Another Saturday in Vienna!
Today started out as another typical Saturday. The girls planned to go to the market and out to the shopping street for a leisurely day of bonding. Amber, me, and our newest friend Nicole (from Miami, Florida) set out with a mission to find Nicole and Amber some snazzy Austrian boots. First, we ate an actual meal at a little cafe on Mariahillfe Strasse. I ate some wonderful veggie soup and fruit. Yum! After lunch, we went into several shops, but it seemed like everything in the boots category cost a million euros.

We were just about to give up on the boot experience when we looked into the window of a very small French clothing store. I looked in, and everything in the store looked very nice, so I automatically thought that this would be just another one of those "look but don't buy" type things..... then I saw it. Red and glowing on the center table on the floor. My mother taught me that when you see something this extraordinary, no matter where you are, you must stop and take in the majesty. There it was..... a sale sign! 50% off shoes, as plain as day glittered up from a pile of boots. We walked into the store, and Amber found a wonderful pair of sale leather boots which, according to the friendly sales girl, came straight from Paris! Everything from this small store was bought during the manager's monthly trip to Paris. We were so happy! I also bought Bryce's birthday present, which is a phenomenal gift, I must say. Sorry, Bryce.... no stiletto boots, though. Maybe next year.

After we were finished with a very successful shopping experience, we headed off to the Flohmarket for a bit of grocery shopping. On our way, we passed by the Vienna Opera House, where several men dressed in Mozart costumes were passing out brochures about the latest Mozart concert. They do this regularly, so we didn't think much of it. Amber politely took a brochure from one guy, and we kept on walking and talking. After we got about 10 steps away, one of the Mozart guys, who apparently heard us talking, yelled after us. "Hallo, are you from America? Come back!" Oh, great. Another anti-George Bush questioning session from an angry Austrian..... We slowly walked back and stood in front of this 20-something guy in a fairly odd costume. He asked what part of America we were from, and then told us that he was from Kosovo, and that his "people" loved America and so he was happy to meet us. Well, I thought, that wasn't too bad. Then he looked at me and said, "What is your name?" I answered, and he started smiling. He said, "Ah, Amanda. I love you.... I mean, nice to meet you." Amber and Nicole stood back laughing hysterically, while this little Kosovo man in a crazy concert outfit (complete with coat, knickers, and a frilly shirt) held my hand and looked at me. I did everything in my power not to fall over laughing. I mean, he looked ridiculous and was confessing his love to me after meeting me for 3 seconds (someone had a green card on his mind....), AND he was about as tall as I am. Oooh, baby, let me tell ya. I thought that it couldn't get any worse, when he pulled out another brochure and asked me if I would message him on MSN, and gave me his messenger screen name. He wanted me to come out for drinks and dinner with him next week. I kindly took the brochure as I was shaking from laughing so hard and started to walk away. (Keep in mind that Amber and Nicole are standing about 2 steps to the side having a great time) "Amanda, wait," he said. I looked back at him through my sunglasses. "Can I see your eyes?" WHAT?!?!?! He can't be serious. "Can you..." I lifted up my sunglasses and put them on my head. "Ah, I love you. My name is Lili. Do message me soon!" "Okay, thanks..... um, talk to you later." I managed to get that sentence out with a straight face, and we walked away. -- Reflecting on what just happened, I thought to myself... what would people really think if on my wedding invitation, it said WE INVITE YOU TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF AMANDA AND LILI, TO BE HELD IN KOSOVO BAPTIST CHURCH. hahahaha. No thanks.... I will stick with Bryce! :)

We finally got to the market, and I bought some Pink Lady apples, which are fabulous, a real loaf of wheat and molasses bread (that I cut myself into crude little slices), and some seedless grapes. I paid a little more for the seedless, but all of the grapes until now had me choking on about 15 seeds each.... so I was thankful.

Today was very interesting. There's no telling what will happen on our trip to Melk Abbey tomorrow...... only time will tell. :) Until then!