Thursday september 15th

K:
Today was a bit of a lazy day-ish. We didn't have any plans when we woke up so we looked through one of the books we got from the Morgans. Enjoying Vienna. Eric wanted to see what a second hand store would be like here in Vienna. The book told us about one set of stores called Humana. We looked up the locations and found one right near our house! Like a 10 minute walk. We set out to find it and when we did, it was closed. FOR GOOD. That was a bummer, but we wondered that street and found some other cute little shops to wonder in and out of. 
We also came across this funny scale on the side of the road. You can put coins in it to use it. This one we actually found beside a few dumpsters so we assume it's for weighing garbage, but then this evening we found one randomly over near the train station. Who knows what that one's for. Weird. 

We still wanted to see this second hand store though, so we went back home and looked up another location and headed to that one next. It was not too far from home, just the other way a little bit. We made it there not long before it closed, but we enjoyed looking at a few interesting things. Like any second hand store I'm sure it's hit or miss. This time was a little bit of a miss, but it was a fun one. 
Eric actually nearly bought this sweat shirt he's wearing, but I found this silly jacket that was exactly the same colours. It was a precious set. 

Then we wandered all around the streets and came across a little market. There are several outdoor markets around Vienna, but we weren't quite expecting to bump into this one. We walked through it, and it was fun to see. It was late in the day though so there wasn't much left to buy. I did find a fun duffle bag I kind of want to buy though. I searched for one the few days before we left home. I wanted one for a carry on on the plane, but also for weekend trips we plan to take around while we're here. I want to go back and get it. I also want to go back to the market to see the stands again on a day when they're full. 
From there we hurried over the the church for choir practice. Keith convinced Eric to join the choir for our ward. Apparently Keith used to be just about the only man who could carry a tune, but all of them just love to sing. He flattered Eric by complimenting his voice, and bam! he got himself an extra member. Eric then tried to convince me to join, but they're singing in Stake Conference on Sunday this week so I was scared to join on such short notice. Maybe I'll start going now and sing in future performances, when I have more practice. 
These are just the cute little Men and Woman signs on the bathrooms at the church. I've always been used to the typical Man and Woman stick figures that are basically universal in Canada. I assumed they were everywhere but here the sign for the direction to a bathroom is just WC and in the London airport it was just TOILETS. Anyway, I thought they were cute.

After choir, I was really hungry. We got on the tram at the church and rode it until we came to somewhere that looked good. We passed a few things like Subway, and a few little stands that were still open, and some cafe/bars and stuff. Then we passed this big set up that just looked spectacular and caught my attention with all the bright lights. 

I nudged Eric and we jumped off the tram to see what we could find here. Turns out it's actually a circus tent set up in front of this magnificent palace. I wish there was a way to capture just how beautiful it actually looked, but night pictures are so hard to get just right. This picture is taken a little bit off the road, right at the entrance to the circus. Behind me here though are a bunch of little carts set up with all kinds of different foods, eat looking and smelling as good as the next. Eric laughed at me while I made two whole rounds of the place before I chose what I wanted. I had to make sure I didn't miss anything, then see someone else eating it later and be jealous! That's the worst!
I finally worked up the courage first to share some bratwurst with Eric. It's basically a sausage, but it's some kind of Austrian specialty. It was pretty good actually. For whatever reason trying meats and milks in new places (even in new cities inside Canada) scares me. This was a big step for me, and I was brave. 

So I rewarded myself with a plain and delicious chocolate and vanilla crepe (which is what Eric guessed from the very beginning is what I would pick anyway). We shared that next and it was also DELICIOUS. 

We're in EUROPE! Life is good. New things are so fun and exciting. 
Also, we get to see gorgeous buildings like that one and this one just sittingeverywhere around us. What a beautiful day, and night!