Denial-killing you softly

I once knew a mother that had a teenage daughter.
For four years the girl's private tutor on a number of occasions expressed there may be a learning
issue of some sort, as the girl could not memorise or learn new stuff easily regarding her language lesson. After four and a half years the  mother decided to take her to a professional whom expressed the same view, that the girl had learning difficulties, at that point aged 16.

The mother after a short shock (lasting only a few days), was asked by the tutor why wouldn't she get help from a professional specializing in such cases. Her response was ' who wants to mess around with psychologists'.......

A  few days, the mother came to ask the tutor how her daughter which as she said ' just would not sit down and study' could go abroad and study in a foreign university, like she there was no issue.

Now what you may ask is: so what?
The answer is that the mother could not accept her child had any sort of learning disability, was in denial and pretended the girl was just not bothered (in the mothers words) just not paid attention, that's why she was not doing well at school.

The mother never acepted the problem her daughter had and acted as she was never told so, by any professional either. Even though the girl had difficulties succeeding in school in her native language,  the mother wanted to send her off to do a foreign uni to study, clearly showing the complete denial she was in about her child having issues with learning.
The worst part was the mother worked as a nurse which is actually an irony as they are supposed to have a greater understanding for any type of disability or special care.

Today, the daughter is studying in a private institution as she completely failed any school exams. To this day the mother never accepted her daughter needed help. To the contrary she keeps saying her daughter is not doing well because she just does not study and does not accept she has a learning difficulty because of some sort of issue in memorising new information.

This story is a perfect example of how people deal or rather refuse to deal with issues they cannot accept. Denial is one of the most common practises I have encountered in my social life throughout the years. Although this may be an infuriating example as the mother's denial had damaged the future of her daughter as she is now too old to be taught of a different way to take in information this is more common than we believe.

Denial comes in many forms like loss. Losing a loved one by death or break up are quite common. Although death is something people come to accept, break ups are not as simple as it involves an emotional distance between two people usually unable to accept the other person has 'abandoned them'.

Denial comes in other forms as well. Denial can include the inability to accept our faults but apparently-it can act as a defense mechanism as explained by
Ajit Varki in the book: Denial: self-deception. False beliefs and the origins of the human mind.

I have encountered many instances where it is highly linked with passive aggressiveness although not sure if this is actually shown to be scientifically proven so maybe just a coincidence. What I have though seen and can comment on in how people in denial cannot simply face what they don't want to see. Nope my husband isn't cheating, so instead of accepting it I will stop talking to you 'cause you are the &*%^^ in the whole story for telling me-not my husband-oh this is so classic of people in denial.

They will hate you for telling them someone else or even they themselves are causing harm rather than blame the one responsible or do something about it.
I often put this in words in the following dialogue, as they usually don't do anything to correct the situation (imagine in a whiney voice) :

'I't's cold'
'Wear your coat'
'I'm cold'

So you see, people in denial do not want to see to the truth-they are much different to the dumb asses that can't see it-they are just stupid. People in denial aren't stupid-just can't accept things that get them out of their comfort zone. I once read something very accurate : comfort zones are wonderful places-but they don't get you anywhere! And with this though I'm going to leave you.....
 

  

Advertising and ethics - inseparable?

There have been many debates in the past about ethics in advertising.
Academics and social scientists against practitioners, supporting how advertising is promoting harmful images,  advertisers supporting they are just doing their job and so on....




Jean Kilbourne once said that it isn't so much about advertising intending to harm, but rather in order to succeed in its task, it inevitably does so.
I recently had a thought.


Is it an issue whether an advert is harmful or unethical or not, or is it rather that it is inevitable to have advertising-in any form, without ethical issues being implicated?




Now, the most amusing thing you-and any consumer can respond to an advertiser or advertising is:
'I'm not influenced by it' or 'no-one can make me buy things if I don't want to'.
That is the very first instant advertisers have succeeded.
Advertising does not work like when your mum told you to do things when you were young: 'you have to eat this'!


Advertising instead tries to achieve its goals by a not so direct manner, by creating needs.
 Advertising does not come straight to your face saying: 'buy this' it does not order you to do anything.

What on earth do I mean? Ok, let's think of some examples.

Research has shown in the past that the images in advertising as well as the slogans, create powerful messages.

The purpose is to create 'needs', 'ideals' even substitutes.

Substitutes for love, happiness , relationships, etc.

Have you ever considered how an advertisement for a chocolate includes sexy images rather than a dentist, diabetics or even overweight individuals which are common outcomes?

Chocolate is more likely to make you fat rather than attractive.

The same story is repeated in other instances like burgers like the following advert:

I'm sorry but I haven't seen any woman who looks like this at any burger house - probably- and I know this will shock you-models don't eat in places like this!

Not to mention eating her burger like this. This is a perfect example of how images are linked to the product or even service. Not to mention the other ethical issues, such as the sexual -not so subtle-element of the picture on the bottom right with the woman's mouth half open (of course the red lipstick which is a highly sexual color) and the snack approaching the mouth, at the shape of a ... guess what.....grrrr!

Many years back, in the 80's, a young lady, only 15 years of age was casted to take part in a Calvin Klein  advert. This you lady was Brook Shields. Now...the advert raised some serious ethical concerns. Not only because of the way the camera showed and focused on the body but because this teenage girl was depicted as a sexual object-made to look like a grown woman and focusing on her buttocks.
 Now you say ok so what? How is this considered unethical? Distasteful or wrong maybe but unethical? Well just imagine you have a 15 year old daughter....behaving like that and looking like that in any other place-or being friends with another girl who is like that and wants to copy her....




Now my favorite shitty advert.
Black opium perfume. Isn't it a f*&*%%# treat!
Girl gets up in the middle of the night alone rushing through the streets obviously looking for someone or something,  to finally get to a guy's apartment where he puts his arms around her and she searches his back pockets until she manages to find 'black opium' (get it) sprays it on and as soon as she does, sighs in relief-just like a junky getting the his hands on his 'opium'.
If you replace the perfume bottle at the end of the advert with a 'fix' you could summarize' requiem for a dream-have you seen the film? Didn't end so well. For anyone!
You know, the film with junkies, really good soundtrack...So what is unethical about that you might say? Oh not much just trying to make a perfume seem so important that it acts in a way that drugs to for junkies-gives that so good feeling-making a perfume look addictive- a perfume! Wow imagine life without it-what would we become without this so important liquid! Can't even imagine....




Now, an advertising team would say this is creative-yes, so?
Let me tell you art has shown some pretty harmful shit in the past.
Just type nazi propaganda in google search and see how many 'artsy' fartsy images you get.
Besides, art is a fluid concept... An image is so strong that could work even before you start thinking about stuff.


For the 'I don't get influenced' people just think- someone tries to sell you a product by 2 different companies. One company you see advertised all the time-the other never- you haven't tried either before-which do you choose and why?




At 6 months babies can identify corporate logos (Jean Kilbourne) and apparently that is the age we are started to get targeted by companies now. Now if that is not brainwashing what is? So of course at 30 you think you 'are not influenced'.
 


Cosmetics-how many of you ladies bought that mascara you saw advertised because it gives x times longer - as shown- eyelashes......
Not to mention you gentlemen thinking the Marlboro man looks so manly...let me tell you - he can't have looked that manly in hospital dying of cancer....think about it!




Of course you are not going to see cancer in the advert-or chemotherapy or even the funeral service! You will see whatever image they want to attach the product to, to make the target group buy it! Why? because they link the image to the product-the image they want to adopt.
After the war smoking was considered so glamourous and even when the studies showed how harmful it was, the adverts kept on trying to show it is sooo damn fabulous:




Just like it says, made for women, beautiful and sweet-and what more beautiful than that sweet smoking cough and ashtray breath-what is more delicate, feminine and ladylike than to stink of cigarettes.
Of course you say but how is that unethical? Well it is misleading..... it promotes something harmful as beautiful....trying to promote an image far from reality.....linking it to positive images.  Now don't forget children or teenagers are also targeted in advertising to create future customers....


 But it works right?
Doesn't she look attractive? Just don't sit next to her cause you will stink as well.




Now, what about men with cars......Women love these. Well not the clever ones.
The validation of having a big car, possibly as a compensation to having something very small, maybe, just saying!
Now, again we have the more feminine cars and the more 'manly' cars.

Now I'm sorry gentlemen but you will still need whatever you have in your pants-cars don't make up for your size you know! Usually I think women do think size matters - and they don't mean that of your car, but the one you have in your paaaants! Can't put your car in every place now can you?


But look at this car advert-never mind the small print-it is slick, powerful-catches your eye and so on. Makes you feel like you need it cause it will make you look so good that panties will instantly drop (flup).
So the consumer starts to feel once he has that, he will also be like that...nope...nope you won't.


Now again-how is this unethical? The advert doesn't try to make you buy it right? It doesn't have the words you need to buy it.


So let's just say, it tries to make you feel that IF you buy this, you will have certain benefits. What is wrong with that? None of those it is promoting in its image, has to do with safe driving! Not to mention trying to promote how it will improve your image and make you look good trying to make personality less important, your looks or qualities. Of course if you are an asshole it might-but again - it will not compensate!




The issue isn't though whether an advert is or not unethical - the issue is could you have an advert-one fulfilling its purpose that is-without it being unethical?
Will you sell burgers if you showed heart attacks? Nope you won't and last time I checked you can't have burgers while sliming down-at least not the ones in Mc Donald's-you know that plastic stuff they pretend its meat?




Would you sell as many cosmetics if most (I know there are a few exceptions now-just a strategyyy don't be fooled my dear) anti-wrinkle creams would be sold by women who actually have fucking wrinkles-usually over 30-with children, busting their arse all day to make it.


Of course not! Why? because the 20 year old will sell better -cause she doesn't have wrinkles-she hasn't even got wisdom teeth yet, never mind wrinkles!
Would you buy a cream even if it truthfully showed improvement? No! Why? Because the 20 year old makes you deny truth - pretend you could get to that. It's like with women in denial with their cheating husbands. Its like people being in denial of what they don't want to believe so just pretend it doesn't exist....




So you see, advertisements cannot sell things if they show the true picture or just confine their message to simple information for what they are selling. In order to make you buy it-they will show you what you want to see and that is-nothing unpleasant.....




sources:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=burger+advertising&view=detailv2&&id=73E2D78E8D49B0DD3D1F8F306A22F518800F35E6&selectedIndex=9&ccid=LaD93vIW&simid=608026357815708788&thid=OIP.M2da0fddef216b7845e77ef5546f35ac7o0&ajaxhist=0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_tom65LKiE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA_ow1ZzdLo

Crimson Peak

Love love loved it!!!!!
It is not very usual for me to say this for a film that isn't a true story etc but this film I  enjoyed it so much!
I saw the film trailer and got really excited as I loved the era and the goth like castle etc. It is very common to get dissapointed though isn't it?

Anyways, went last night to watch it and can't say I got let down.
The photography and directing were what I expected, the cast was fab and what can I say about that castle.....If you are a ghost -story freak like me you will deffinitely love this film.

The story is set n the 1700's where an ambitious young lady in the USA meets and marries and moves to her husband's mansion in England where the couple live with the man's creepy-looking sister.

After a couple of days in the desserted castle which is constanly producing strange noises and shadows, the woman becomes disturbed living there.

Unfortunately can't say anything else cause it will be a spoiler but this I can say- if you liked the look of the trailer you will not be let down it is what you expect. The cast is great and it is more of a ghost story rather than a thriller.

Hope you enjoy ;)



Picture source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/526217537689635496/

Budapest magic!

Often you would identify European capitals especially in central Europe to have common characteristics. Having travelled in the region in the past 3 months I would have to disagree.
Upon your visit in Budapest you are overwealmed by the old, beautiful buildings surrounding the city. If you are a lover of old, abandoned buildings you will deffinitelly see some of those in the capital of Hungary.

 My trip there was after the Vienna one. Taking the train from Vienna, in less than 3 hours you are in Budapest. Upon arrival in Keleti station, making our way outside to the metro station which is located directly outside, I came to see the station, which even though is very much to my liking in terms of architecture I was surprised to see the state of it.
 Ofcourse this was not the case for all buildingings as outside the surrounding builndings were more looked after.

 I must say that being in Vienna 3 hours before, to me the city looked quite different than the Austrian capital. Although Budapest is very nice and I would deffinitely recomment it as a holliday.

Arrival-Day 1
Arriving via train in Keleti is quite easy as you can reach it from a number of neighbouring countries like Austria, Slovakia or Chzech republic.
Upon arrical we were able to go outside and get the metro which even though is the second oldest, it will take you to most places at least those of interest.
Reaching our hotel which was centraly located, we decided to take advantage of the afternoon after our check in and we decided to walk across the chain bridge which was build to connect Buda and Pest. We decided to get a quick snack and coffee first and we were lucky enough to be staying close to the famous Gerbeau cafe, a famous place in Budapest. Now I cannot stress enough how deliscious their deserts are and how nice and unusual their coffees are. I tried the chestnut puree and must say it is one of the best deserts I have ever had. Their selection of coffees is also excellent as there are many to chose from, making the capuchino, latte and espresso seem 'poor' in taste.

Since we were fortunate enough to have a good weather, it was a really pleasant walk crossing the bridge and enjoy the view from the bridge which I must admit the photographs do not do her justice. When you stand on the Pest side of the chain bridge you can see the Buda castle which the National gallery and history museum is located and on your right Fishermans Bastion.

We chose to take the hill up to Fishermans Bastion as it was late afternoon so we would be able to walk around as long as we wanted as there is no entrance like the Buda castle which closed at 6.00pm.
 Walking up the hill, we reached Fishermans Bastion and the view was more than beautiful. Directly opposite you can see the parliament and the rest of Pest.

The view is equally beautiful during the day and night so I would recomend late afternoon so you can experience both.
Fishermans bastion is where the Fishermen used to have the fish market, build in the 19th century. It is often compared to the Disney castle and it is made of 7 turrets representings the 7Hungarian tribes which founded Hungary. It is considered one of the top attractions and is within walking distance from the Buda castle. Although on the top balconies there is a fee, it is free to walk around the rest.

If you are visiting in the morning you can plan to have some time to spend on the region and walk all the way to the castle and visit the gallery and history museum. We ended up not visiting at all but it walk all the way to the castle and made it down on foot although there is a lift and escalator. I prefer to walk around as I think you can get to the place you are visiting better and enjoy it more but for those you are not into that or have less time in their hands to get to see everything, there is the Funcinular lift.
Having walked all the way across from Fishermans bastion to the castle, we made it down and walked along the Danube river till reaching the chain bridge again and crossed over.

Day 2

The second day consisted of the big bus hop on - off  tour so we can get a feeling  of Budapest and learn some history behind what we saw! We passed the Eliazabeth bridge named after the emperess Sisi of Austria and we got off at hero square and since the day was as nice the second day we visited the Vadjahunyad castle right behind the heroe square. Although it is a breathtaking experience to walk around it, in the gardens and around the castle, I  must say the only thing worth seeing inside the castle was only to see what the architecture is like on the inside and maybe for wine-lovers the basement offering a little history on the wine tradition Hungary has. If you are not into that then to be honest is not really worth going in. Having said that, it is a must to go and walk around it as it is sooo beautiful. Although we didn't go, you can visit a public bath nearby as Hungary is really famous for them. It is deffinitely on my to do list for next time I visit as I was a little reluctant to do that on the first week of March!
 If you are into art the location offers two big museum on the left and right of Heroes square.

The place is accessible both by the hop on - off big bus tour and metro station. We got back on the bus and got off Andassy which is the second longest road along with Champ Ellysses in Paris and is where the aristocrasy once lived. Getting off on Andassy we visited the House of Terror. The building was an ordinary block of flats till  WW2 where the Nazi soldiers made it into offices and after the end of the war it was overtaken in 1945 by the Soviets which went in and made into not only offices but also had the basement to keep prisoners.
It can be a sensitive visit as it the exact place many freaky things happened but for those who are interested in history, is a must see. The place is a museum now dedicated to victims and offers videos inside of people talking about their experiences and you can see the actual instruments, offices etc of those who had their offices there. It can get upsetting going down the basement as the actual torture rooms are. Even so it is worth a visit.
Trying to cheer ourselves up, we though that moment was a good opportunity to visit the famous New York cafe. This is a must visit as it has been described in the past as the most beautiful cafe in the world. The ceilings are painted and the walls are full of carvings, statues in gold, blue. The food is also worth eating as I had a really big plate of tasty pasta in a really low price. This is not only pretty place with great atmosphere but it is cheap as well.




Day 3

Having walked around the previous day, we decided to take a trip outside Budapest and visit the picturesque village of Szentendre. It is only 30minutes away although we were unfortunate enough to visit on a day where railworks made us have to catch a bus first and then train but was still worth visiting. The village has many souvenir shops which can be cheaper than Budapest and has nice cafes either next to the lake on the bottom part or hidden in the small cobblestone streets.
We spent about 3-4 hours shopping, walking and making a short stop for a coffee and desert as we had done every day - twice a day.
We made our way back to Budapest and caught our big bus again (As we had a 48 hour ticket). We made our way towards the centre to see and walk around St Stephens Basilica which is a beautiful building. We then decided to make it to the Jewish quarter on foot as it was still day time andwe got to the area just when it started getting dark. We then took a 2 minute walk and got to Szimpla. This is one of the famous ruin pubs in Budapest and is a must see. Ruin pubs are bars which are build in ruin buildings within the Jewish quarter. The bar we visited was so big and interesting.

 Day 4

Being our last day, we decided not to spend all day running around sightseing. We decided to take it easy and visited the Keperesi cemetery. Now that may sound creepy but it is actually one of the must see sights in Budapest. It is the most famous cemetery in Budapest and is within walking distance from Keleti station. The reason it is famous is not only because of its size which you can use a map visiting, but there are many famous personalities like emperors, artists etc burried there. The statues used in the graves are something extraordinary.
Having spent over 2 hours, without managing to wallk around it all, we made it back to the city centre and visited the museum of applied arts which was a really nice building although the exhibitions were a little mixed eg: chinese culture, ottoman empire etc.


After our short visit there we made it back to the centre
to eat. I have to admit I tried a really interesting dish of tagliatel pasta with pears! I would have never imagined it but I can safely say it was quite yummy! If you get off at the metro station Ferenc ter making it towards Harley Davidson, the restaurant is right on the corner before you turn right towards Harley Davidson .
During that time there was a street market where there was not only food but also very nice mulled wine, local produce and sweets!
The last day was an opportunity to walk on the main street in the city centre
where the shops are. Although there were a lot of shops I  found the souvenirs especially in some to be overpriced and did not shop anything as I was planning to shop for Palinka, the local liquir made in many flavours from the airport as I only had a carry on and would not be allowed liquids of more than 100ml to take through.

Walking around though and taking a left turn somewhere I came across a building which I had seen photos of and wanted to see anyway but hadn't got around to it. The building was Parisi Udvar. Now as I said at the begining of the post, Im sooo into old abandoned or ghost places (hence the cemetery).
What I saw was something else.
Now the photo does not do it justice and those taken from the inside are quite dark to see detail but this building is so beautiful inside. It has wooden carved staircases which you cannot go up as they are locked. The ceiling is tall and the interior is so carefully designed taking you to a different time designed in an art deco style build in 1913.
I have no idea why it was left like this locked inside. You can walk in on the ground floor and see it but cannot go up as there locks. I have to say this was the perfect end to a fabulous holliday.



Leaving......

The next day I got up early to get to the airport. I was so gutted I didnt get the chance to visit a couple more places outside Budapest but also the Buda castle during day time and visit the history museum
 :(. It is deffinitely one of the cities that 3 days are not enough to see. Even for those not into museums you need a full 3 days. I would say the feeling I got was that Budapest is a city to visit in the spring or summer as a Danube cruise and walk along Danube would be a wonderful experience.
Getting to the airport I managed to get my Palinka - in various flavours!!! It was not until I got back home that I realised Palinka had 40% alcohol!!!
Although the Budapest airport is about 25 minutes away from the city centre, acess is easier by taxi which costs around 9.000 HUF.
The airport although small has everything you may need-duty free ofcourse-cafes for drinks and food and other small shops, even free wifi.
Leaving Budapest my final thoughts was that the city made me a little richer in my experiences and my eyes a little more....blessed!

Vienna....

If I were to describe Vienna in one word I would use the word 'elegance'.
Having returned recently, the city left me with many moment sto remember and many things
to do next time I visit.



The city screams culture and art everywhere and unlike many other capitals that have all the beauty
and outside the city there is a different world where the beauty vanishes, Vienna does not lose its touch or beauty outside the city.
The architecture although being a mixture of culture works well and the buildings are so beautiful, clean and well preserved. Although it is a hollyday suitable for families, friends or couples the city cannot hide it's romantic nature maybe because of the so many palaces, Danube river and cafes which surround the city.

You need to deffinitely sit back and take in all the culture and history as it is everywhere!
I can now understand why people watching in a cafe is said to be one of the things you must do!
Of course Vienna is famous for its historic cafes like 'central' located. behing the Hofburg palace which is also a must see. The 130 year old cafe
 was favoured by Freud, Hitler Trosky and many other famous men and you can feel a powerful energy when sitting there. Not to mention the selection of desserts and sweets which I will not even try to describe as I have no words for this pleasurreable experience.....

Vienna is rich in art history as it was home of Mozart, Bethoven, Strauss and an interesting visit in their homes can be a quite wonderful experience in order to see where some of the most famous masterpieces of classsical music were composed and learn about the composers' life.  Because of its history in music, Vienna is the place for concerts in the opera or in one of the other many venues which is not as formal as you may think which is something that can easily be done after a long day walking around the city.

 It is a must do when in Vienna as it offers not only a plethora of live concerts, some of which are accompanied by ballet numbers and duets.

It is safe to say that Vienna has so many things to see and do that time is never enough. The city is full of activities, museums and shows that there is always something new to do. Ofcourse there are the wonderful palaces like the Hofburg which you can visit but be sure to have some time in your hands as it is a quite big palace with lots to absorb and learn from the audio guide. For instance within the Hofburg museum which is located close to the Parliament, museum quarter and risgstrasse, has a whole area dedicated to the collection of porcelain, silver and dining collection of the palace which takes a while to see. The 'silver room' which has the 'imperial silver collection' reopened in 1995 includes 7.000 pieces (out of 150.000). This is the silver alone. The section is home to sections on porcelain desert service, 'old service centerpiece' 'Millan table centerpiece' and many more collections. To be honest although this is an impressive selection of porccelain, silver, gold and many more it can get overwealming and tiring as there is a large area of centerpieces and it can get too much before you even go in the imperial appartments.  

The imperial appartments where luxurious and also need a while to go see as they in the other palace, the Schonbrunn palace. The inside can be also overwhelming by the luxury and wealth. Having said that it must be noted that the work that has been put into those rooms is magnificent with the carvings and paintings. What may be dissapointing is that in both palaces you cannot take pictures, only frorm the outside and in the schonbrunn palace gardens which is also a huge area but really nice to walk. It may be a better season to visit in the spring of summer as in February there are no flowers or greenery which does dissapoint a little. Having said that it must be noted that both palaces are really close to a metro statio (5 mins walk) and that the schonbrunn palace has a cafe with a lovelly selection of desserts and coffee.
Being home to many personalities, while visiting Vienna there is bound to be someone you would love to visit their home. For me unfortunately time was not enough as on Mondays many museums close. Mozart and Freud were the two personalities I had the pleasure of discovering their home. Mozart's last house is just behind st Stephens cathedral. Unfortunately photos were not allowed.

In Freud's house which most of the things have been moved to his last home in London, photos were allowed although it is a little furter from than the city centre but quite eassily accesible by metro no more than 20 minutes away near the purple line.


If you are a more 'dark' peronality you may enjoy the krypt also close to st Stephens platz where you can see the graves of royalty like Sisi and Joseph and it is only a short visit where you can take fotos. To be honest this is more impressive than it sounds as the deign of the coffins, as macabre as it may sound are quite artistic and magnificent.



Vienna is not just architecture, art and museums. It is also home of Prater. I came across Prater when was on a hop on-off bus and was amazed. There are refferences of Prater way back to 1162. Being a hunting ground for the aristocracy, Josef the 2nd donated it to the public. It is home to the first cinema in Vienna if I recall correctly adn it is open 24-7. Now what is prater today? a Huge theme park where you can visit free of charge. Visiting in February around 4.30pm I was so excited as it although it is open it looks abandoned as there were hardly any visitors and the rides were closed. Since Im into abandoned places especially theme and fun parks this was a highlight of my trip to Vienna amongst ofcourse others.

 This is deffinitely a must see not just for kids but I think adults will enjoy a day there too. It is easily accessible as you can get there by the metro and get off exctly opposite the park. There are place to eat and drink as well as purchase souvenirs although you cannot tell they are open from the outside. I imagine during the summer it must be flooded.

 On a final note about Vienna, I have to mention the impressive politeness of people and how willing they were to find on their google maps where streets and sites were when we asked for directions.
I was quite concerned about being able to communicate as I thought they may refuse to speak English like other nationalities do. But they were more than willing to communicate in English. I must say though I was quite surprised that they didnt know places like Mozarts house or city centre streets were. Even so the people of Vienna were more than happy to help us. Even though I though it would be quite expensive, it was not as much as the portions served in drinks, desserts and food were more than enough like in schnitzel dishes.
Of course one more memorable thing would be the coffee selection available. Forget capucino or latte you have to try a number of different coffees.

One thing is for sure. Vienna to me is the equivalent of elegance, art and history.
You will not be dissapointed.




sites: http://www.palaisevents.at/en/cafecentral.html
         http://www.hofburg-wien.at/en.html
         http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en.html
         http://www.prater.at/GeneralInformation.php?LI=1