VIENNA

Our most recent assignment took us to Vienna to take pictures of members for use in producing an Austria Country Fact Sheet and for illustrating articles that are posted on the Austrian Country Newsroom website.  These assignments are some of the most rewarding as we get to meet members in their home wards, enjoy dinners with them and go to their homes to take pictures of Family Home Evenings in progress.  We have many more friends this week than last as these members enthusiastically support our efforts and share their lives with us for the short time we are there. 

Elaine does a great job shooting pictures under a fair amount of pressure and under conditions where the lighting is often poor and the ability to compose the picture extremely limited.  She is grateful for the Lightroom software the kids gave us last Christmas and is really developing her picture editing skills.  

Although the real seats are often sold out far in advance, for the cultural part of our assignment we attended the Vienna Opera on Saturday night, paying 3 euros each for stand-up places in the gallery.  The opera was Giuseppe Verde’s “Don Carlo” and it was a treat to enjoy the beautiful vocals and the dressed up Viennese in attendance from our bird’s nest view of the theater. We had little electronic English subtitles at each place, but still had go home afterward and read the synopsis to get the story line straight.

Our local public affairs specialist, Gerda spoiled us with arranging all the details for taking the Sunday photos. 

Elder Kagel celebrates his 70th birthday with us by enjoying a traditional German chocolate mousse cake

Our dear friends Gretel and Swen Swenson have dinner with us before we take them to the airport headed to home.  Dr. Swenson was area medical advisor and gave free home visits to the Senior Missionaries.

Brother David Cunia was our Saturday city guide in Vienna.  He is a charming, warm and kind man and I am ashamed to say.about 5 years my senior. A retired banker, he is locally famous for his Elvis impersonation show.

Need I say more?

Expressive Viennese sculpture 

Atlas on the roof of the Habsburg winter palace

Only 343 identical steps to the top of the St Stephan cathedral tower.  We came out dizzy from coming down too fast.

A fuzzy selfie at the Habsburg summer palace - Schoenbrunn

Palace guard budget cuts

It's good to be king - Hapsburg summer palace Schoenbrunn

The king's hunting grounds - he was a great hunter as nothing but squirrels and pigeons there now.