Salzburg and Rain

Yes, it true: it rained for two and a half days in Salzburg. Rain didn't disturb the joy that is the Salt Mines, but it did put a damper on the trick water fountains mansion tour, also know as Hellbruin. And our typical rendezvous at the Augustiner put us inside rather than at the garden tables, but the kids survived and when the sun finally burst through revealing the glistening city of tarnished green domes and spires all sighed a spiritual 'wow'--they finally knew why Salzburg always makes the trip.

Each city has at least one dinner together night--usually it's in the hotel (For the others we hand them money to find their own meal). The hotel meals are actually decent and it's good for the kids to be handed a plate of the plat du jour and that's what you get. Picky eaters begone.

Another benefit for me is sitting with different kids and finding out stuff. In Salzburg I sat with Nicole N., Michelle C., Aimee S., Paige H., Brook B., and Rachel H. Instead of talking about the rain they told me what music they've been listening to and what books they've been reading. We told kids to bring a book for the bus rides and the raining days.

Here's what I remember. Nicole is reading Perfume--you may have seen the movie--and listening to The Fray and wearing a The Morning Benders t-shirt some days, while Paige is reading Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile and listening to "The Ancient Common Sense of Things," by Bishop Allen, and "See You on the Moon," by The Great Lake Swimmers, which she heard from Mr. Hoeger's Ipod and decided were the two best songs in the world.

Michelle is reading I Legend--you may have seen the movie--but she says the book is different and better. Brooke is reading Swapping Lives by Jane Green about a single Vogue editor in her late-twenties of can't figure out why all her friends are getting married. Rachel is currently without a book so she listens to lots of music including Faith Hill, Jack Johnson and some American Idol star of last year--forgot his name, is it David someone?

Last but not least we have our editor of the Beardful of Butterflies, Aimee, reading "A Year in Provence" and listening to Franz Ferdinand. Such sophistication. Sorry no pictures of dinner. A couple of the guys at The Augustiner Biergarten after the rain broke.

Wryly but truly,

LV