle. I ask because it is hard to find Austrians wines in the US, and I found a place here in DC that sells this wine quite reasonably!
All the best to everyone
susan von

Austrian Politics

Hi Everyone!
Hope you are all well and staying cool! I read in the NYTimes that Gdahafi (sp) Junior is in Wien at the invitation of Governor Jorge Haider!
What a combination! Mr. Gdahafi Junior said that Europe needs to watch out because terrorism is going to get worse in Europe.
Well, I guess he should know considering the things that his father has done in Lybia, ie, the Lockerbie plan incident, Bulgarian nurses, etc.
Just surprised that Haider continues to stay in the papers especially since he has started a new party. I guess one never knows about him. But then, he did study at Harvard, not Harvard, Il. Guess that is the reason!
LOL
all the best to everyone
susan von
ps can someome please tell me what :) means?
danke

David Beckham Again - Redeux

Hi Everyone:
Thought I would make this red since it is so hot here in DC today.
Sorry to mention David Beckham again, but I cant get away from him. It seems his hotel was only one block from my apartment and then his last night here in DC, he had dinner at Sequoia, the posh DC restaurant in my office building here in Georgetown, DC. Remember, Richard?
Post didn't come with him this time, guess she stayed in LA counting her Hermes bags!
Anyway, he wont be back for a while, and then I hope I will be in Vienna!
Best to everyone,
susanvon

Beckhams in DC - off Vienna topic

Hi Everyone:
Our blog has been rather slow lately, so I thought that I would "jazz" it up.
The Beckhams are in DC now, in fact, Becks as he is called is staying in an Arlington hotel only a few blocks from my apt! Fancy that!
The whole town is crazy for him, it is a slow news day, now that the Prez and the Congress are out of town, not much is going on. I guess DC is now really a "backwater", right Richard?
Anyway, looking forward to seeing Posh or whatever her name is in the papers tomorrow since she only carries Hermes Birkins and has one in every color to match her Chanel outfits!
All the best to everyone on our blog and stay cool!
susanvon

Third Bourne Movie

Hi Everyone:
Just wanted to let you all know that today the third series in the Bourne Trilogy opens here in the US. Not sure about Europe. This is the last in the Bourne series and takes place in Vienna and Russia.
I just purchased the first two Bourne movies and the dvd interview with Robert Luldlum (former CIA operative). He lived on my island in Florida, Longboat Key and I used to see him there. Very eccentric person.
I am sure that all of the movies have some truth to them.
Has anyone on our blog ever seen Scorpio? Takes place all over the 1st District and also on the Karlplatz before the U Bahn was built.
I can bring them all with me in September.
Hope you all are staying cool and have a cool week-end.
Very hot and humid here in DC almost 100 degrees.
Best to everyone
Susan von