  Location: Vienna, Austria Hostel: Wombats City Hostel Number of drunk Australians: Countless It's nice to be back in a country where I feel confident asking for a bratwurst or the u-bahn in my crappy German. Hungarian (Magyar) was very hard. After a day of happily floating down the Danube, I have arrived in Vienna. When I got off the boat in Vienna I looked around and realized there was no info. booth, no currency exchange, nothing.
Just a subway. But nowhere to get Euros. Luckily an Irish guy took pity on me and bought me a subway ticket, so I was on my way. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers. I had the best of intentions this morning-booked in for the 8 am boat, with an alarm set to 6:20. I don't think my bunkmates like my alarm any more than my neighbors do at home. I hate that I can't wake up-let's keep blaming it on pm kindergarten, shall we? My inability to wake up was probably prompted by a night out on the town drinking and talking with many backpackers. I had a few gin and tonics although, sadly, no buckets were to be had. Not everywhere can be Thailand. Anyhow, Budapest rocks. There was easily a thousand or two happy Hungarians dancing, playing games, and drinking at the club we were at last night.
Easily. A Monday night. Who knew? I can barely find 10 people on a Monday night, let alone a crowd. But in Budapest, they go out, even on a Monday. Why aren't Americans more fun? So I woke up at noon, literally dashed out of the hostel, and arrived to the boat check in breathless at 12:30. When I handed my passport over, the guy looked at it, then me, then said, "You were supposed to be here at 8, no?
" Busted. Thank god for being young and female and in a halter top. You can get a lot done. I just smiled and shrugged sheepishly, and they ushered me on board. Yay. Tomorrow morning I'm going to go on an organized tour of Vienna, and hopefully the tour will really be on this time. I'm excited-I had no idea the museum district was so immense here. There's a new contemporary art tower with work by James Turrell and Jenny Holzer, so hopefully I can find that. I'm trying to get in touch with Joanne's friend Mike's friend Niko, whom I've never met, but in the spirit of true cultural curiousity I think it'd be good fun to hang out with a local, so I'm calling him at work tomorrow. Why not? Time to let someone else use the internet for a change, I've been hogging it trying to get a flight to Croatia.
I'm trying to avoid a long bus ride. After the one from Bangkok to Siem Reap (Jo, you know what's up with that), I'm reluctant to do much travelling in a recently war-torn nation. Thanks to those who emailed me today. 
