Vienna

I have had a great time, the Austrian guys at the congress have been so friendly and helpful we are now finished so I have the hardship of hanging around in Vienna for the rest of the day before my flight out in the morning.

I had a little look round yesterday and got lost! Which was kind of worrying I was meant to meeting some guys at a certain point but when I got there they couldn't be found. I got a little stressed but I'm a big boy so managed to sort it out.At one point I wandered up a little slope to a gallery but I was confronted by security as it was the back entrance to a place were they are hosting a Van Gogh exhibition. They looked and acted a little up tight, I smiled a lot and quickly dodged of on my search for the other guys.

I found them at the Heldenplatz where Hitler had been welcomed by the Austrian people on March 15th 1938 after the anexxation, I stood under the balcony where Hitler had stood and tried to picture it all. This was very hard to do as really Vienna is just like any other modern European city, full of history and hope for the future, and the history seems along way off. Although it is probably simmering under the surface. The guys from the conference where praying in the Heldenplatz, it was so good to see young Austrians praying in this place.

In the morning at the conference there was a Jewish guy speaking about his escape from the Nazi's during the holocaust, it was deeply moving. He said he didn't believe in God the Nazis had chased that belief out of him.

I have found it an interesting and complex place with a history that could be considered dark and people who I consider happy. Just thoughts, just wondering, I guess I am lucky, to hear these things and see these sights.

Anyway I miss my wife so I am off to buy her some underwear...........